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    Dec 18, 2005 8:21:07 AM

    hedgehog
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    hedgehog
    Loc: OR
    Posts: 9, Gallery
    Registered on: May 15, 2005

    Wrong Octane

    Hi Everyone,

    Yesterday I went to a Shell gas station to fill up my 997. I live in Oregon so the only option is full service. I asked the attendant for a full tank of "Premium" gasoline (92 Octane). Once the pump started and was running for a while I decided to check to make sure I was getting the right octane gasoline. To my surprise, "Regular Plus" (89 Octane) was being pumped into my car -- I got out of my car and stopped the pump and asked the attendant why he did not put "Premium" into the car and he told me that "Premium" = "Regular Plus" and 92 octane should be referred to as "V-Power." I did not feel like debating with him but guess in the future I will ask for fuel by stating the octane I want. Anyway, there were about 5 gallons of 89 octane pumped into my car and I then had around 6 gallons of 92 octane pumped into to car to fill up the tank.

    Will the 89 octane fuel that is in my car or the mixing with 92 octane cause problems or do you think I'll be okay? Thanks for your help.

    Dec 18, 2005 1:22:04 PM

    GnilM
    Rennteam Moderator
    Gnil
    Loc: VD, Switzerland , Switzerland
    Posts: 14180, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 11, 2005
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Don't worry. Your car will be fine. To be 100% secure you can drive it gently for the lap of time it will take to use this fuel...

    Dec 18, 2005 1:24:42 PM

    Mike S
    Rennteam VIP
    Mike S
    Loc: Somewhere , Taiwan
    Posts: 7720, Gallery
    Registered on: Apr 3, 2005
    Reply to: GnilM

    Re: Wrong Octane

    I'm running my car on 88 octane here, I don't have a choice, it's the highest octane we get at the pumps and so far everything is fine (Touch wood)

    Dec 18, 2005 2:34:47 PM

    RCA
    Rennteam Administrator
    RC
    Loc: Rennteam HQ , Germany
    Posts: 59602, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 26, 2002
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    You're OK, just avoid maximum rev figures until your fuel tank is empty. Also DO NOT track race your car with this fuel. Don't worry, nothing bad will happen to your engine.

    Dec 18, 2005 2:59:35 PM

    fritz
    Rennteam VIP
    fritz
    Loc: BaWü , Germany
    Posts: 10248, Gallery
    Registered on: Jul 23, 2003
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    I found myself last week having to fill the almost-empty tank of my 996 with 95 (Research Method) Octane fuel instead of the usual 98 Octane.

    It's been interesting to note that the engine does not feel as responsive or as smooth under load as it normally does, especially when it has not yet got up to operating temperature. I should have used up enough of that fuel by tomorrow to make it worthwhile "diluting" it with a top-up of 98 octane.

    Dec 18, 2005 4:29:31 PM

    bstew
    Expert
    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
    Posts: 1797, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005
    Reply to: fritz

    Re: Wrong Octane

    I personally don't think you will have any issues unless you are a hard driver or you are racing your car. From what I have been told, the 997 will run just fine on lower octane. You can do a search on this forum on octane and find tons of comments on this subject. I must warn you there are a lot of opinions both ways.

    Dec 18, 2005 4:31:04 PM

    SrfCity
    Expert
    SrfCity
    Loc: Orange County, CA
    Posts: 1339, Gallery
    Registered on: Jul 21, 2004
    Reply to: fritz

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Just fill the car with 92 and you'll probably wind up with around 91 which is all we get in CA anyway

    Dec 18, 2005 4:56:25 PM

    bstew
    Expert
    bstew
    Loc: NC, USA
    Posts: 1797, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 11, 2005
    Reply to: SrfCity

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Quote:
    SrfCity said:
    Just fill the car with 92 and you'll probably wind up with around 91 which is all we get in CA anyway



    92 is mostly what we get in NC as well.

    Dec 18, 2005 8:51:59 PM

    Turbo 911
    Co-Pilot
    Turbo 911
    Loc:
    Posts: 185, Gallery
    Registered on: Aug 29, 2005
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    It's fine - I use a mixture sometimes.

    Dec 19, 2005 12:29:51 AM

    hedgehog
    Newbie
    hedgehog
    Loc: OR
    Posts: 9, Gallery
    Registered on: May 15, 2005
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Thanks everyone for your replies and advice, much appreciated. Glad to hear that things will be okay. Snowstorm just started over here so the car will be out of commission for a while. Have a great day.

    Dec 19, 2005 3:42:07 AM

    chili
    Pilot
    chili
    Loc: Bay Area - East Bay
    Posts: 354, Gallery
    Registered on: Jul 10, 2005
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Is there anything to those so called octane boosters????

    Dec 19, 2005 4:37:53 AM

    drivejamaican
    Newbie
    drivejamaican
    Loc: CA
    Posts: 16, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 10, 2005
    Reply to: hedgehog

    Re: Wrong Octane

    you're fine mon, just don't put diesel in it

    Dec 19, 2005 3:06:58 PM

    madadd
    Co-Pilot
    madadd
    Loc: uk
    Posts: 240, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 4, 2005
    Reply to: chili

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Quote:
    chili said:
    Is there anything to those so called octane boosters????



    Yes! I use them in my Skyline occasionally to move the Octane level up for that extra bit of protection for track days. Or when I am stuck and can't find 98 RON fuel (and which to upgrade my 95 to 98)

    It is a VERY expensive way of bolstering your octane levels and only advisable when you have no other choice (for cost reasons only!).

    ...Add

    Dec 19, 2005 4:57:14 PM

    69bossnine
    Rennteam Pro
    69bossnine
    Loc: FL, USA , United States
    Posts: 2028, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 27, 2005
    Reply to: madadd

    Re: Wrong Octane

    I wouldn't worry, just run it down close to empty before your next fill. If you can't sleep at night, just find a station locally that sells CAM 2 100-octane unleaded, and fill her all the way up with that. Usually runs $3.95/gallon.

    Octane boosters are infamous for being just "snake oil", and sometimes damaging. I'm not speaking for any or all brands, I just don't touch that stuff as a rule. If you want good gas, go someplace where they sell proper race fuels (Sunoco, Unocal, Phillips), don't pour a can of mystery-junk in your tank.

    Dec 19, 2005 5:11:21 PM

    P997C2S
    Junior
    P997C2S
    Loc: North East - USA
    Posts: 116, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 13, 2005
    Reply to: madadd

    Re: Wrong Octane

    Quote:
    madadd said:
    Quote:
    chili said:
    Is there anything to those so called octane boosters????



    Yes! I use them in my Skyline occasionally to move the Octane level up for that extra bit of protection for track days. Or when I am stuck and can't find 98 RON fuel (and which to upgrade my 95 to 98)

    It is a VERY expensive way of bolstering your octane levels and only advisable when you have no other choice (for cost reasons only!).

    ...Add



    Using an octane booster that contains methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (many do) is not advisble.

    From the '06 997 manual:

    Fuels containing MMT

    Some North American fuels contain an octane enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, your emission control system performance may be negatively affected. The check engine warning lights on your instrument panel may turn on. If this occurs, Porsche recommends you stop using fuels containing MMT.


    What you need to know about fuel for Corvettes and other high-performance cars

    "MMT stands for-try this tongue twister: methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. Once viewed as a possible replacement for TEL, while not as potent, it still increases octane and, in large quantities, can eliminate valve seat recession. While it's used in Canada, MMT is ignored by refiners in the U.S. in favor of other antidetonants, mainly because it's illegal in areas where RFG is required and a few refiners feel its long-term use might compromise engine life. MMT is shunned by car companies due to durability concerns about components in on-board diagnostic and emissions control systems and questioned by the EPA as a possible health hazard. Nevertheless, in 1995, MMT was allowed on the U.S. market with some restrictions after its manufacturer won a Federal court case against the EPA. At this writing almost no U.S. refiners add MMT to gasoline, but it is the key ingredient in a few canned octane boosters."
     
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