Fuel - It's role in engine performance

[DrivingisReligion]

Just want to share a small story.

I moved 6 months ago to a new place which was about a half mile from a Philips 66 station, it serves 93 Octane and is a bit cheap/gal compared to Shell/BP/Chevron a few miles away. It also is a convenient store to pick up snacks/drinks + has touchless wash + free air so obviously I have started filling my car up at that station since then for straight 6 months. I could feel on a few occasions but never really bothered, bogged down acceleration and more engine screaming that felt a little not-so-my-BRZ, it grew on me even more recently. I have always been putting 93 into the car since the purchase so I started to may be blame it on an air filter/intake/any catback issue/under inflated tires(couldn't find anything wrong) or even weather up until last week when I was on a vacation and stopped at a Shell station to fill-up(it was in reserve and below E mark), resumed my drive and with in a few miles of driving I could see the peppy spark of my car back, it was eager to pull and begged to be floored.. then it strikes me, it IS the GAS!! - the culprit.
Did one more fill up after my trip at a Shell again and the car just feels alive.

Safe to say I'm not going back to 66 again for the gas.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DrivingisReligion

Just want to share a small story.

I moved 6 months ago to a new place which was about a half mile from a Philips 66 station, it serves 93 Octane and is a bit cheap/gal compared to Shell/BP/Chevron a few miles away. It also is a convenient store to pick up snacks/drinks + has touchless wash + free air so obviously I have started filling my car up at that station since then for straight 6 months. I could feel on a few occasions but never really bothered, bogged down acceleration and more engine screaming that felt a little not-so-my-BRZ, it grew on me even more recently. I have always been putting 93 into the car since the purchase so I started to may be blame it on an air filter/intake/any catback issue/under inflated tires(couldn't find anything wrong) or even weather up until last week when I was on a vacation and stopped at a Shell station to fill-up(it was in reserve and below E mark), resumed my drive and with in a few miles of driving I could see the peppy spark of my car back, it was eager to pull and begged to be floored.. then it strikes me, it IS the GAS!! - the culprit.
Did one more fill up after my trip at a Shell again and the car just feels alive.

Safe to say I'm not going back to 66 again for the gas.

How often the fuel is flipped in the station means far, far more than who made or sold it. Some stations just don't sell enough higher octane for it remain at it's best. Pick any station or brand that is busy and you will have better fuel. It is as simple as that.

[Chikna]

There were few instances in Texas where tanker filled gas in wrong tank and gas stations have to pay hefty fine to drivers since their engines had issues. Could this be a similar issue with 87 octane was filled in 93 octane tank?

[wolffbite]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

How often the fuel is flipped in the station means far, far more than who made or sold it. Some stations just don't sell enough higher octane for it remain at it's best. Pick any station or brand that is busy and you will have better fuel. It is as simple as that.

Yep. We have similar concerns here with our 94. Highest octane available, only one that is ethanol free, and only available at Chevron. Our local subaru enthusiast groups have a handful of stations we all frequent to keep supply "fresh".

Any top tier gasoline brand is fine. The brand specific cleaners / enhancements are just marketing tools to get you to buy their gas. There may be some differences in the additives each company uses but they all have to meet the same standards at the end of the day.

Phillips 66 is listed on the Top Tier website: https://www.toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

[DrivingisReligion]

Originally Posted by Chikna

There were few instances in Texas where tanker filled gas in wrong tank and gas stations have to pay hefty fine to drivers since their engines had issues. Could this be a similar issue with 87 octane was filled in 93 octane tank?

Given the kind of difference in performance I noticed, yes - It could be a possibility.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by DrivingisReligion

Given the kind of difference in performance I noticed, yes - It could be a possibility.

Be much more likely it is just old gas. In a pinch I have had to run 87 in mine a couple of times and although the performance drop is noticeable it is not dramatic. One time I filled up with 91 (what I usually use) at an out of the way mom and pop station and I thought my engine was going to blow up it was so bad.

[Ganthrithor]

Take it to de airfield and fill with de hundred low-lead



(Don't really tho)

[HKz]

glad to know op's butt dyno is in working order ^^

[firekat]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

Take it to de airfield and fill with de hundred low-lead



(Don't really tho)

Had an old International Scout, pre- catalytic converter. We would get aircraft in after being ferried and there would be some remaining fuel in the ferry tanks. Take the tanks out of the aircraft and I would sitting there with a huge aluminum tank holding up over my head and a hose going into the tank of the Scout.

Man, that Scout ran great on 100 LL, and the exhaust would smell like an airplane's.

Neat stuff.

[mrhemi]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

Take it to de airfield and fill with de hundred low-lead



(Don't really tho)

100LL still has 2 grams per gallon of lead in it. It will poison the cat in one tank.