Octane Analyzers getting cheaper
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When they hit 500$ I will buy one,more for snowmobiiling then boating as I have blown sled up on gas that was supposedly 93 octane,Smitty
Last edited by articfriends; 12-31-2006 at 02:07 PM.
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There was a article just last month in the news about how many gas stations sell 87 octane out of the 93 octane pump. Some get caught some do not. This is because they can estimate when the inspector will show up.
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In mi the fine is far less then the profit stations can make selling cheap gas for the premium price. I also read there are 4 or 6 inspectors for the whole state and stations have a 6% chance of being caught. I buy my 93 octane from a local station (for my boat) that not only sells fuel that is the correct octane but also pays a premium price to get real gas,not the 10% ethanol blend. Now my snowmobile is a different story,it needed a minimum of 92 octane,ran for 400-500 miles issue free,bought "93 octane" at a small gas station in trout lake in the UP,it detonated itself apart causing 1500$ worth of damage ruining my weekend also 7 miles after leaving the gas station,go figure,I'm sure the octane wasn't what was advertised
. I ended up de-tuning my sled because this is a common problem when in small towns and remote locations. Sometimes when I have to buy gas for the boat out of town I try to find a station with race gas and blend in 20 gallons of 110 just in case the "premium" I filled it up with isn't,Smitty
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This is my receipe for octane insurance. I buy 75 gal. of brand name pump gas (like Sonoco 93) and add 25 gal. of 110 race gas.
With the 110 costing $1.50 gal premium on top of the 93 at $2.70, the blended cost is approx $3.00 gal.
I have rigged a low cost Aeromotive fuel pump transfer system hard wired and plumbed on the firewall in the bilge. I run a line from the 55 drum(s) of 110 in the shop. Turn two levers to switch the fuel system to the drum and attached the 25' line and turn on the pump switch...2 mins to attach the line and 15 mins to transfer the 110 fuel.
For winter storage, this also allows you to store your gas in drums vs in the boat.
My calculations say that 75 gal 93 mixed with 25 gal 110 is now a blended 97 with a nice kiss of leaded fuel.
If I am out on a long trip, I top off with 25 gal 87-89 on the water with a remaining 25+ gal of the blended 97 and come home on 92-93octane.
If we use the boat 10 times a year (which I don't), the added cost is less than $400 year...cheap insuranse for piece-of-mind and $50,000+ of engines.
With the 110 costing $1.50 gal premium on top of the 93 at $2.70, the blended cost is approx $3.00 gal.
I have rigged a low cost Aeromotive fuel pump transfer system hard wired and plumbed on the firewall in the bilge. I run a line from the 55 drum(s) of 110 in the shop. Turn two levers to switch the fuel system to the drum and attached the 25' line and turn on the pump switch...2 mins to attach the line and 15 mins to transfer the 110 fuel.
For winter storage, this also allows you to store your gas in drums vs in the boat.
My calculations say that 75 gal 93 mixed with 25 gal 110 is now a blended 97 with a nice kiss of leaded fuel.
If I am out on a long trip, I top off with 25 gal 87-89 on the water with a remaining 25+ gal of the blended 97 and come home on 92-93octane.
If we use the boat 10 times a year (which I don't), the added cost is less than $400 year...cheap insuranse for piece-of-mind and $50,000+ of engines.
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I buy at Shell stations when ever possible, they deliver in their own trucks and can not afford the scandal. A cheaper octane test would sure help put a stop to that crap though.
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