What type of fuel are you using?

pt850 · Post by **pt850** » 26 Jun 2010, 10:31

My two cents. I read somewhere that the following companies formulate their gasoline to above industry standards for fuel injector cleaning:
Shell, Texaco, Phillips, Conoco. So, I use regular grade Shell.

About two years ago, I had the CEL come on. I went to my local (in Virginia at the time) independent Volvo specialist, and after reading the codes, he suggested that my 1996 850 Turbo wagon wasn't happy with ethanol blends. I was then just about to move to New Mexico, and he thought that once I got to a part of the country where ethanol-free gas was available, the CEL would stop coming on. He was right! The CEL hasn't come on once since I moved here.

pt850

1996 850 Platinum LE Turbo wagon
166,000 miles

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Jun 2010, 13:30

Ethanol is evil. I avoid it like I avoid nails on the roadway. I'm not an engineer, but if it was popular when my 850 was built, I'm sure the owners manual would clearly say do not use ethanol fuels.

I'm looking at Quick Tips 1997 Volvo 850 as I type on my phone while waiting in the parking lot of "Babies R Us" (we have an 8-month old boy). It's an owners manual supplement that came with my 850. it makes no distinction between turbos and N/A. It says
unleaded fuel only
87 octane min.
19.3 gal / 73 liter tank
1.8 gal / 8 liters remaining light

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 26 Jun 2010, 14:55

No, no, 854 is just Volvo slang for an 850 with 4 doors, aka sedan. I'll take a look at the manual when I get back home.

Post by **jblackburn** » 26 Jun 2010, 20:12

Ethanol is evil. I avoid it like I avoid nails on the roadway.

Most fuels in my part of the country (VA, MD, NC are the only ones I've paid attention to) contain at least 10-15% ethanol anyway; I don't know about anywhere else though.

I find my cars have always run better on name-brand gasolines like Shell and Hess, so that's what I always use, even if it is a little more expensive than the 7-11 down the road.

Matt, my manual, too, says the minimum requirement is 87, but that the engine is designed for 91 or greater.

Post by **matthew1** » 27 Jun 2010, 10:03

Just in case anyone's coming to this topic for information and doesn't know: never run your tank down to very low or empty. Gasoline (petroleum in general) is lighter than water, so the bottom of your gas tank will collect grit, debris, sand, water and other crap. When you run your fuel level to low or empty, this stuff gets pulled into the fuel system and can cause havoc. Yes, your fuel filter can and does collect the majority of contaminants, but it's not 100% and can itself become degraded once it has done its job and become saturated.

Don't believe for one second the gasoline you buy is as pure as you see on TV advertisements.

~ ~ ~

In Colorado we had MTBE for years, a winter-time additive to reduce emissions. It likewise reduces performance and economy.

http://www.epa.gov/oms/oxygenate.htm

Oxygenates are fuel additives (alcohols and ethers) that contain oxygen which can boost gasoline's octane quality, enhance combustion, and reduce exhaust emissions. The term oxygenated gasoline most commonly refers to the wintertime program that reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) from motor vehicles. Although required by the federal Clean Air Act, winter oxygenated gasoline programs are implemented by the states.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 27 Jun 2010, 14:22

Hm, good things to consider Matt.

Post by **Hoov** » 28 Jun 2010, 01:21

matthew1 wrote:In Colorado we had MTBE for years, a winter-time additive to reduce emissions. It likewise reduces performance and economy

[/quote]

Matt,
In KA we have the "California Air Rescources Board" ... "CARB" ... ... ... "Completely Arrogant, Reprehensible Bastards!"
"Feel good liberals", with no scientific background, who refuse to listen to our scientists & as a result forced MTBE on this state.

It's POISON!!!! Has contaminated the ground water of one CA town to the point they have no safe well water! The town is bust, their property values are crap & it is about a third the size today as it was in '92.

I'm not much for "protests" but back in 1992 I attended one in Sacramento. There were over 7 thousand of us who were there but the local media reported 25 hundered. (the "media" showed up about 7:00am so were not really lying ... Not "really")

We STILL have MTBE in this State though it will be phased out by law shortly. ... Fact is, might already have been this year. I don't continue to follow issues I have lost on & have no control over! I already deal with Chrones & don't need other impossible frustrations!

The then governor of Alaska (NO! NOT Sarah) told the federal Government to get this crap out of his State! The Feds said "You will either accept this or we will cut off federal funds for your highways!"

HE said "Fine! & we will no longer send you any tax money!" ... Civil War talk here!!!

The FED's aquiecced! ... Wonder why? ... Because it is BULL PUCKY!!! ... There is no MTBE in Alaska!

Hoov

Post by **Hoov** » 28 Jun 2010, 02:31

matthew1 wrote:Ethanol is evil. I avoid it like I avoid nails on the roadway. I'm not an engineer, but if it was popular when my 850 was built, I'm sure the owners manual would clearly say do not use ethanol fuels.

Matt,
First of all let me say "Congratulations on becoming a father!" ... Probably one of the most life & attitude changing things that can happen to a human being. ... That said, you will eventually find out the expression "Payback is a bitch" is Sooooo true!!! LOL
My own dad had so much fun watching me deal with MY son! ... Lost tools, nothing where you expect it to be, total sense of entitlement regarding YOUR personal property! LOLOLOLOL ... Lawd! There were times I wanted to send that kid out for adoption & then I remembered something my own dad said to me one day when he was especially pissed. "OK son but remember, payback is a bitch!" ... LOL! LAWD was he right!!!! Hahahahaha

But to "ethanol" ... I moved to Colorado in 99 ( Westminster) & stayed there for two years. (I would move back in a heartbeat too) ... Point is, my first real impression was when I fueled up. ... OMG!!! GAS! This is REAL gasoline!!! It smells JUST the way it is supposed to! ... I had a twenty gallon tank on a Ford F150.
When I arrived in CO I immediately started getting five more MPG.
FIVE!!! That means I was traveling an extra 100 miles per tank! 100 miles! ... Now how many polutants was I putting into the air in KA? & how many in CO? ... I mean, the extra hundered miles has to figure in right? ... Truth is I really don't know because the formulas they use in KA are skewed in the first place because they are not based on science just "ideas".
Regardless, it was so satisfying to actually smell "Real" gasoline again !

Hoov

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 28 Jun 2010, 15:36

Good man.

Sean-E-Boy · Post by **Sean-E-Boy** » 29 Jun 2010, 15:06

Ok, so I understand the whole principle behind the "dont let you fuel take run below..." argument, but fuel pumps tend to be located on the BOTTOM of fuel tanks, and if not, are fed by tubing that draws from the bottom of the tank.

because of this design, whatever dirt, water, sediment, what-have-you there is in the fuel is constantly being sucked into the system.

and if any of you have purchased a car from model year 2005 or newer, chances are that it doesn't even have a fuel filter anymore...not sure what this says about the quality of gasoline in the states, but it doesn't sound like manufacturers are too concerned about water/dirt in fuel anymore.

sean

What type of fuel are you using?

Re: What type of fuel are you using?