The winteer GAS sucks... Today we gut a taste of the spring... Sunny in low fourties... I opened it up on the 3rd... it was not impressive..

Sure I need to do a full tune up... but the lack of power is due to this watered-down GAS....

 

That's true, but the bad gas should be offset by the cooler temps going into the intake.

 

This guy claims I am wrong... Winter gas is good for performance...


http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/PICS/winterGas/winterGas.html

 

I had to drop my car into 2nd today during lunch and boy did it feel good! I got to 7000 rpms for the first time in a while (because of the weather) and the car felt and sounded nice. If its true that headers make a significant improvement in the high rev area then I can't wait to install mine!

 

Maybe...but last night was fuking awesome...47 degrees comming home (thats cold for cali btw ). It was like being on the verge of orgasm...and everytime I pushed the pedal...well, you get the picture

 

It was 47 today for lunch so I know what you mean bkknight! Only thing is there is plenty of sand/salt still on the road. Can't wait for the spring!

 

I feel for you...

 

Here's the story. It is not "watered down gas", but you are close.

Regarding gasoline, there is something in chemistry called the "closed cup Reid vapor pressure measurement", which is a fancy way to say, "how volitile is the fuel?"

First, keep this in mind: there is no one liquid in the world, none, nada, zip that burns. However, the vapors of these volatile liquids will.

In Chicago, -10f to 100f is reasonably possible on an annual basis. The chemists at the fuel companies adjust the reid vapor pressure so your car will start. The vapor pressure must be increase in winter so the fuel is volatile enough for vapors to be present, so it can burn. Got that?

In airplanes, the fuel distribution lines have to be installed on top of the engine so it can be inspected for leaks. After flying for two hours or so and landing for fuel, so much heat is releases that the fuel in these lines cook, and the vapor pressure gets so high, the fuel in the cylinders are too rich to burn, in reality, there is too much fuel to burn. The solution: Shut the fuel supply off, and crank. Sooner or later, the mixture will reach the proper proportions and the engine starts. Now we restore the fuel flow.

In Barrow, Alaska, on the north coast of the state, where it is REALLY COLD, they do sell charcol starter for BBQing. We in the lower 48 get kerosene. In Barrow, they get 93 octane gasoline. Kerosene, up there, in most cases will not form a vapor!

And while on the subject of cars, gasoline and airplanes, I see all to often people bringing in their Ferraris and Lambos to the airport for our favorite 130 octane "low lead" to get more power. FOOLS, ALL OF THEM. If you do this, stop it now.

Lead is put in fuel to act as a lubricant for the valve train. Car engines, when properly made, have a tolerance of .0005 to .001" for piston and cylinder clearance, but our cars are liquid cooled and run a steady temperature. Our air cooled aircraft engines expand and contract a lot, so tolerances of .007 to .009" are not uncommon. Therefore, we need lots of lead. And 130 octane "low lead" refers to "as considered to other AIRPLANE fuels."

So, if you are feeding your CL-S airplane fuel, stop it, and stop it now. You are paying about double from the car gas pumps, and you are well along the path to your first, unecessary valve job.

 

oxygenated fuel has caused numerous drivability conditions and lack of perfomance complaints, its not as bad as 96 and 97 when obdII first came out, but its still not the greatest, plus also affecting fuel is where and how long it is stored before you get it, and the blending process