| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Fransson (Brian) New Member Username: Brian Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2001 |
With the ever so rising price of gasoline, now $1.95 at Mobile here on Long Island, does anyone buy from no name gas stations? Is the 4.0 designed or able to burn 93 octane from these stations or does it need the gas with all the extra additives the big names add? The savings are about .08 to .10 cents per gallon. | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) advanced member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1355 Registered: 04-2002 |
I really don't think they designed the engine to run on additives or they would say "use Mobile Premium only" on the gas door. But I'm sure there is a marketing guy out there who has tried to sign a deal with Mobile for such a sticker. But then this could spark the same debate on what kind of air filter to use. | ||
| John Davies Unregistered guest |
Some stations like Arco and 76 here in WA State use a gas/ alcohol blend. That's the reason their gas is so much cheaper. I personally don't want to use alcohol, as it has the potential to damage rubber parts in the fuel system. If you have any doubts, look for a lable on the pump. | ||
| Mark Devereux (Groupw) New Member Username: Groupw Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2002 |
I've used many of the "no-names" when on trips away from civilizaion with no problems. You should know though, that they often buy surplus fuel from multiple vendors who have overpurchased. It is cheaper, but it may be older and of variable quality. I always carry fuel drier, and a spare fuel filter in case of bad luck. | ||
| Brian Fransson (Brian) Member Username: Brian Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2001 |
That's what I'm worried about...I'm sure there are more contaminates and other things, like alcohol, with no name fuel. I just wonder about the long run after continued use. My commute is 60 miles a day with little or no traffic at highway speed, so I'm filling up about every four days. Right now I try to alternate between brand and non brand gas. | ||
| Mark Albrecht (Markalbrecht) New Member Username: Markalbrecht Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'm cheap so I always use the cheapest premium gas (which is almost an oxymoron) I can find with no problems and 26K on the '01 DII odometer. | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) advanced member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1358 Registered: 04-2002 |
The way gasoline is distributed in the US you could actually get Mobile gas at a Shell station or Texaco at a no-name station. The refiner will pump X quality gas into the pipe line and pull out X quality gas at the other end of the pipe line. But since the size of the line is so large they won't get their own gas. The only get X quality gas. Then when it's loaded into the trucks at the distribution terminal they add all the additives. So gas you get an the no-name station may be the same quality just lack the additives. As for alcohol, most cars I believe are made to take up to 10% blend but I don't know about Land Rover (I haven't checked). And most states require the pumps selling alcohol blends to mark the pumps. | ||
| Christian Cartner (Cartner) New Member Username: Cartner Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2002 |
Guys, my dad was a Tanker master for the oil companies and carried lots of gasoline and other fuels...ALL gasoline is basically the same with the exception of Amoco, because they use a different refining process than other companies, but the gas in a ship is sold fifty times over before it gets to the pump or into your Rover. Honest. I swear. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) advanced member Username: Bri Post Number: 177 Registered: 08-2002 |
There is a Texaco station right up the street whose gas is noticably bad compared to the BP station across the street. As a result I do not buy Texaco gas unless I must. I have not found anything consistant about good/bad gas and the type of station. Christian: I don't buy it. | ||
| Ramsay (3toedsloth) Advanced member Username: 3toedsloth Post Number: 151 Registered: 07-2002 |
Yes, all gas companies use the same pipeline. However, the fuel is seperated by water in the pipeline. There are sensors at the tank farms that detect these spaces. It is by this method that the right gas gets to the right place. This being said, most companies do have similar products. There are only slight variations in additive packages at most. I'm weary of Crown gas though since they don't release their additive package. Buy BP, my future thanks you. JR Brian, no name gas stations my in fact have good fuer. However, you might also take into consideration how often their holding tanks are 'cleaned'. There is sludge and water that accumulates at the bottom and periodically it has to be pumped out. Mom and Pop stations may or may not have the resources to do this frequently. Also, if you notice a pump that is pumping abnormally slow it is probably a sign of a junked up filter (they look like big ass oil filters and each line on a pump has one). Just go BP, trust me... muhahaha My $0.07 | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) advanced member Username: Bri Post Number: 182 Registered: 08-2002 |
OK I'll buy the fact that they are "basically" the same. However this difference in the additives and any other crap that ends up in there certainly affects the quality at the pump. Just stop by sometime and fill up at my neighborhood Texaco and it will not take too long to realize that it runs like crap. Even my Subaru doesn't like it-- and this station is consitently bad. | ||
| JP Unregistered guest |
I've run the cheapest gas possible for the five years I've had my rover, and never had a problem. To me it doesn't make a damn as long as the shit burns. Hasn't caused me a problem yet. I agree with Christian, I think it's all the same. | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) advanced member Username: Noee Post Number: 430 Registered: 03-2002 |
Christian is right, I spent a long time researching mogas for aviation purposes and at least where I'm located, select Amoco retailers offer the most consistent, contaminant (alcohol) free premium fuel in the area. Alcohol is not only bad because of corrosion and rubber but it also absorbs water. IMHO, if your truck is not a daily driver or you go a couple of weeks between tanks, do not use fuel that might even have a chance of containing alcohol. There's an easy test for alcohol in gas. Fill a quart jar with your favorite fuel Add some water, about an inch, water sinks, is heavier than fuel Mark the line between water/fuel Go away for 15 minutes, come back Check the water level If it is lower, the fuel has some % of alcohol | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) advanced member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 185 Registered: 11-2002 |
Use Only British Petroleum as this is a British Vehicle! Seriously, though...I have 110,000 on mine and I use whatever I am close to when I need gas. I try to put Amoco in whenever possible, and gas treatment at every oil change. | ||
| Pete S. Unregistered guest |
Wow I can't believe we are so worried about gas. Goes to show you that Rovers can't handle the bad stuff, we need to baby these things. Yeah righ, listen I put the cheapest gas out there wherever I find it and one station around here has 90, so thats what I put. D2 with 37K, never had a problem. Just like what JP said if the shit burns its good. | ||
| Ron LF Unregistered guest |
If you have some water in your tank, would not the alcohol based fuel absorb the water and burn it. This would stop a water build-up in your tank and the tanks at the station. If there is a built-up of water it would be at the bottom of the tank. Don't they pump from the bottom of the tank?? So, if you buy gas at a station that does not use Alcohol base fuel, you have a greater chance of getting more water because it is at the bottom of the station tank(between cleaning of the tanks), and that is where the fuel pick-up is?Correct? If I am wrong, please help me to understand. | ||
| Rick Clarke (Tugcap) New Member Username: Tugcap Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2002 |
Usually tank suctions are elevated so as not to pick up all the trash/solids and water that sink to the bottom of any petroleum tank (take a look in your mower tank). depending on the tank height, there is a formula for establishing how high to elevate the suction above the tank bottom. I think some gas stations have tanks with more crap/water settled in them than others(ref the Texaco above) that taints the fuel. It has nothing to do with Motiva's refining, and everything to do with retailer's storage tank maintenance. If you dont need the alcohol, I wouldnt use it. If you do, pick it up by the pint @ Napa.IMHO,YMMV Rick | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) advanced member Username: Noee Post Number: 432 Registered: 03-2002 |
Yeah, I'm anal about it, for good reasons, most of which probably don't have to do with my rover engine, though I am paranoid about the potential for valve problems. I've seen a couple of small plane fuel systems that had lower grade mogas run through over a period of time (6 or so months). Not a comforting sight. Not to mention the very real possibility of ice building up in the carb choking off fuel/air. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) advanced member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 366 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm guilty of babying my rig with synthetic oils,fuel additives, etc but buying premium gas at a no name gas station! I guess I'm bi-polar! | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) advanced member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1360 Registered: 04-2002 |
"Yes, all gas companies use the same pipeline. However, the fuel is seperated by water in the pipeline. There are sensors at the tank farms that detect these spaces. It is by this method that the right gas gets to the right place. " Water?! Yikes... are you sure you don't mean that fuel is separated by a "pig"? And yes fuel type is separated (by a pig not water) but Texaco gas going into the pipe may not be pulled out 1000 miles away by a Texaco at the distribution terminal. They can only be guaranteed the same grade gasoline. | ||
| Kevin Novakowski (Kln) New Member Username: Kln Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2002 |
Fuel in a pipeline is not separated by water or a pig. Typically pipeline systems run the same type of fluids: all crude or refined or gas (ie butane). There is always an interface between products. This interface is where the fluids mingle in the pipeline and varies by pipeline size. The interface can be placed in a tank of a specific fluid type if it is of the same or better quality. If the reverse is true, it'll go to a slop tank then back to the refinery. Gravitometers or dye detectors are used to determine when the grade changes at a specific location. A pig is used to clean the line of sludge buildup. In the Detroit area there is one pipeline company owned by seven major oil companies. It's more cost effective for them. Gas swapping of the same grade is done. | ||
| Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco) advanced member Username: Offroaddisco Post Number: 1362 Registered: 04-2002 |
Kevin, This is a quote... "Pipelines that handle multiple products such as various grades of gasoline, heating oils, and jet fuels, often use a pig or sphere to separate these products." So yes... pigs are used to seperate or Batch fuels in a pipeline. In addition to separating fuels and cleaning they're used for maintainance, sealing holes and a number of other things. http://www.girardind.com/art.htm | ||
| Kevin Novakowski (Kln) Member Username: Kln Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2002 |
Thanks for the update. I didn't realize that as the companies I deal with don't operate that way. I was also told that some companies use 2 pigs with nitrogen in the middle to separate batches. kln | ||
| John E. King, Jr. (Cadet007) New Member Username: Cadet007 Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'm with the guys that go with anything that is premium. I did the drive from Georgia to Fairbanks, Alaska. When you are in the Canadian wilderness good luck finding anything that resembles premium. You get what you can get and pray you don't get stranded. Here in Alaska where it is very cold most of the year we can only get 90 octane and there aren't many choices when it comes to suppliers. If it burns, use it. | ||
| Jake Hartley (Jake) New Member Username: Jake Post Number: 158 Registered: 03-2002 |
I use whatever gas is available, never use premium. Disco has 254,000 miles and no problems with valves, etc. | ||
| Nathan Cooper (Cooper) Member Username: Cooper Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'll go w/ the any grade available. The only real worry you have about crap in station fuel tanks is during, or just after the fill trucks have topped of the underground tanks. That's when the majority of the crap gets run through the pumps.. FWIW | ||
| Brad Brinkman (Brad_b) New Member Username: Brad_b Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2002 |
76 that is the way to go they sell ethanol which helps local farmers and they don't buy alot of fuel from over seas. I mostly just go there but if you are low on fuel oh well. |
