halb@tekig5.UUCP (Hal Bates) (01/10/86)
I drive, as an RV, a Jeep CJ5. This rig has been setup to go anywhere. For power, the Buick V8 has been tweaked. This motor is about 10.5:1 compression, 295 hp. Even with special techniques, it is critical that the fuel is leaded, high ocatne. As we all know Union 76 is the only manufacturer producing leaded premium. This gas is ok, but most of the premium unleaded's run just as good, and because lead acts as a octane booster means the Union product must have low octane. The actual octane is probably higher than leaded reagular, but less than the advertised 92 octane. Observations by me, in the Portland Oregon area, tell this story. Mixing 2 or 3 gallons of leaded regular (to supply the need for my neglected valves) to 13 gallons of unleaded premimum has given me the following results. My observations on SUPER UNLEADED's: Union 76 -- Not too bad but leaded gas is gone..... ouch, for alot of people that will watch their cars die right before their eyes. Seems rude doesnt it! More pain for us poor people with old cars. ARCO -- The worst water and alchohol, er, I mean gas on the market. This stuff would ruin a lawn mower. Chevron -- Wow, how do they stay in business? ARCO uses water and alchohol but Chevron uses stale beer. SHELL 2000 -- If I use octane booster I can run it. But my plugs turn out pink. I really dont like that octane booster. Not only is it expensive but anything that burns yellow or pink must be bogus, and at best deadly to anyone who inhales it. Is MOROSO part of Union Carbide? Mobil -- The price is right but the fuel is very inconsistant. One tank is great, the next should be drained from the tank before the motor is destroyed. Texaco -- Sometimes inconsistant but usually the best. I was suprised. I thought Shell, or Chevron would be the best. Texaco is best on the average. Private -- There is a Classic and British car dealer on Canyon Road and Walker Road in Beaverton. This gentleman has an OLD Chevron white pump (for any of you old enough to remember the mid 60's when Chevron had the fameous white pump. 110 OCTANE) anyhow, he mixes his own formula to boost the octane. The last time I was there, the price was $1.49 per gallon. This stuff is what is used for the Space Shuttle's main boosters. This is my observation and ideas. Are the fuels consistant with the rest of the world or does Oregon reside at the end of the tap? Hal Bates tektronix!tekig5!halb