Miata Mailing List: October 1992, Message #5
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: My Miata Needs Better Gas!
   Date: (none)

So far,
> > My '91 Miata (silver base package) suddenly, and I mean suddenly, began
> > requiring premium unleaded last year (around the 18k mark); anything less,
> > and I've tried Exxon, BP (aka Gulf), and Amoco, detonates badly under hard
> > acceleration, usually second to third.  
> 
> I'm at 55K miles on a '90 model, and have *never* had problems with pinging or
> knocking with the 89 octane (87 uleaded is the cheap, recommended stuff; 91 or
> 92 unleaded is the highest generally available) I put in it.

On a related note, I recently noticed what sounded like pinging for a few
seconds right when I started the car, when it was about a year old.  I
have noticed this my other cars.  What I have done is run a tank of high
octane through it, and the pinging clears up.  Knowing what I know now
about octane, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  Coincidence?
Superstition?  Any guesses?


Dennis Ordiway      4675 Newport Beach, CA 92626
Systems Engineer    Vmail: 8537
Silicon Graphics    
djo@sgi.com

"Sure, there are a few rounded, super streamlined
[cars] zipping about nowadays, but can you imagine
any of them on a classic car show in 2042? (OK,
the Miata. Maybe)" - The San Diego Union, 8/27/92.