Miata Mailing List: September 1993, Message #113
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   From: suskind@isdev1.melpar.esys.com (Barry A. Suskind)
Subject: Re: ends&odds
   Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1993 12:11:46 -0400

["Alex M. Postpischil" ] Writes:
> 
> Hi Folks,
>         Does anyone when the 94 PROMO LIT is due out to dealers? I read the
> post about the R package cars being delayed, but are the regular 94s due out
> any sooner?
>         I remember reading a few things about differences in gasoline quality,
> did anyone have any trouble with SHELL gas? I've started using their gas (I
> was using mostly AMOCO in WI). The other week I was in the NC mountains and had
> some trouble with hesitation and acceleration. I thought the problem was a
> high altitude thing, but it continued when I got back to DC. The dealer folks
> didn't feel any problems were present. I beginning to doubt the mechanics at
> my trusty dealership because we were talking about maybe timing being the
> problem and the tech said the timing could NOT be advanced because everything
> is controlled electronically by the computer! So all of you who have advanced
> you timing - you really didn't advance it! (yeah, right ;-) ) Anyway, has
> anyone had any problems with bad gas from shell?
> -alex-
> 
> 

My finding with gasoline, and readings from various sources....

Best gas is Chevron, Mobil, Texaco. I have to laugh a the "leader" Amoco as
they are one of the LAST major gas companies to upgrade their gasolines. And
who cares if the stuff is clear, yellow, green, red, or blue? You usually don't
see the gas at all unless you spill it or use it in your lawn mower.

Until as recent as 1 year ago most gasolines (with exception of above) did
not provide detergents in their regular or mid level gasolines. Only Hi test.
Now most major vendors have detergents in all grades. But don't count on any
minor gas station to have detergents in any grade. 

The studies I have read stated that Shell was not good gas and their quality
control was poor. Sometimes you got the octane listed on the pump and sometimes
you did not. Exxon also suffered from the problem until they recently upgraded
their gasoline. 

Miatas use regular. This is in a bulletin supplied by Mazda. Of course once
you start mucking with the timing to improve performance that may be out the
window......

If you do stay just with regular it would be advisable to use Chevron 
fuel injector cleaner about once every 6 months to keep the injectors clean.

I have done the same for my pontiac which had a real problem where the car
had no power, stumbled and was hard to start. The dealer
wanted to charge me $100 to clean the throttle body and $250 to clean the
injectors. I used two tanks of high test Texaco and a can of Chevron Injector
cleaner and the car ran great.

Cheap gas will foul the injectors and your performance will suffer...


======================================================================
Barry Suskind                      This space intentionally left blank
Internet: suskind@melpar.esys.com
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