Miata Mailing List: September 1993, Message #132
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   From: MANSON@fsd.com
Subject: Baaaad Gas (was odds & ends)
   Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1993 07:41:47 -0400

On 15 sept, Alex P. wrote:
"...any trouble with SHELL gas?  .....had some trouble with hesitation and
acceleration."

In my experience the most probable fault of gasoline related problems comes
from the station and the station's supplier.  In the transfer of fuel from
the delivery truck to the station's storage tanks (and while in the station's
tanks) there is a significantly higher probability of contamination, than
there is at the refinery or even in the transfer process from refinery to
distributor.

The most common type of contamination that I am aware of include water and
paint.  During the gas "shortage" of 1974, many stations sucked their tanks
nearly to the bottom to get every last drop of fuel.  Apparently many pumps
picked up the years of accumulated residuals on the bottoms of the tanks and
that included a lot of paint chips.  Back in those days you could tear your
carb apart and clean it out (paint chips and all), but with the EFI, I have 
no idea how you get this kind of debris out.  Hopefully Alex this is not your
problem.  The water contamination is another problem (which is much easier to
solve).  If water is the adversary, just get a can of "gas dryer" - actually
alcohol) and add it just as you would gas treatment.  The alcohol absorbs the
water and as you use the gas, the alcohol is consumed.  ONE WORD OF CAUTION:
It has bee years since I used the stuff and I am assuming that it is still
compatible with modern fuel systems.  You will want to be sure that you read
and instruction/limitations/cautions on the can before you commit it to the 
tank.

Good Luck Alex,
Tom 
manson@fsd.com
P.S> please excuse the typos.