Miata Mailing List: March 1999, Message #63

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If you have access to it, check the Federal Register.  There were
several rulemakings leading up to it but the actual law dealing with
fuel and fuel additives is 40 CFR Part 80.  The Federal Register with
the jurisdiction specific stuff is from November 1994.  You're right,
not only is fuel formulation and additives broken out by county, but
by ozone "attainment areas" which are essentially urban areas that
have ozone issues in the summer.  So, gas composition can differ from
county to county and season to season.  Not only that, but fuel
additives (which are not regulated if they don't have anything to do
with octane or RVP) are often blended in the tank trucks on a load by
load basis so accurate information as to composition is impossible to
learn unless you work in environmental law on fuel and fuel additive
issues or know the driver.  I personally only buy high test brand name
gas as a result (I've had good luck with Sunoco and Exxon).  If you
are really interested in the jurisdictional breakdown I will try to
find the actual specific cite but, essentially, it's based on
urban/rural areas.

Also, don't forget the winter "oxygenation" additives...


Shaara Kindermann
'95 M
...varrroooommm...


---Phredd  wrote:
>
> 
> 
>         +++  There was a race team manager being interviewed during a 
> race on SpeedVision in the wee hours this morning who blathered on
and on 
> about how his team counted on Sunoco's 94 oct to bring it home for
them. 
> I don't remember the details about what he said but, in concert, it
meant 
> it is just the best stuff. 
> 
>         Couldn't tell for sure but I think the car he was standing in 
> front of may have been yellow and blue, though. YMMV.
> 
>         I don't remember the sanctioning body nor class but it was 
> modified Firebird's, Camaros, Mustangs and stuff. There was one
Miata in 
> a "compact" class against some kind of an Oldsmobile which retired. I 
> presume the Miata went on to win [it was Red, after all] but don't
know 
> for sure as it was close to 4am so I went to bed.
> 
>         Keep The Revs Up,
> 
>         Phredd'n'MisteRedd
> 
> 
>         -----------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> >On Sun, 28 Feb 1999 21:56:39 -0500, Paul Williamson
> ><williamp@bit-net.com> wrote:
> >
> >>I have found that there is a difference in branded gas as well. 
Again, I 
> >>think it has to do with the additives.  When our local Getty
station closed 
> >>for remodeling, I used the local Citgo gas.  My mileage dropped by
2 
> >>mpg.  As soon as I switched back to Getty, the mileage returned.
> >
> > Yep. Even the "same octane" gas is different. On my last Harley
> >(a 96 cu. in. stroker motor that demanded good gas), after
> >testing almost every brand available in the area, I found that
> >Shell (specifically, the SU-2000) 93 octane premium was the
> >best...never a ping from the engine. This was followed by Exxon
> >93 octane (slight pings under high loads on hot days), and
> >Amorous Premium (Ran fine until temps. outside hit 90+, then it
> >pinged even under medium loads). Everything else might as well
> >have been 25% water to that engine, but all brands I tried were
> >"rated" at 93 octane.
> >
> > On a similar note, a client of mine does large-scale printing
> >and plotting jobs, and one day while I was in there I saw them
> >plotting a large (48" wide or so) US map that was color coded by
> >what "types" of gasoline were mandated by both the EPA and state
> >authorities. The legend below the map also contained state by
> >state (even city by city if so mandated by the feds. for
> >pollution control problems) listings of the months that certain
> >states used "reformulated" gas...and some got the vile stuff all
> >year round! It also listed the various type of RFG by area...some
> >are "better" junk than the others!
> >
> > I wish I could find this map or listing somewhere on the web for
> >reference.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >Doc
> >phRed '95 - CSP #25
> >Team Monster Miata Stereo
> >--
> >Never a late apex, never a dull moment.                            
       
> >                                                                   
       
> >                                                                   
       
> >                              
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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