Mini Cooper

[onlyontwo]

Wife has an 2002 mini s in our garage. Great car and fun as hell to drive. To answer Albacore's question, you might get teased...but just let them drive it. Our neighbor just sold a mini that had 300 hp to the wheels. It was the most insane car I have ever driven. More so than buddies american muscle cars.

They are great little cars and the tire thing is a non-issue. Don't get runflats. Carry some plugs, can of fix a flat and a small cigi lighter compressor if needed. You don't get all the benefits of the mini handling with runflats. We run larger toyo proxes on ours. Hope this helps.

Oh, and the gas thing...it does make a difference in ours. We came from indiana and premium there is 93 octane and didn't have the ethanol mix (now does I heard and was less than a year ago). Our car feels neutered on Cali gas. Just my .02.

Andy

[autoduel]

+1
Most of those octane boosters only raise the octane a fraction of a point. Waste of money and not effective.

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

For the cost of the octane booster, why not just get the right fuel in the first place? Adding octane booster to 87 octane fuel doesn't truly give it the same characteristics as 91 octane fuel. If you want to reduce the detonation caused by low octane fuel, you can simply add some acetone to the fuel. It still may not perform the same, but you will reduce the detonation.

I think you mean Tuolene or Xylene. Only makes sense when you are trying to achieve a higher octane than 91 since it's not readily avaliable at most pumps. Anyone know what 100 octane is going for these days?

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by autoduel

I think you mean Tuolene or Xylene. Only makes sense when you are trying to achieve a higher octane than 91 since it's not readily avaliable at most pumps. Anyone know what 100 octane is going for these days?

Those work better than acetone, but acetone is easy to find. I've never personally used acetone, but I've known many tuners to use it in a pinch to stave off detonation in 2-strokes.

I overheard a conversation between a couple coworkers, and one said that he's getting av-gas for $5.50. Seems a bit low to me. Sunday, I saw the 76 100 octane low-lead fuel for $7.49....or was that $6.49? Damned memory.

[autoduel]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Those work better than acetone, but acetone is easy to find. I've never personally used acetone, but I've known many tuners to use it in a pinch to stave off detonation in 2-strokes.

I overheard a conversation between a couple coworkers, and one said that he's getting av-gas for $5.50. Seems a bit low to me. Sunday, I saw the 76 100 octane low-lead fuel for $7.49....or was that $6.49? Damned memory.

I remember getting 100 octane unleaded in 2005 at the shell station off La Paz and it was $6 a gallon then. I think the Av-gas and leaded aren't legal for highway use and therefore not taxed by the state. Which might make it seem cheaper than you might think.

I've heard the use of acetone in small quantities to improve fuel atomization rather than boosting octane. I know that fuel line seals don't like acetone, but in small quantities, it might not hurt. It didn't make a difference in my acura, but I noted small improvement in fuel mileage in my carburated roadster.

[mazda-monkey]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

For the cost of the octane booster, why not just get the right fuel in the first place? Adding octane booster to 87 octane fuel doesn't truly give it the same characteristics as 91 octane fuel. If you want to reduce the detonation caused by low octane fuel, you can simply add some acetone to the fuel. It still may not perform the same, but you will reduce the detonation.

It's interesting to see all the misconceptions on this thread regarding fuel. For many of your own interests, I'm glad many of you aren't involved with building/racing performance engines.

Acetone? You sure? I would sometimes dump a gallon or two of tolulene or xylene in the tank of my turbo cars at the track to raise the octane a few points, but even that stuff is too pricey now. Now I just pump 3 gallons of 110 at the track.

Originally Posted by autoduel

+1
Most of those octane boosters only raise the octane a fraction of a point. Waste of money and not effective.


I think you mean Tuolene or Xylene. Only makes sense when you are trying to achieve a higher octane than 91 since it's not readily avaliable at most pumps. Anyone know what 100 octane is going for these days?

110 race gas is about $8.00 per gallon at the track.

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Those work better than acetone, but acetone is easy to find. I've never personally used acetone, but I've known many tuners to use it in a pinch to stave off detonation in 2-strokes.

I overheard a conversation between a couple coworkers, and one said that he's getting av-gas for $5.50. Seems a bit low to me. Sunday, I saw the 76 100 octane low-lead fuel for $7.49....or was that $6.49? Damned memory.

Most home depots carry xylene which I believe is about 120 octane. But it's also 16.00 per gallon.

[bighit8]

But what if there isn't a premium gas pump around when the needle hits empty? As a last resort, Mercedes tells owners to use regular — but no more than half a tank — until they can find a station that sells premium.
Other automakers are more flexible. Volvo, for instance, recommends using 91 octane gas, but says customers should notice "little or no difference" if they fill up with a lower-grade fuel, said Steve Hansen, manager of product strategy for the Swedish automaker's Irvine, Calif., office.
Modern auto engines, using electronic sensors, adapt to different fuel grades, he said.
Sean Lobosco, a BMW spokesman, agreed that the sensors would help protect even a high-performance engine using a lesser-grade fuel. But the cheaper fuel still could "gum up" the motor and reduce the horsepower and torque levels the vehicles achieve when premium gas is in the tank, he said.




You can use lower grade fuel and be fine.Maybe every other tank use 91.My friend has been running 87 octane in his cl600 for over a year with occasional 91.Yes a lack of power and detonation only if he gets into the throttle.So it is up to you for the most part unless you are running a turbo with a lot of boost or a car with a high compression ratio.

[goldrunner]

Yeah 91 is a must! But you only have to change the oil every 15k so there is a little savings. There are also places for roof racks and a hitches in certains models and years, check it out if you intend to use it to hall your bike....

[Sprockethead]

We have a 2004 Cooper S with almost 40,000 miles on it now. The only maintenance besides the included ones from the dealer is new battery and tires. It's been a fantastic, fun car to drive. We avg about 28 MPG with my lead foot.