[2001 ZTS]

french_connection,Mar 25 2005, 05:56 PM Wrote:its very common to even find water trace in 87 gas.
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........and a whole bunch of other crap.

"Oops we forgot to flush out the pipe from the previous cargo of Bunker C and now our storage tank of premium 91 octane is spoiled, oh we'll just downgrade it to regular 87."

"oops, lab results came back on the last batch of premium, the anti knock specification can't be met and since we can't waste it we'll just "cut" that batch with some diesel and sell it as regular"

That sort of stuff happens all the time. Then there all the other sources of error. Refining and blending of premium is VERY difficult there are lots of chances for mistakes.

Your gas pump's octane rating always say 87 "minimium". You are very likely getting 89, 91 or even higher. I was told by many in the industry words to the effect that:

"nobody sets out to create regular 87 petrol on purpose, it is just the failed atempts to create premium grades"

So again it is not octane, everyone's 87 is likely higher than 87 anyway, it is a quality issue; you just don't know what you are getting and when you are getting it.

Octane is the thing most people talk about when they talk about quality of a fuel but it is only one measure of what is and isn't a quality product and something that is good or bad for your car. There is so much more to it than octane.

Try this: people need water to live. You could survive drinking Coca-Cola because it is mostly water but you'd be healthier without the caffeine and sugar and drinking some plain water instead. ;)