Hello,

So I have really been wondering about the fuel used for Ralliarts. I am not an owner but I hope that will change very soon.

I live in northern manitoba, canada. We have the higher octane gas 91 in my town, I have noticed while travelling south and farther north that some gas stations don't, they only offer the regular 89.

I am wanting to pursue a ralliart after being an owner of the GTS, but what if I have no choice in the fuel I have to use one of these days, which would be no more than a full tank of usage. I can't seem to find any answers on this. Will it hurt the engine too much? I know the Ralliarts take the higher octane gas...

Any input on this would be very much appreciated, thanks

 

unless you HAVE to use it, i heard you'll get engine knocking. I also heard from the stealership that you could use it...

but if you plan on buying the RA and traveling north/south a lot you better buy gas cans and fill them up for the trip. Otherwise you'll be looking for a new engine.

so, go buy a 5.99 gas can x2 at canadian tire and fill it up before you head north/south.

 

 

To save weight, you could also carry around a few gallons of Tolulene and mix it to up the octane rating when in 89-only areas.

 

If worse case senario.... You CAN run 89 just do not boost more than 3-5 Psi but you should try not to boost at all.

It'll run fine but when you boost KNOCK gallore.

 

ROFL!!^^

Running 89 will not hurt the car as long as you stay out of boost.
If you're frequently going to be in a place that doesn't offer 91 then another option is to get your car tuned on 89 octane.

I know a few people who have actually gotten an 87 octane tune on their Evo's

 

Now that IS interesting! I wonder if there are any drawbacks to doing this....sounds like a good way to save significant money on fill ups if it actually works without doing any engine damage over the long term.

 

If by "significant" money, you mean $3. Definitely NOT worth the loss in power in my eyes. If you are concerned about saving $3 a fillup, DO NOT buy an RA......

 

Lol, i just to run 100 octane. $8 a gallon.

 

If you think you're going to be in an area without 91 then throw a couple of bottles of Torco octane booster in the trunk. A can of Torco would take a tank of 89 octane up to 90 octane, maybe more.

Torco is a real octane booster that can add a full point or more to your rating. Its not one of these cheap fake boosters that gas stations or autozone sells. You'll probably have to buy it from local speed shop or online.

I've run Torco in my blown cobra on road trips several times. Its was tuned for 93 which we have locally but could only find 91 in some parts of the country. Works great but will turn your spark plugs orange - don't know why.

I will also throw in a can of torco when I take the cobra down the 1320. Got way too much money in it to risk detonation on the track. Even with a very conservative tune. Better safe than sorry.

 

Spark plugs change color because the octane booster contains MMT, which is a chemical with manganese in it. Modern cars have in their users manual a warning to avoid MMT, because it is said to be harmful to oxygen sensors.

Unfortunately, I don't know where to find an effective octane booster that contains no MMT or lead.

I knew mountain towns had lower octane gas as an option, but I never knew that they also didn't always sell gasoline with 91 or higher octane.

 

^^^ lol Yea this

 

89 wont kill your engine unless your beating on it. As some here have said already, stay off the boost and you will be fine. You can mix your octanes. If you have to... you can do half tank of 91 and half 89. Its a half *** way to achieve 90 octane, but at least you drive like a grandpa instead of a grandma.

ultimately. Stick with 91 and change your driving habits to save fuel. if you see a red light way up the road take your foot off the gas and coast. Its surprising how much fuel you can save over time if you learn that habit. there are other tricks out there to save fuel. Its all about maximizing momentum

 

Thanks for the info on MMT. I didn't know that was the cause of orange plugs after using Torco. I can say, however, that if you use Torco only on occasion you're unlikely to have any 02 sensor problems. I monitor the logs from my cobra pretty close and have never seen any indication of failing 02 sensors like slow sensor switching or deviated fuel trims caused by a failing sensor.

I still say put some Torco in the trunk on road trips. I wouldn't want to have a forgetful moment with 89 in the tank and spool up too much boost by accident (like climbing a mountain). I'd rather reduce the life of my 02 sensors than melt a piston. 02 sensors are cheap, a melted piston isn't.