Little Red L98

Been having some stalling issues on start up that I think may be due to using BJs gas. Always use premium 93 octane but who knows where it comes from. Probably no detergent or additives. It is $.30-.40 less than anywhere else but I might have to bite the bullet and go with a name brand. Sunoco around here is 94 octane so I may go to that. I have a stock 89 L98. Sometimes on start up it sputters and dies and I have to crank it 3 or 4 times before it runs smoothly. Very sporadic and it runs fine once it gets going. Shook some sand and bits out of the air cleaner and ran injector cleaner in the last tank but don't think that's the issue. Will get a new filter when it gets warmer. Could the wholesaler gas be less quality than a major brand? Higher water content? i live in the DC metro area so there's no ethanol free gas for miles. What do y'all use? Any suggestions or ideas?

PLRX

Aafes

92ragtop

Unless your car is constipated, you don't need fuel bran.

Scotts97C4

Beware
Speedway Gas has taken out fuel pumps in 3 of my GM cars..

kimmer

94 OCTANE, wish we had that on the street. We can only get 91 except at the track. Btw if you followed the tanker truck to see where it fills up you would be very surprised.

TD-Machines

383vett

Even cars need fiber.

Little Red L98

Constipated. Didin't think about it, but that's exactly how it's acting.

ckwhite

My '89 HAS to have 93 or better octane to run smoothly. Yes: use a name-brand fuel - better blending, added detergents and less water. A few years ago you could have bought 100+ octane from UNOCAL stations - and 114 octane UNOCAL fuel at the track. Sadly, those days are over.
[IMG][/IMG]

motor city dave

93 here in Indiana. I worked at a Marathon refinery where they fueled the tankers and they deliverd to "any" station that paid.

WGlen C4

I run non-ethanol 89 and my '91 runs great on it. When I bought the car in September I thought it was fast but after 3 or 4 tanks of non-eth it runs so much better.

zr1fred

Sounds like your fuel pump may be going out, or possibly other fuel system areas. Gas shouldn't cause the stalling problems unless its contaminated fuel. An L98 should run fine on 87 octane. Octane is for knocking (pre ignition).

bogus

Let's talk gas for a moment...

The refinery means not much... We had a Texaco refinery in Delaware City, DE, that would provide fuel stocks to Exxon, Mobil, Texaco, Sunoco... it mattered not... what was different? THE DETERGENT PACKAGE.

That is what makes the difference.

This is why I always use top-tier fuels. Exxon/Mobil, Shell, Chevron... the others just aren't as "pure".

aklim

Hmmmm. Never had gas while getting a BJ.

Seriously, I have used many brands of gas before with no issue. Octane is more significant. I don't like the small shops for the fact that their gas doesn't get fresh intake as often as the more busy places.

aklim

I have used Speedway gas and diesel. Not sure how the pump gets taken out by the gas unless there is some crap in the tank that the station sucked up and pumped into your tank.

JrRifleCoach

Correct me if I'm wrong,..... wait for it......

Doesn't the 86 & 89 L98 share the same 9.5:1 Comp ratio?
I run regular anything other than Arco (really crap) and have had no problems what-so-ever.
Sounds like its time for some clean injectors and a filter.

nutz4c4

I like pie...

Little Red L98

Thanks for the comments and funnies. To be perfectly clear though, "BJs" is one one of those wholesale outlets like Sam's or Costco that sells gasoline, tires, batteries, toilet paper, mayonnaise, etc. in bulk. Their gas is probably less than top tier, but it's $.40 or so less than everywhere else. I'm considering paying the extra $$$ at Sunoco to keep my Vera in top running condition. Maybe it's something other than cheap gas causing my problem. It's peculiar that she runs fine after initial start up on the infrequent occasions when the stalling/sputtering happens. I was just wondering if it was just cheap off-brand gas or a more serious underlying issue causing this problem. Filter, injectors, and everything else were replaced by the PO less than a year ago before I bought it. Guess I'll see what happens with good gas then go from there. What about those water removal fuel additives? Any thoughts or experience with those?

JrRifleCoach

Do you park it in the weather or a garage?
Do you leave it parked with the tank full or half full?

Water additives? Don't waste your money, add a pint of denatured alcohol to the next fill up.

Little Red L98

She is parked in an unheated garage. Winters here are not severe, at least not this year. Whenever she gets below half a tank i fill it up. I am willing to try the denatured alcohol. What's the dealt with that?