Re: John L. - Octane/valve wear/hardened seats

[jlandry@domain.elided (John A. Landry)]

The black helicopters hovering over the house recorded "Thomas J. Harais"
<tharais@domain.elided> whispering:

>Well written piece on gasoline octane rating. Thought I might add two
>small caveats.

Thanks for the compliment.

>The old IH: with low compression, large tolerances and two fuel filters,
>I'll run just about anything in it. Sometimes I'm sure it would burn
>kerosene! However, I have noted a need to fill it up with premium if I'm
>going to climb long grades or pull a lot of wheight to minimize pinging,
>especially if it's hot weather. But I have also found that if I go slow
>and easy in those conditions, I can minimize pinging as well, without
>resorting to premium fuel. Of course, I have never advanced my timing
>past 0 BTDC because I've just been too lazy to try.

Tom,

You'd love the MSD Variable Timing Control unit.  From the comfort of the
driver's seat, you can adjust the timing freely within a 15 degree range.
I have my Timing Control set so that 0 degrees BTDC on the engine timing is
displayed as 5 degrees BTDC on the Timing Control dial face.  In that way,
I can retard my timing by 5 degrees or advance it by about 10.  For normal
easy cruising on level terrain, using 87 pump octane from BP, my 200,000
mile V345A can take a full 10 degrees of advance, but I feel only 5 is
probably better.  Moderately heavy engine loads require the timing to be
set back to 0 degrees BTDC to prevent pinging.  Rarely do I have to ever
actually retard the timing unless I get a tank of problem gas or I'm really
lugging the engine at lower roms.

Sadly, the gas from any Exxon station I've visited in western Washington
state has a very definite decrease in fuel quality.  I find that I have to
upgrade to their 89 pump octane to get the same performance I get with 87
pump octane at most other name brand stations.

As an aside, I also find Arco gas to be the same in performance as any
other good quality gasoline, despite what others have said about them here
on the Digest.  I only prefer BP because they give a 1% rebate on fuel
purchases when you use their charge card.  Around here, Arco charges a
$0.25 fee for using a charge card and there's no rebate.  BP sells for the
same price as the Arco down the street (currently $1.159 for 87 pump
octane), so my choice is simple... the end cost of BP is cheaper to me.
With an IH, this makes a big difference!

Take care,

John

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