So I put 87 octane in the 135i

[Thud]

It's the only gas you can get around Atlanta right now, if you can find any gas at all. I waited 30 minutes to fill up with 87 octane.

I still had some 93 in the take, so I probably have 2 parts regular to 1 part premium now.

I will let you know if my engine blows up.

[TagMan]

Drive conservatively... your car will be fine.

Sorry that you are experienceing a gas shortage. That sucks.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Thud

It's the only gas you can get around Atlanta right now, if you can find any gas at all. I waited 30 minutes to fill up with 87 octane.

I still had some 93 in the take, so I probably have 2 parts regular to 1 part premium now.

I will let you know if my engine blows up.

I had to do the same with my BMW motorcycle (air/oil cooled twin with 12:1 compression) a few days ago outside of Asheville, NC - thankfully there were no engine problems. The gas situation there was awful. I hope you guys start getting your regular fuel supplies again, as not knowing where your next tank of gas is coming from is a tough way to live!
Tom

[b2nvs2001]

You are so screwed. I did that before and it ruined my O2 sensors and then my engine blew up.























NOT! You'll be fine. Just don't redline it or drive too aggressively.

[Bizall]

You should be fine. Your engine should NOT blow up...there is too much control to let that happen from lower octane gas. Your car will run slugish, but like others said, don't drive it like you stole it...just baby her/him until you get some better gas.

[MZWIE]

Baloney. It doesn't hurt the engine at all. BMW's are driven the world over with crappy gas.

[imported_mega]

why do you have to stay out of boost? My understanding is these cars adapt quickly

put 93 in you make more power than 87, but the computer still runs it at the timing limit that it can with the knock sensor

[imported_mega]

I'm not talking about the user manual or piece of mind

I'm talking about technically how these engine control functions work, they run at the knock sensor ragged edge, and they adapt very quickly, ask anyone that's modded and done dyno pulls

how do people that can only get 87 run their cars?


I'm more worried about all the sulfur in the gas here than the octane, anyone remmeber the M60 problems?

[imported_mega]

your ignoring my point, that's ok though, you only do oil changes when the computer says to too right?


you can not buy premium here right now, it's 87 or dont drive, I am having a hard time believing I cant drive the car hard on 87

again, how do people that can only ever get 87 drive, do you not rev past 3000? Never floor it?

My understanding is, whatever octane you use, the computer will advance to knock and then back off, so 87 simply makes less power than 93, or 100 octane, but it either runs or it does not, if it was knocking at 87, and could not retard spark any more, you would get a limp

[imported_mega]

asking him?

no, ME, I have 87 in my car right now you cant get premium here


maybe I should push that SOS button and ask them, although I doubt the guy answering the call would really know

[imported_mega]

I'm not being immature

the owners manual is irrelevant I'm going to post this on n54tech and see what those guys think, they know the computer inside & out

[arrutled]

and yet another glaring reason to have a beater for a second car! love my camry......now if it only had heat, d'oh!

[imported_mega]

running fine so far, remember this car makes peak torque at a very low rpm

you simply cant avoid being in the power on a 135i, you would have to shift at 1300 rpm, good luck with that

[imported_mega]

I cant control the boost level, my car is not chipped


my understanding is this car is always adjusting via the knock sensor, if you put 89 in you will make less power than 93 because it adjusts every time you drive it

[arrutled]

Originally Posted by DaleM

LOL, I have the beater 91 Toyota Celica out now. At 249K miles this POS keeps on going, even if it is on 3 different tires, a little oil leak. Still getting 32 mpg with the best AC in any car I have owned.

Right on!

[imported_mega]

I've got another vehicle I could drive, my wifes x5 is also running on 87, that car also calls for the same fuel as the 135i

I could drive my F150 but 14 mpg hurts

[imported_mega]

people used all the 87 first, then the premium blends when 87 ran out

now it's so bad any gas truck seen gets followed so people can get fuel

[emm3tt]

Give me a break, using a limited amount of 87 octane driven reasonably is not going to blow the engine.

That said, I'm being forced to use 87 octane, and I can definitely tell a big difference in power, even at low RPM's.

[imported_mega]

have you got on it at all emm3tt? I dont know if I could feel/hear detonation on these 1's

[gadget12345]

In the same situation - I really didn't move to this country to line up for gas, I moved here to shower with gas, to use it to water my lawn with (Since we also have no water in atlanta....)

Kidding aside - Exactly the same 25% premium, 75% regular mix - Seems ok but I am driving quite conservatively.

Heres my question - Anyone tried a bottle of Octane Booster ? I've been looking up the NOS racing one ........

[adc]

Use an octane booster, to be safe. Should be available locally, but if not I bet you can find an online retailer ready to ship to you overnight.

Edit: Oops, slow computer, no patience = others may have responded in a similar vein before me... apologies.

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by DaleM

Have you had a car that ever knocked? Trust me you will know it and hear it.

I have, but it was an old jeep, and my understanding of these N54's they do knock, the ecu runs at the bleeding edge, it cant find that edge without allowing some knock

that's why when you put in high octane gas, it quickly adjusts timing and adapts, nothing but knock tells the engine it can advance timing