BajaNomad - Regular Gas OK?

Regular Gas OK?

howat - 3-7-2007 at 11:23 AM

Towing my 21' boat to BOLA next week with an 03 V8 Tundra. I have not driven there in 19 years. I use regular gas in the USA. Can i use the regular gas in mexico or have to use the higher octane gas?

HH

Hook - 3-7-2007 at 11:39 AM

They are both 87 octane.

But doesnt your manual call for a higher octane for that vehicle? If so, when towing in hot weather wouldnt be a bad time to do it.

David K - 3-7-2007 at 11:40 AM

The 'regular' gas is 87 octane in works the same as at home in my Tacoma... it's called Magna and is unleaded. However, if the weather is hot and you have a load it would be wise to use Premium, available at El Rosario... and now it's cheaper than regular in San Diego!

David K - 3-7-2007 at 12:04 PM

Ha, looks like Hook and I were thinking the same...

The reason for higher octane with a load and/or hot weather is to prevent pinging (pre-ignition)and dieseling... those can really mess with a motor!

Higher octane controls the fuel from igniting (from heat of compression)when the piston is still on its way up to top dead center, before the spark plug flashes. The 'pinging' rattle noise is the igniting fuel trying to force the piston back down while it is still in an upward direction.

Dieseling is when the motor keeps running after you shut off the key... This is from super hot parts in the combustion chamber igniting the low octane gas (which ignites easier) or from a glowing carbon deposit (like a glow plug in a diesel motor).

Magna vs premium

Barry A. - 3-7-2007 at 12:05 PM

All I can tell you is that my ' 94 F-250 with the big 460 engine pings unmercifully on Magna, and runs great on Premium in Baja.

In the USA I burn regular 87 oct. in this vehicle with no problems. When in the mountain states I believe the regular is about 85 octane, and my truck runs better, with better MPG, on 85 than it does on California's 87 octane. Go figure.

I always try to burn Premium in Mexico, or at least a 50/50 mix which I can manage using the 2 stock tanks, plus a 3rd 18 gal tank on the overhead rack. I NEVER run on pure Magna!!

I have completely destroyed the pistons (burned holes thru them) in my old 69 Ford 240 6 cyl engine using the old NOVA fuel, long ago.

David K - 3-7-2007 at 12:06 PM

Sounds like a FORD issue :biggrin:

LOL...

Hi Barry!

Hi David------

Barry A. - 3-7-2007 at 12:08 PM

-----you TOY guys are relentless---------

TMW - 3-7-2007 at 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

In the USA I burn regular 87 oct. in this vehicle with no problems. When in the mountain states I believe the regular is about 85 octane, and my truck runs better, with better MPG, on 85 than it does on California's 87 octane. Go figure.

The higher the altitude the less octane is required. The air is thiner therefore you'll run more rich. Try it sometime when you get up 3-4000 ft or higher. On our race bikes we ran high octane 100-110 for Baja and southern CA. At the Mammoth Motocross races we ran 87 pump gas, same bike.

Hook - 3-7-2007 at 05:56 PM

Kids and their TOYS, huh Barry? :lol:

TW------at the risk of beating a dead horse to death----

Barry A. - 3-8-2007 at 12:35 PM

I understand that altitude affects cumbustability, and thereby the "octane" needed is less at altitude, but why do I get better mileage in the Utah and Colorado mountains on 85 octane than in California near sealevel on 87 octane??

With my beast 460 engine, I consistantly get 10 mpg in California no matter what, but when in Utah or Colorado I consistantly get between 11 and 13 mpg on 85 octane------that I do not understand.

Is it the "additives" that California gasoline has, thereby reducing my efficiency?? Seems pretty ironic that the addivives are supposed to reduce polution, yet I burn more fuel------go figure!!!!

tripledigitken - 3-8-2007 at 12:57 PM

Barry,

I too have experienced the high altitude/better mileage phenom. With my road bike I average 45 mpg in CA. But on a trip awhile back in Colorado I averaged 52 mpg. Can't explain it either. Less resistance from the thinner air must be the reason. :lol:

Or my math was wrong due to that "Rocky Mtn High". :cool:

Ken

vagabond - 3-8-2007 at 03:16 PM

its the oxygenated gas in ca I constantly get about a mile per gal less in the MH and about 2 to 3 miles less per gal in the PF
And then they screw us more with the cost of fuel

DianaT - 3-8-2007 at 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by howat
Towing my 21' boat to BOLA next week with an 03 V8 Tundra. I have not driven there in 19 years. I use regular gas in the USA. Can i use the regular gas in mexico or have to use the higher octane gas?

HH

Just got back with our 03 V8 Tundra used regular all the time in Baja. We were not towing anything this time, but have towed a small trailer in Mexico with the Tundra, and still used regular.

Have a great trip
Diane

vagabond-------

Barry A. - 3-8-2007 at 03:40 PM

-----MH means what?
-----PF means what?

aquaholic - 3-8-2007 at 05:13 PM

...Vagabond has brought up a good point. Gas with alcohol, or, oxygenated fuel, has less energy per gallon because the alcohol has less energy than gasoline. Therefore, you need to burn more to do the same amount of work than pure gasoline. So, if you buy plain old gasoline with no additives, you'll get better mileage. It's probably cheaper, too, so go figure...

Timbercrete - 3-8-2007 at 05:37 PM

The reason for better MPG at higher altitude

thinner air=less wind resistance

:lol:

[Edited on 3-9-2007 by Timbercrete]