--- Andrew Richards  wrote:
>
> A question for you Vanagon drivers:
> What grade gasoline do you put in your rides?  I've
> been using 89 mid-grade since I bought my van in
> July, but just noticed the VW sticker calling for at
> least 91 octane.

91 RON is 87 CLC. US does not go by RON.

  I'm on my second tank of Premium
> with no noticable performance or mileage changes.
That's why I run regular- I notice no more power,
mileage is constant.

> Is valve damage a concern by running the lower
> octanes?  I only have about 5K on my new heads, and
> would like to keep them as heathly as possible.
If you run a lower octane and your engine knocks and
pings, go to a higher octane or retard the timing.

  Oh,
> and I obviously avoid the Arcos and other
> alcohol-based cheapo fuels.

Arco only uses 10% Alcohol. All  the refineries make
the same stuff.
Arco has a cheapo "look" based on the  stations are
more heavily used, ther equipment wears out faster and
they are junk food stores that attracts crowds.

When I was in South Dakota I saw 100 octane E-85 fuel
which is 85% 190 proof corn alcohol with 15% gasoline.
Flex-Fuel vehicles can use this. They sell VW's in
Brazil called Gols that use sugar cane alcohol.

Alcohol burns cleaner and cooler. Having alcohol in
your fuel actually helps run the engine cooler,  which
an air-cooled needs. Water-cooleds like it too.

Some water-cooled engines can do without a fan running
on straight alcohol.

Since the West coast doesn't sell any of this fuel,
you have to go to the corn belt to find it, though it
is available in other states.

From what I have read , most engines will run on 160
or 180 proof alcohol without any changes made at all.

Here's a link on alcohol as a fuel.

http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/

Robert

1982 Westfalia

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