---- Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
>
> I am strongly against premium fuel in stock vanagons.
> If you want more octane use mid-grade.
> if it doesn't ping, you're ok.

Interestingly, GoWesty has on their web site (in their articles library) that they advise never using regular grade gasoline in a Vanagon.  The article is not convincing to me, but it is the GoWesty official position, I guess.  My owner's book says to use regular, 87 or higher octane, but to avoid alcohol.  It is hard to avoid alcohol in most places these days, and I don't search for alcohol free gasoline when I am traveling.  I do pass up alcohol loaded gasoline so long as the fuel gauge needle is above the orange warning area, and I buy ethanol free if available.  It is also problematic to find 87 octane in the West (except low elevations), but I understand that the lower octanes sold there are ok because of the lower oxygen availability at higher altitudes, making for slower burning without the octane boost necessary nearer sea level.

It is also hard to listen for knock or ping in a Vanagon, because of so much road noise and the engine being in the rear.  I would be hard pressed to be absolutely certain it is not there in a Vanagon, but I believe mine is not pinging.  It does run well.  On steep climbs when the rpms drop is when I would expect ping, and I listen extra hard then, and have not been aware of it.

mcneely