Ran out of gas last night....

[CaribMon71]

I deserved it! I'm one of those who tends to wait until the last possible moment to gas up. I usually only gas up when the gas light comes on and the Range indicator reads ----.

I always figured that when it did that, I would have about another 2 gallons left. Well I found out for sure. I was able to do 32 miles of pretty much normal driving in the evening after the Range indicator went to ----.

The worse part.... I passed a station selling regular at $1.899/gal, so I passed it up to look for a cheaper one. I found one, but it was closed, since it was about 1am. The 3rd one was selling at about $1.939/gal, so I decided to find the first one again.

About half way ther-...

Exactly. The owner's manual was home (I meant to read it, but never got to it) and I didn't know the number to roadside assistance. Let's just say that I wasn't thinking 100% straight. The fact that I really needed a bathroom just compounded my anxiety and inability to think straight. I looked all over the car for a sticker with an 800 number, but I didn't find one.

Calling information never even crossed my mind (remember, I wasn't thinking 100% straight). It was also about 15 degrees outside. Finally I remembered I have a smart phone and was able to log on to the internet and find a number for infinity... but trust me, even that took me a while.

The guy they sent with 2 gallons looked as if he just woke up. Took him about 45 minutes to get there. By that time, I was shivering and shaking so bad, I wasn't even able to sign his paper.

Believe it or not, I actually laughed at myself when I got on my merry way to buy regular at $1.899/gal.

Just so you know, 2 gallons of fuel (at about 15 degrees) into a dry tank (in our cars) will bring your fuel needle to a point slightly above the lowest tic mark on the gauge. Maybe 3mm above the lowest tic mark. You can actually see some black between the needle and the gauge.

I'm pointing that out so you can figure when your fuel needle gets to that point - almost at the lowest mark - you've only got about 2 gallons left.

There's always a first time. I'm just glad it didn't happen on the way to work. I would have been mortified by the nasty look from disgruntled D.C. drivers.

**** One very important thing to note **** The range indicator on my EX-35 goes to ---- with about 25 miles remaining. It won't compute below that amount. At least, I don't ever remember seing it go below that.

So in my specific case, when my trip indicator read 315 miles driven, the range indicator was reading about 027 miles remaining. So I assumed I could get to 340 miles and still have 2 gallons remaining. I was wrong. I was only able to get to 347 miles before it crapped out.

Hope that isn't too confusing. I just want to ensure no one tries to drive to 000 miles remaining and expect to get another 32 miles. That thing is pretty accurate.

And one other thing... I'm only assuming I received 2 gallons of gas from the roadside assistance guy. I didn't ask how much he was putting in, but that's what the lady at infinity told me I would get.

In the end, I only got about 4 hours of sleep before going to work, but I got my gas for cheap... once you factor in the 2 free gallons I was given

I hope you all realize I'm just being cynical.
Modified by CaribMon71 at 7:06 PM 2/5/2009

[302@12psi]

I'm more alarmed at the fact that you are shopping for regular gas in your Infinity.

No thanks....I'll put the "good stuff" in mine.

[gloa2000]

I guess you learned a lot from this happening. After the first experience, you wont let the gas light to go on, at least for a while.

[CaribMon71]

"The good stuff"?

One grade is not better than the other. Higher octane doesn't do anything special to the engine. Higher octane fuel just resists spontaneous combustion better. If you're not knocking, then you don't need it.

A lot of money is thrown down the drain unnecessarily pumping premium. As it gets older... probably much older, you'll probably notice the car asking for higher octane.

There are several external factors - besides high compression - that dictate the need for higher grades of fuel. So don't be so alarmed.

BTW, I see you run boost in your cars. In your case, higher is better.

[302@12psi]

Gee thanks for the break down.

Having a backround in several turbocharged cars I'm fully aware of knock and predetenation.

With that being said....do you know the CR that our VQ runs at?

Long term the additional cost for 91 or 93 grade fuel is miniscal so as far as I'm concerned I'll follow the manual. While I have some very very informal knowledge of the automotive industry I do put faith in what the company who sold the product recommends as their R&D is hopefully way beyond mine.

[CaribMon71]

I think 10.6:1, but I'm not 100% sure. It might be right for the GS we got our plant from.

I figured about a $200 difference per year, assuming a $.20 difference per gallon and about 4 or 5 fill-ups per month. So in essence, you have a valid point. I guess I have to stop being such a cheap'o!

[M45Caliber]

Thanks for your story -- it confirms what my dad told me 25 years ago -- it doesn't cost any more to fill the top half than the bottom half of the tank... I always fill up when I'm down near a 1/4.

I've read there is also a strong possibility of Cat converter damage when you run the car out of gas.

Your car will adjust the timing to compensate for lower octane, but it begs the question of why you would buy a $40K car and then look to save LESS than one buck on a fill up? Or maybe $4 if buying premium over regular.

To extract the full performance potential, buy the good stuff. Read up on "Tier One" gasoline and stick with that; this has the additives your engine needs to run clean (injectors, valves, etc.) and maximize drivability, thus reducing maintenance costs later in the vehicles life! Oh, and throw a warm coat in the back seat for the next time you do this --

[CaribMon71]

I see what you're saying, but you've been fed bad information. Octane is simply defined as a quantitative measure of gasoline's ability to resist spontaneous combustion, which in turn causes knock.

This is usually due to high pressure in the combustion chamber. I don't see the correlation between a $40k car and 87 octane?

[SteveTheTech]

Well I am not trying to lol at your misfortune, and being stuck on the side of the road is no fun when it happens to you.

-My worst time in a dead car was my old Acura that the Pentagon killed. I was driving in Arlington on the road that parallels the side of the Pentagon and while going under a sign and it toasted my ECM. I have to give credit to the Pentagon Police Department for their immediate response, anf thoroughly scaring the hell out of my date and I.

To Premium or not to premium is a great question. Personally I premium always, the wifes RSX gets it and so does my J. I only use 93 from Sunoco, it's a bit more pricey at ~2.15/ gal. Both of my cars were designed in Japan where higher octane is standard and engines are designed to use. The Base timing and injector pulse are designed to run premium and the increased resistance to burn also effects catalyst and valve overlap performance. Although the newer cars shouldn't really knock/ping as their fuel trim will adapt, however cheaper (non tier one) tend to contain more water, and other things that do not belong in gas (tier one rejects).

At the end of the day it's your personal decision, but running a pump dry repeatedly will decrease the pumps life. My wife is one of those who knows just how long she can make it with the gas light on, so I take her car and fill it up randomly when it get to the 1/2-1/4 area. It's more convenient to just gas up when your not in a rush and it takes less time if there is still gas in there.

Doesn't the EX show you where the nearby gas stations are?

[Barry Zack]

Steve,

Just to update you, Sunoco is not Top Tier in the USA.

toptiergas.com

Zack

[SteveTheTech]

I was unable to find any contact information or information regarding who actually runs the topteirgas.com site. Although my search only consisted of a scanning of their 4 main pages.

I bet the reason that Sunoco not being on there has to do with either where their fuel comes from or the lack of them submitting to whatever company sponsors that website. Although if Texaco were more convenient than Sunoco I would use them. But 93 is hard to pass up especially since the trucks that deliver it are not generic no name they still use the bright blue Sunoco trucks with the chrome rims and Nascar banners. Brand recognition FTW.

[M45Caliber]

I guess I figured one of the reasons you bought a premium car was for the performance. Running 87 octane impacts your performance as the motor adjusts for the lower octane to mitigate knock and/or pre-ignition. Running non-tier one gas may also cause an eventual build up of carbon and other deposits also impacting performance and driveability. So, in the end the decision is up to you. Save now and pay later -- or pay now at the pump.

If you don't drive the car hard and never need full power, use 87 octane. In EITHER case, I'd stick with a Tier one brand to get the additives. I've also heard from a Chevron engineer (this is heresay - not fact) that their Premium blend contains MORE Techron than the regular/87 octane. So, another reason to consider premium if that's indeed true.

Having seen what kind of crud ends up on engine internals from using cheap motor oils and the cheapest gas has impacted my decision on what to buy. So I stay with tier 1 premium for both the M45 and the EX35. I also run a can of BG44K through the tank every 6K miles or so (before every other oil change).

As for Sunoco/Tier one approval -- my guess is that they have not paid to have that group (Toyota, BMW, etc.) test and approve their fuels. It's all about the additives and the overall engine deposits on teardown. If the Tier 1 members/participants like what they see, it's given the stamp of approval. I'm sure Sunoco would pass.