Ryan wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> I have a 97 Club Cab with 318 and 5spd. I bought the truck new when I
> lived in the Los Angeles area. About 5 years ago, we moved to Seattle,
> and make an occasional trip back to L.A. in the Dakota to visit family.
>
> As soon as we moved up here, I noticed my Dakota started pinging running
> 87 octane gas. I had about 40,000 miles on the truck at the time. It
> never pinged when in California. So, I started putting 92 octane in,
> and the pinging went away. I have been running 92 octane ever since,
> and it has been fine for over 60,000 additional miles.
>
> Now, here's where my question comes in. When traveling south from
> Washington to California, I usually fill up right over the CA border in
> Yreka because I refuse to fill up in Oregon as they don't let you pump
> your own gas (insane!). Anyway, by Yreka, I'm pretty low and fill up
> around 20 gallons. Within 10-15 miles, I notice a power increase. It
> is substantial (say maybe 20-25 horsepower by the butt meter). For the
> rest of the trip in CA, I use 87 octane gas. The extra power remains,
> and there is no pinging. Once I get back to washington, the pinging
> returns, and I have to go back to 92 octane.
>
> I have noticed this now on all of the 3 trips we have driven the Dakota
> back to CA. So, there must be something in the CA gas that is affecting
> my motor for the better.
>
> Any ideas? Anyone have an idea on what I can change on my truck so as
> to go back to 87 octane gas here in WA?
>
> Ryan
> 97 cc,318,5sp,105k miles
have you taken altitude into consideration? I'm thinking Washington
State is a higher elevation than areas of CA. Assuming you stay outta
the mountains that is. Its also just possible that the gas you get up
in WA is a lower grade than stuff in CA. CA has the toughest emission
laws and the fuel could be of a higher refinement, to meet the states
requirements.
-- ------------------------------------------------------------- Rocks are for skipping... I'm all about the mud 75 Honda CL360, 89 Dakota, 89 Dakota 4x4, 95 Dakota 4x4, 96 Neon, 01 Ram 4x4 http://members.aol.com/silvereightynine/ AIM & Yahoo: SilverEightynine
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