Shell Gas and Your Z

Omikron · 03-16-2012, 08:11 AM

So, was chatting with the installer when I had my CBE installed a couple days ago. I guess there has been a couple 370Z in and out of there in the last few weeks. He was telling me that our Z are very particular about it's fuel. One of the guys that goes up there has noted that pretty much any 93 that he buys drops his power by 15-20 rwhp on the dyno... with the exception of Shell. They have proven it twice to my knowledge ex.; let the tank run practically empty, put racetrac or kroger in it, dynoed. Then let it run dry and put shell in it and there is a big difference.

Anyone confirm or deny this or is this just coincidence bs?

Robert_K · 03-16-2012, 08:51 AM

Fuel octane is governed by the U.S. Government. 93 octane is the same 93 octane if you get it at Chevron/Shell or Kroger/Walmart. My father works for Kroger at Cincinnati Head quarters and has informed me that they outsource their fuel from Shell. The only difference between fuels from i.e.: Chevron, Shell, Texaco, Mobil, Kroger, WalMart/Sams Club etc... are the additives that are added. But the octane is the same.

There are too many variables in dynoing a car, running it's fuel nearly dry and adding a different brand and redynoing.

Edit... And a 15-20whp lost is, honestly, just not believable.

Omikron · 03-16-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_K

Fuel octane is governed by the U.S. Government. 93 octane is the same 93 octane if you get it at Chevron/Shell or Kroger/Walmart. My father works for Kroger at Cincinnati Head quarters and has informed me that they outsource their fuel from Shell. The only difference between fuels from i.e.: Chevron, Shell, Texaco, Mobil, Kroger, WalMart/Sams Club etc... are the additives that are added. But the octane is the same.

There are too many variables in dynoing a car, running it's fuel nearly dry and adding a different brand and redynoing.

Edit... And a 15-20whp lost is, honestly, just not believable.

Thanks for the reply. Figured it was un-true, but ya never know.

Duci22 · 03-16-2012, 03:44 PM

+1

I have several friends in the oil and gas industry...they will all tell you the same thing. It's their additives that make them different.

Cmike2780 · 03-16-2012, 03:53 PM

Is there any truth in realation to the type of additive and performance? I've always liked a certain brand and stick with it, but does the additive make that huge of difference?

Roadster4Us · 03-16-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

Is there any truth in realation to the type of additive and performance? I've always liked a certain brand and stick with it, but does the additive make that huge of difference?

I believe it helps with deposits building up. I stick with tier one fuel.
Top Tier Gasoline

theDreamer · 03-17-2012, 11:44 AM

Correct, the additives are designed to help keep the fuel and of course your engine 'cleaner' from cr@p. In the old days fuel could get 'dirty' and cause some build up in places, but with the additives it helps keep the fuel cleaner and help your engine run smoother.

Sh0velMan · 03-17-2012, 06:53 PM

Fwiw... We only use shell. On our second trip to the Dyno we filled up at QT and lost over 20hp. The logs showed the ECU pulling timing liberally...

Ran that tank out, filled up with Shell again, gave it 3-4 drive cycles to get fuel trim adjusted then re-dynoed... Power is back.

My anecdotal example is just that, but I won't be straying from Shell (or Kroger since it is the same stuff and has been confirmed on the Dyno).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Omikron · 03-19-2012, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh0velMan

Fwiw... We only use shell. On our second trip to the Dyno we filled up at QT and lost over 20hp. The logs showed the ECU pulling timing liberally...

Ran that tank out, filled up with Shell again, gave it 3-4 drive cycles to get fuel trim adjusted then re-dynoed... Power is back.

My anecdotal example is just that, but I won't be straying from Shell (or Kroger since it is the same stuff and has been confirmed on the Dyno).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Do you have a yellow 370 by chance?

Compdoc777 · 03-19-2012, 07:55 AM

I was going to say Kroger uses Shell gas. Now what may be happening is they are selling you gas that is 87 octane on the 93 pump. There are always business people trying to rip one off at the pump.

I notice the places here as well. I have a chevron every time I fill up there my car stars knocking and they are charging over $4 a month ago for a gallon. They are ripping people off.

My kroger has been the best cheapest gas and true 93. They even sell E85, cool station!

Sh0velMan · 03-19-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omikron

Do you have a yellow 370 by chance?

Maybe? Now I am creeped out :-P

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Omikron · 03-19-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh0velMan

Maybe? Now I am creeped out :-P

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Mwahahaha... Just kidding.

LOL, sorry. Didn't mean to seem like a stalker.

You must be the person that they were talking about at JKS then, I was up there last week having exhaust put on and the installer was telling me about a guy with a Yellow 370Z and the fuel issue he had. I have known Josh for a while so, I know he is meticulous about what happens in his shop so I trust him with my cars. They didn't reveal any personal info though so no worries.

Jordo! · 03-19-2012, 11:54 AM

Hmm. If true, that makes me wonder whether or not there is more variance in actual octane per company.

The advertised octane is an average... could be there is more variance for some companies, meaning a greater likelihood you'll get a slightly lower (or higher) octane fuel.

The skeptic in me wants to ignore this, but the statistician in me realizes that mean values (and the associated distribution of scores) are harder to interpret without knowing the SD.

Omikron · 03-19-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Hmm. If true, that makes me wonder whether or not there is more variance in actual octane per company.

The advertised octane is an average... could be there is more variance for some companies, meaning a greater likelihood you'll get a slightly lower (or higher) octane fuel.

The skeptic in me wants to ignore this, but the statistician in me realizes that mean values (and the associated distribution of scores) are harder to interpret without knowing the SD.

I would really think so, the skeptic in me will be buying Kroger/Shell from now on.

Robert_K · 03-19-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Hmm. If true, that makes me wonder whether or not there is more variance in actual octane per company.

The advertised octane is an average... could be there is more variance for some companies, meaning a greater likelihood you'll get a slightly lower (or higher) octane fuel.

The skeptic in me wants to ignore this, but the statistician in me realizes that mean values (and the associated distribution of scores) are harder to interpret without knowing the SD.

No... The octane is the same. It's regulated by the Gov't. Only difference are the additives.

03-16-2012, 08:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Robert_K A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Spring, TX/Iraq Posts: 1,281 Drives: '12 Forgeline G37S Rep Power: 17	Fuel octane is governed by the U.S. Government. 93 octane is the same 93 octane if you get it at Chevron/Shell or Kroger/Walmart. My father works for Kroger at Cincinnati Head quarters and has informed me that they outsource their fuel from Shell. The only difference between fuels from i.e.: Chevron, Shell, Texaco, Mobil, Kroger, WalMart/Sams Club etc... are the additives that are added. But the octane is the same. There are too many variables in dynoing a car, running it's fuel nearly dry and adding a different brand and redynoing. Edit... And a 15-20whp lost is, honestly, just not believable. __________________ '12 G37S Forgeline, '03 Built TT 350Z HRE (Sold!) http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...psc7a6dc53.jpg Last edited by Robert_K; 03-16-2012 at 08:55 AM.

03-16-2012, 03:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 28	Is there any truth in realation to the type of additive and performance? I've always liked a certain brand and stick with it, but does the additive make that huge of difference? __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

03-17-2012, 11:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	Correct, the additives are designed to help keep the fuel and of course your engine 'cleaner' from cr@p. In the old days fuel could get 'dirty' and cause some build up in places, but with the additives it helps keep the fuel cleaner and help your engine run smoother. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

03-17-2012, 06:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sh0velMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas/Ft.Worth Posts: 3,349 Drives: Noisily. Rep Power: 20	Fwiw... We only use shell. On our second trip to the Dyno we filled up at QT and lost over 20hp. The logs showed the ECU pulling timing liberally... Ran that tank out, filled up with Shell again, gave it 3-4 drive cycles to get fuel trim adjusted then re-dynoed... Power is back. My anecdotal example is just that, but I won't be straying from Shell (or Kroger since it is the same stuff and has been confirmed on the Dyno). Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD __________________ Buy My Car! \| Build Thread

03-19-2012, 11:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 417	Hmm. If true, that makes me wonder whether or not there is more variance in actual octane per company. The advertised octane is an average... could be there is more variance for some companies, meaning a greater likelihood you'll get a slightly lower (or higher) octane fuel. The skeptic in me wants to ignore this, but the statistician in me realizes that mean values (and the associated distribution of scores) are harder to interpret without knowing the SD. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

03-16-2012, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Duci22 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 77 Drives: 2010 370z MB SP AT Rep Power: 13	+1 I have several friends in the oil and gas industry...they will all tell you the same thing. It's their additives that make them different.

03-19-2012, 07:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
Compdoc777 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cypress Posts: 277 Drives: 2011 Nismo #4 MB Rep Power: 13	I was going to say Kroger uses Shell gas. Now what may be happening is they are selling you gas that is 87 octane on the 93 pump. There are always business people trying to rip one off at the pump. I notice the places here as well. I have a chevron every time I fill up there my car stars knocking and they are charging over $4 a month ago for a gallon. They are ripping people off. My kroger has been the best cheapest gas and true 93. They even sell E85, cool station!

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