To me it sounds like he wants to know what turbo makes the best power on pump gas - no race gas. Coming from the Supra world that was a big question I always had. Bigger turbo made big power on race gas but were octane limited on pump. I've not heard much talk about needing race gas to take advantage of any particular turbos here but I think that chances are good anytime anyone is posting decent power they're on high octane or E85.

What turbo can make best power under the curve on a stock motor with pump gas? Something that needs near 2BAR to be efficient need not apply lol

 

^ i also think that's the question lol. not which GAS but i stand my my choices for gas AND turbos

 

FWIW, most of the gas in any given area is close to the same stuff. One of the stations near me sells cheap gas, same owner owns a much more expensive brand name station across the way. SAME distributor for both stations! He makes a mint of the expensive stuff he says It's true that some can have a different additive package but for the most part the gas itself is the same and the trucks loaded from the same depots. Pipelines move this stuff and switch for one company or another but they don't clear the lines between each one... I've gotten "expensive" gas and had pining leaving the station where before I didn't - so much for the 94octane fill! (on another car thankfully) I truly don't think the gas varies all that much from one to another at least in my area...

 

Good point mgk and also I think you are right on the context of the thread. I spoke with Mario and I still got it wrong. Now our conversation makes sense lol. What turbocharger is the best option for 93 octane! I still think it depends on your goals. I have had great smile or turbos and larger ones depending on what the person wants.

I thought conversation about people's experiences with different pump stations was also violent. But I think it's true just depends on what the supplier has

 

I think this question has no end to it.
You can make k16 billets run great with good supporting mods and some decent custom tuning in hand , and you can be super disappointed with Tial a2871s or 3071s etc.
Success in the set up is the complete kit, hands on tuning, and no boost leaks.
Cost is also an Issue to a many thus you can make a smaller cheaper turbo work well if you know what to do.
Markski

 

Same distributor not necessarily the same gasoline.

When gasoline is sent through pipeline premium gasoline is "sandwiched" between two loads of regular, a load of regular in front of the premium load and one behind.

The word I get is there is not as much blending/mixing of the premium with the regular as one might think. The leading load of regular picks up the water and dirt (rust) from the pipeline.

At the receiving end the gasolines are removed from the pipeline.

To avoid costs of transportation the leading and trailing portions of premium that might have been contaminated by their contact with regular gasoline are probably diverted to separate "premium" holding tanks. It is from these tanks discount gas stations would then get their "premium".

A pretty thorough gasoline test in a UK car mag found discount ("supermarket") gasolines found while sometimes their performance was on par with the best name brand gasoline, often enough this was not the case. This variability of performance of discount gasolines was blamed on the variability of the gasoline from the suppliers.

Discount stations exist on being able to offer low prices so they shop/buy from suppliers that can meet their price needs.

On the other side, some tanks of name brand premium gasolines were found to be sub-par. This was traced to stale fuel. This probably accounts for the pinging you reported. (Another is the tanks were mis-filled.)

Assuming staleness is much more likely than the wrong gasoline in the station storage tank, one wants to also buy from a busy station. The trouble is just a few cars require premium -- I think the number is what 16% and it may be lower than that -- even a busy station might not move that much premium compared to regular. Still, busy stations are generally price competitive and this attracts the premium customers as well as the regular customers.

I also find that in most cases name brand stations close to discount stations offer lower prices than those name brand stations located a distance away. I had the owner of a nearby Shell station tell me he prices his gasoline based on what the Safeway store station just a block up the street is asking for its gasoline and the Safeway station doesn't even offer premium.

 

How similar is the UK distribution to the US? In my area we have a single large tank farm that I'm aware of. I know that they alternate shipments through pipelines, makes sense. The station I got the bad gas from was high traffic but the gas had to have been contaminated. Thankfully that's not a regular thing! Talking to the owner of the discount station here was enlightening, he had a good laugh at everyone insisting on going to his name brand station and paying so much more

 

Alpha 307X. Will not hit so hard on the bottom(a28) to pretzel your rods. You could run a hks boost controller and set it up to add boost after the torque peak and bring in the hp up top.

 

The OP was talking about which turbos to use, but since we are talking about pump gas blends has anyone got experience with a octane test kit and used one to see the quality of fuel from the pump?

 

So here in Northern Californian a few 76s have Race Fuel, 101 octane. I run 60% 91 and 40% 101. Porsche recommends 93-94. I also run my card in Race mode with the GIAC tune.

Seems to be solid.

 

I believe it has to do with the supporting mods as well with any larger turbo then stock..
I love my 18gs with all the supporting mods and a great bang for the buck turbo.

 

WOW!!! This post has taken on a life of its own. Thank you all for your feedback. In my neck of the woods, I have seen consistent quality of 93/94 octane premium fuel provided by Shell gas stations. Additionally, I typically get good and consistent E85 (ranging consistently from 85% to 87% ethanol) at Kroger gas stations.

With regards to my "best pump gas turbo" question, I'm curious and trying to better understand if there is a turbo on the market whereby one is able to maximize the efficiency of the compressor map at peak boost on 93 octane.

Keep the comments coming.

Thanks.

Mario

 

Standalone ECU or stock DME? A standalone can ramp boost past torque peak in order to gain HP and not break things

 

Stock DME.