Re: Starting Problem

[healey@lerc.nasa.gov (jim healey)]

>> 
>> >    I am wondering if anyone has been having starting problems 
>> >  with these "winter" fuels.  It seems that right about the time
>> >  these fuels were introduced I have been having incredible
>> >  troubles starting my 87 4000CS (4 cyl). 
>> >
>> >  -Eric Sylvain
>> >   sylvain@ctron.com
>> >
>> It's the fuels...the volatility of the different "winter/oxygenated fuels
>> varies and some have significantly different characteristics, especially in
>> "warm" winter weather.  In my '83 TQC, I cannot run Phillips 66 during the
>> winter without having major cold start problems.
>
>Just how much do you think volatility varies anyway?  And how would
>this affect starting in "warm" winter weather, whatever that is?

OK, regardless of what fuel criteria he attributes his starting problems
what he ultimately says is that fuel choice alone can be the culprit
>
>  Conoco gives me great
>> cold starts, but often pain in the *** warm starts.  It's just crapshoot
>> with each car having its preference based on its particular setup.  A lot
>> of it depends on whether it's ethanol or MTBE being added,among other
>> things.  
>
>Did you evaluate these fuels under identical operating conditions, e.g. 
>humidity, temperature and pressure, every time?

This isn't a realistic request, you're talking like a lawyer. From my own
experience, I used two Shell stations about two miles apart.  After
several seasons with two Audis  in different states of tune for a 
statistically significant number of fillups I found starting was more 
difficult after fillups from one station (of course the more convenient
one).  The other station was located across from a Porsche/Audi
dealership and they also used it.  I could see a car that is marginally
ok in summer and have noticeable problems in winter.  But if you 
know your car was in tune at the changeover and you started having 
trouble, a good guess might be the gas.
>

>
>With few exceptions, e.g. Amoco, all grades of gasoline are commodity
>items.  There is absolutely no guarantee as to who's gas you'll get no
>matter what station you go to.
>
Caveat Emptor as usual.

>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
>Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
>WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94
>
>
jim h