[simon]

First off, I am sorry to whoever has sustained any sort of damage to their homes or who has had to evacuate because of Ike. I know my issues miniscule to yours.

Anyway, because of the refineries that were shut down, there's no gas available other than 87-octane. How much of a problem will it be if I use 87 octane and what can I do to make it less of a problem?

[kyleb350]

Wow, seriously? I never thought that would happen. A LOT of cars in your area must be SoL then...

Well, off the top of my head, you could look into using octane booster, which is available at local auto part stores. Be cautious in using it though.

[LI E90]

putting 87 in a car shouldbe the least of your problems, considering the devistation from Ike.

your car will be 100% fine if you put half a tank in, and then out in 91 or 93 on the next fill up

[Tag]

This is from the manual. If you have a 335 your SOL; it requires 89 minimum. Lucky your car is a 328

Required fuel

Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.

However, you may also use gasoline with less
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:

• 323i, 328i/xi: 87
• 335i: 89

If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rating,
the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.

Do not use any gasoline below the specified
minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the
engine could be damaged.

[gimp2x]

just stock up on 93 for events such as this, i have two 55gallon drums in my garage full of 93 octane in case of emergency

[methodtim]

^ Doesn't gas go bad if you leave it unused for too long?

[BayAreaE92]

Originally Posted by gimp2x

just stock up on 93 for events such as this, i have two 55gallon drums in my garage full of 93 octane in case of emergency

Don't mean to knock you, but of concern for your safety is there a way for you to keep that outside of the garage? I'd have a tough time feeling comfortable with that much gasoline in my garage.

[lipek]

Originally Posted by BayAreaE92

Don't mean to knock you, but of concern for your safety is there a way for you to keep that outside of the garage? I'd have a tough time feeling comfortable with that much gasoline in my garage.

+1

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by lipek

+1

I think the post might be b.s.

Nobody would store gasoline in their garage. It might even be illegal.

(A friend of mine who used to live in Pacific Palisades raced vintage cars in Monterey. He had racing fuel stored in special safety drums which were stored outside in a cage, and with large decals he received from the fire department describing the contents......)

[DenverJayhawk]

87 will be fine for your engine. You may not get maximum performance or fuel economy, but it won't destroy your engine. Modern engines can adjust the timing to prevent the "knock" that everyone frets about. Engines have had this technology since the early 90s.

[Fortyb]

Gas Go Boom. Would hate to be a young kid trying to hide behind your garage smoking a cigarette are a fire fighter trying to put out a fire not knowing there's 55 gallon's of fuel stored in the garage.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by Fortyb

Gas Go Boom. Would hate to be a young kid trying to hide behind your garage smoking a cigarette are a fire fighter trying to put out a fire not knowing there's 55 gallon's of fuel stored in the garage.

Actually, that'd be pretty funny with the kid. Fuck him, he shouldn't be sneaking onto other people's property to smoke.


As far as the gas goes... if you use a lower octane, you'll burn through it fast enough, it doesn't make a difference. It's like food & dieting... if you eat something once it's no big deal, but doing it over and over is where you run into problems.

[DHS]

Originally Posted by BayAreaE92

Don't mean to knock you, but of concern for your safety is there a way for you to keep that outside of the garage? I'd have a tough time feeling comfortable with that much gasoline in my garage.

So what's the difference between gasoline in a 55 gallon drum and that in the tanks in the automobiles.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by DHS

So what's the difference between gasoline in a 55 gallon drum and that in the tanks in the automobiles.

Wish I had two 55 gallon fuel tanks in my car. I could drive from here to there without stopping.

Oh, never mind my car would weigh a ton.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by damadama

Sense of humor check. Grow up

Yes, it's called a twisted or dark sense of humor. A kid sneaking into someone's backyard to smoke a cig behind a barrel of gasoline and getting blown up is funny.

[BayAreaE92]

Originally Posted by DHS

So what's the difference between gasoline in a 55 gallon drum and that in the tanks in the automobiles.

Car's Gas Tank
-Much lower chance of vapor leak
-The tanks are enclosed by the car and won't budge, as opposed to a drum that can be tipped and damaged
-There's only ~14 gal of it, usually less unless I fill up before I go home.

110 gallons of fuel is a lot of fuel, so I ran the #'s to add perspective.

Explosion energy from 1 ton of TNT = 4.2 x 10^9 Joules
Energy contained in 110 Gallons of Gasoline = 1.66*10^10 Joules

My 2 cents

[gimp2x]

you guys are as paranoid about this as you are about your intakes losing 5 hp

2 55 drums is equivalent to two SUV's parked in a garage. They are VP Racing drums, they are designed for gasoline, they have a one way vent on them and are isolated in a corner of the garage away from any ignition sources.

You put stablizer in fuel, it is fine.

[SCA]

Many stations in Knoxville are out of all grades of octane, but if gas is located it is 93 octane.

[ubern00b]

not in west knox, all that i can find is freakin low grade.

sadly knoxville was ranked highest in the country after this whole fiasco. ridiculous

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t...1-W5jZPTi-vF6A

[Staszek]

You will be fine its only temporary.

[MrClean]

Originally Posted by MrSteak

Yes, it's called a twisted or dark sense of humor. A kid sneaking into someone's backyard to smoke a cig behind a barrel of gasoline and getting blown up is funny.

But highly unlikely. Have you ever tried to light a container of gas? There will be an initial whoosh, and then just a plain boring fire. The gas will not explode unless there is an inordinate amount of oxygen mixed in there. Helluva big fire if the container is ruptured somehow, but nowhere near the energy potential in that gasoline without instantaneous access to oxygen.

[shahils12]

+1 we keep backup gas in our garage as well... it's not 110 gal, but it's somewhat close.

no reason to freak out....it's equivalent of having a few cars in your garage....

Originally Posted by gimp2x

you guys are as paranoid about this as you are about your intakes losing 5 hp

2 55 drums is equivalent to two SUV's parked in a garage. They are VP Racing drums, they are designed for gasoline, they have a one way vent on them and are isolated in a corner of the garage away from any ignition sources.

You put stablizer in fuel, it is fine.