Accidentally put in 87 octane

JimmyDean

Registered User
I just got my car today. Its a 1990 Super Coupe, white, in REALLY nice condition. The body is a 9/10. Today, I was driving and the fuel light was on. Im used to my 99 escort, so when I went to the pump I wasn't thinking and put in about $8 worth of 87 octane... Is this bad? I can fil her up with 91 when I go out again, but the thing is my car HAS to pass emissions on monday or my mom will kill me (long story about looking for cars). What can I do to combat the 87 octane and make sure I pass emissions? Thanks

One more thing, when I parked it on my driveway and pulled off, I noticed about 3 or 4 pretty big drips of oil... What could this be? My driveway is exceptionally steep, could that cause it? I really would like it to not leak oil... Thanks again.
 
Jacob_Royer said:
By all means stay out of boost with 87 in there.. Maybe pull the octane plug.

If the rest of the tank is full/gets filled with 91+ you should be ok. 8$ is only 3 gallons here, and I'm assuming its about the same for you.

Oil leaks can be tough to find. I'd clean as best as you can, then run it in the driveway and see if you can find it. I've heard of something you can add that makes it easier to see where it's coming from, but I have no experience with that kind of thing so I can't say for sure.
 
A bad PCV valve/Faulty PCV system can cause oil leaks also.. Take out the PCV valve and replace it with a new one and make sure all your vacuum lines are hooked up.
 
It was 3.58 gallons I put in. Im about to go put in maybe $20 worth of 91. Do you guys have any tips that I can use to make sure I pass emissions? If I dont my mom will make me get rid of the car. So far I gather I should keep it running while waiting, and get it nice and warmed up before I go. Should I pull the octane plug? I've heard that can trigger the SES light, and if it does that I fail. What should I do? Thanks
 
We don't even have 91 octane in Wyoming. We have 85, 87, 89, I have just run the 87 octane in my SC and the wifes SHO for years with no problems.
 
bustedbird said:
We don't even have 91 octane in Wyoming. We have 85, 87, 89, I have just run the 87 octane in my SC and the wifes SHO for years with no problems.
Is it possible that your SC doesn't have the "Premium Unleaded Fuel Only" on the TAC? Octane ratings are different all over the country. It depends on altitude. I've driven from the West to East Cost twice along I80 and Wyoming especially had lower Octane fuel due to altitude. Not to get into a lengthy discussion here but, if you don’t use the correct octane rating in the super changed motor, over time your going to destroy it.
 
bustedbird said:
We don't even have 91 octane in Wyoming. We have 85, 87, 89, I have just run the 87 octane in my SC and the wifes SHO for years with no problems.

wow man thats rought, most stations here have 93 some are 92 and when i take a trip to the track they have 94octane in new jersey, and its cheaper than my 93 here :)
 
I did the same thing when I bought my 89 XR7 back in February. Got the car, gas guage was just under 1/4 tank, went straight to gas station and filled up with 87 octane. Left the station and then noticed the "Premium Unleaded Only" in the tach. I just took it a bit easy and listened for knock and/or pinging. Never heard a bit of pinging. BUT, as I said, it was February and the temperatures here were at about freezing or below, so I am sure that helped. With higher temperatures this time of year I would definately FILL the tank with the highest octane gas you can find and take it easy on the throttle, try to keep out of the boost as much as possible untill you run through that tank of gas.
 
:cool: Jeeze .. this is much ado about nothing. 3 gallons of 87 octane isn't worth even opening the hood to look for the octane plug. Drive on and add a few gallons of anything higher and just simply keep your foot out of it until its near empty and if the need to fill up with 87 ever arises, pull the octane plug.
 
i run 87 all the time in my 89 with colder plugs and colder thermostat and good exhaust no pinging . my 90 all stock pings on 87 sometimes it even pings on 89 pinging is hard on headgaskets i would just try to keep out of the throttle .or lift if you hear pinging
 
WOW your gas sucks!! We have 94 at Unimart?? I ran 87 in my SC for years beat the death out of it and it still runs fine, did have some valve noise but I gave it a valve jod with the new HG's, so you should be fine. But I have heard that if you run high octaine with 104+ octaine boost it will cut your emissions in half??? But I never tried it.
 
Low octane SC??????????????????

rickbtbird said:
Is it possible that your SC doesn't have the "Premium Unleaded Fuel Only" on the TAC?
I've never seen an SC WITHOUT that.

Has anybody here EVER seen an SC without the premium fuel warning label?

68COUGAR
 
obviously i would change all the fuel system out, new injectors, tank, lines, pump, EVERYTHING including the contaminated wiring, and pour in fresh 92+ octane and hope for the best, I hope everything works out at the end :rolleyes: , since driving back to the gas station(or driving till it runs out and using octane boost if it makes you feel better) and not flooring the piss out of it while doing so and putting in a higher grade is simply out of the question :eek:
 
So what's $8 worth of gas, a gallon and a half? Go back and fill it with premium and it will be fine.

I'm curious though, I've never heard of the "octane plug".... what is it and where is it? I always run premium in my SC (which is STILL FOR SALE EVERYBODY!!!)... just never heard of the octane plug before.
 
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