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Fuel issues

Plasticman

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#1
I traveled to Kansas/Missouri this past weekend for the NASCAR race and had problems finding 93 octane. There was plenty of 91 octane and some of it was ethanol free. After 2 tanks of 91 I had a check engine light come on. Took the car to Cable-Dahmer Dodge in KC, MO for an oil change and to have the check engine light checked out. Dealer said the light was due to "fuel too thin". Does that mean it was watered down, or too much alcohol? I dunno. They reset everything, changed the oil and I drove back the next day. I had a similar problem 2 weeks before that when traveling to Pittsburg, KS (check engine light came on there, too after a couple of 91 octane fills).

Has anyone else had this issue, or do you use octane boost?

I'm interested to hear what you guys/gals in KC do to counter the lack of 93 octane fuel options.

Rob
 


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#2
I ran 91 once when it was the only thing available in North Carolina. It ran like crap and I topped off with 93 asap. No check engine lights though.
 


EricG

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#3
I traveled to Kansas/Missouri this past weekend for the NASCAR race and had problems finding 93 octane. There was plenty of 91 octane and some of it was ethanol free. After 2 tanks of 91 I had a check engine light come on. Took the car to Cable-Dahmer Dodge in KC, MO for an oil change and to have the check engine light checked out. Dealer said the light was due to "fuel too thin". Does that mean it was watered down, or too much alcohol? I dunno. They reset everything, changed the oil and I drove back the next day. I had a similar problem 2 weeks before that when traveling to Pittsburg, KS (check engine light came on there, too after a couple of 91 octane fills).

Has anyone else had this issue, or do you use octane boost?

I'm interested to hear what you guys/gals in KC do to counter the lack of 93 octane fuel options.

Rob
Wow - "fuel too thin" - never heard of that before. Glad to hear your car seems to be running normal now. Fwiw we can only get 91 up here in the mountains and my redeye seems to run just fine on it.
 


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#4
What was the code?
 


John G.

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#5
Most stations here only carry 91. I've never noticed a problem and never had any engine light come on.
 


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#6
Octane has little to do with it. Had to do with the additive package. As long as you are not in boost your car should run fine on 87.
 


vortecd

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Normally higher altitudes only have 91 being there is less oxygen so you will make less boost or have less compression. Think @BULL said he only sees 8-9 lbs on a stock hellcat
 


BULL

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#8
Normally higher altitudes only have 91 being there is less oxygen so you will make less boost or have less compression. Think @BULL said he only sees 8-9 lbs on a stock hellcat


My boost gauge just touches 9psi on relatively cool days and only if I shift at 6200, other than that, I'm at 8... : (
 


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#9
93 is pretty prevalent here in NW Ohio
Not sure of boost pressure, I’ll have to look😁
I’m usually just too busy holding on🤣🤣🤣😇😎😍
 


jonx96

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#10
Ethonal free fuel will change your fuel trims a little. But what do they mean by fuel to thin? If anything without the ethonal it would be on the richer side. As said above if you don’t get into boost and are easy on it it’ll run on 87. Heck I met a car at a car show who always ran 87 in his car because he said it was fast enough on 87….
 


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#11
you guys that have 93 are fortunate...nothing but garbage fuel from Commiefornia here. What was the code? Never heard of "fuel too thin" fault in all my years...
 


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#12
I traveled to Kansas/Missouri this past weekend for the NASCAR race and had problems finding 93 octane. There was plenty of 91 octane and some of it was ethanol free. After 2 tanks of 91 I had a check engine light come on. Took the car to Cable-Dahmer Dodge in KC, MO for an oil change and to have the check engine light checked out. Dealer said the light was due to "fuel too thin". Does that mean it was watered down, or too much alcohol? I dunno. They reset everything, changed the oil and I drove back the next day. I had a similar problem 2 weeks before that when traveling to Pittsburg, KS (check engine light came on there, too after a couple of 91 octane fills).

Has anyone else had this issue, or do you use octane boost?

I'm interested to hear what you guys/gals in KC do to counter the lack of 93 octane fuel options.

Rob
This is probably an O2 sensor LEAN code.

I don't know if bad gas can trigger this, but 2x already? Unless both times you filled up at the same station fed by the same underground tank?

Otherwise one of the 2 pre-cat O2 sensors might be failing? Each side/bank would have it's own code. I would assume that the tech added the code that was set on the service history so you'll need to find out if it's the exact same code firing every time, and if the same code trips again.
 


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#13
If traveling, stock up on octane booster. Wit 6,000 mules on de car, I put 104 octang 2 tanks cut in 1/2 wit 93. I burnt up da fuel rails, pumps, converters, exhaust clamps, plus utter stuff. 3 times till da engineer frum da factory came down frum NJ in Jan, imagine tat, to sea why. Replaced all of em 3 times undea warranty. Blamed it on the K & N intake. That's ok, I knew what caused it. Gots to be careful.
 


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#14
My boost gauge just touches 9psi on relatively cool days and only if I shift at 6200, other than that, I'm at 8... : (
What's your altitude? I'm at about a half-mile here and never took the car out to my place in New Mexico. Wish I had now.
 


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My attitude sucks today and partly grumpy tomorrow.
 


BULL

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What's your altitude? I'm at about a half-mile here and never took the car out to my place in New Mexico. Wish I had now.

~5200ft, 7500-9000DA is typical
 


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#17
Octane has little to do with it. Had to do with the additive package. As long as you are not in boost your car should run fine on 87.
If you run 87 in a Hellcat you can kiss it good bye.

I ran 91 in my Hellcat and Redeye for 7 and 3 years with no issues. I also always topped off with Boostane. After moving to TN where 93 is everywhere they both were very different cars.
 


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RGPIII

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#18
try using a good fuel additive like octainum when running junk fuel. should help with the issues you are having.
 


fumanchu182

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#19
2096/2098 are the lean codes (ask me how i know). Could have an exhaust leak like I do. Also as others have mentioned try and fine good 93 asap and top off with that.
 




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