How to Add Race Gas?

[Tek4ever]

I just received my 5 gallons of unleaded 104. I was planning on making sure I only had enough pump gas to get to close to the track; stop at a gas station or pull over and wait until my car shows signs of running out of gas. Once it starts to show signs, turn off the car and add the race gas.

I just talked to a co-worker and he told me he always thought running out of gas w/ a fuel injected car was bad. Can anyone comment on this or suggest maybe a better way to add the 104 gas? I bought the race file with GIAC. I would like to run above 100 octane for optimal results.

Thanks

[RAUDIS6]

You don't have to come that close, I added race gas when the fuel light came on, so at least a gallon of 93 was in there, if anything your diluted to 103, still higher then the 100 chip setting, you are all good.

[RAudi Driver]

Totally running out of gas can put tank sediment into your lines and fuel injection.

[B18b1ex]

Totally running out of gas can put tank sediment into your lines and fuel injection.

Why do people always say this?

The pick up of your tank is in the bottom of the tank, any contaminants would get picked up anyway. People also say don't let the tank get empty because the water in your tank will get in your fuel lines, gas is lighter than water so if there was water in there you would also pick that up first.

[RAudi Driver]

Why do people always say this?

The pick up of your tank is in the bottom of the tank, any contaminants would get picked up anyway. People also say don't let the tank get empty because the water in your tank will get in your fuel lines, gas is lighter than water so if there was water in there you would also pick that up first.

Driving on empty
Do you pride yourself on getting every last drop of gas out of your gas tank before filling up? Cut it out.

Sediment from gasoline settles at the bottom of every gas tank. When you let your gas level run low, you force your car to use the dirtiest gas in its tank for fuel.

The lower your car's gas level sinks, the more the dirt gets stirred up from the bottom of the tank. Drive on a near-empty tank and you risk this dirt getting into your car's fuel line and even into the engine. There's a good chance your car's fuel filter won't be able to catch all of it, especially if you drive with a barely filled gas tank on a regular basis.

"You're going to pull the heaviest sediment into the fuel line," says Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief at Edmunds.com. "If it gets all the way to the engine, it could scar or damage internal parts of the engine."

If this happens, you're putting extra strain on the engine. And you'll need to flush the entire fuel system if it clogs up with dirt.

"You're talking a minimum of a couple of hundred dollars if it really jams up the system," Brauer says.

At the very least, you'll need to replace your car's fuel filter more often. That will run you about $100. And if sediment deposits or sludge form on your fuel injectors, you won't like the way your car drives.

"The car will run funny," says Tony Molla, a spokesman for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. "It will feel like the car needs a tune-up."

The best advice? Never let your gas level dip too low.

"It's a good idea to keep your tank half full," Molla says.

citations: Lucy Lazarony, http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20031114a1.asp

[b00st]

when the light comes on just filler up. or you can go a lil closer...but no need to do what your saying.

and when it comes to running the tank that empty...the real problem is that you will burn your fuel pump out. since the fuel cools the fuel pump....running your tank down is not good for the pump. the fuel pump is always running and the way to keep it that way is to have it submerged in fuel.

now running it once isn't going to kill it...but making a habit of doing that will. i know...i did it on my A4 by accident. my fuel sending unit went bad...was off by a 1/4 tank [O_O] so i would run it till the light popped on. (1/8th tank) and then fill up. well i was always running on fumes i guess...car never hesitated or anything...until one day. i was left stranded.

so be kind to your fuel pump. the rest is going to happen to it. but by trying to squeeze it dry and fill up will get you a new fuel pump and audi charged me a grand to do it.

[Tiesto]

Why do people always say this?

The pick up of your tank is in the bottom of the tank, any contaminants would get picked up anyway. People also say don't let the tank get empty because the water in your tank will get in your fuel lines, gas is lighter than water so if there was water in there you would also pick that up first.

Why are people always trying to disprove the "Don't let your gas tank run till empty" rule? Is it that hard to stop a few miles before to fill up?

[Tek4ever]

Thanks for the tips. Glad I asked.

[B18b1ex]

Why are people always trying to disprove the "Don't let your gas tank run till empty" rule? Is it that hard to stop a few miles before to fill up?

Not trying to disprove anything. Why not question? The discussion started with this guy who wanted to know if running the tank out was bad, so he could reduce the contamination of his race fuel. This was relevant.

[Tiesto]

Not trying to disprove anything.

What are you doing then?

[B18b1ex]

Driving on empty
Do you pride yourself on getting every last drop of gas out of your gas tank before filling up? Cut it out.

Sediment from gasoline settles at the bottom of every gas tank. When you let your gas level run low, you force your car to use the dirtiest gas in its tank for fuel.

The lower your car's gas level sinks, the more the dirt gets stirred up from the bottom of the tank. Drive on a near-empty tank and you risk this dirt getting into your car's fuel line and even into the engine. There's a good chance your car's fuel filter won't be able to catch all of it, especially if you drive with a barely filled gas tank on a regular basis.

"You're going to pull the heaviest sediment into the fuel line," says Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief at Edmunds.com. "If it gets all the way to the engine, it could scar or damage internal parts of the engine."

If this happens, you're putting extra strain on the engine. And you'll need to flush the entire fuel system if it clogs up with dirt.

"You're talking a minimum of a couple of hundred dollars if it really jams up the system," Brauer says.

At the very least, you'll need to replace your car's fuel filter more often. That will run you about $100. And if sediment deposits or sludge form on your fuel injectors, you won't like the way your car drives.

"The car will run funny," says Tony Molla, a spokesman for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. "It will feel like the car needs a tune-up."

The best advice? Never let your gas level dip too low.

"It's a good idea to keep your tank half full," Molla says.

citations: Lucy Lazarony, http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20031114a1.asp

I don't care who wrote it, it's BS. If you have crap in the tank and any amount of gas is moving around it will stir up that crap. You would have to have a completely full tank all the time the stop the gas from moving around.

The gas is pick up from the bottom, any crap will be at the bottom, it's not floating on the top of the gas. Do you believe everything you read? Use your own knowledge, and really think about it, don't blindly follow people.

[Monchichi8]

Driving on empty
Do you pride yourself on getting every last drop of gas out of your gas tank before filling up? Cut it out.

Sediment from gasoline settles at the bottom of every gas tank. When you let your gas level run low, you force your car to use the dirtiest gas in its tank for fuel.

The lower your car's gas level sinks, the more the dirt gets stirred up from the bottom of the tank. Drive on a near-empty tank and you risk this dirt getting into your car's fuel line and even into the engine. There's a good chance your car's fuel filter won't be able to catch all of it, especially if you drive with a barely filled gas tank on a regular basis.

"You're going to pull the heaviest sediment into the fuel line," says Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief at Edmunds.com. "If it gets all the way to the engine, it could scar or damage internal parts of the engine."

If this happens, you're putting extra strain on the engine. And you'll need to flush the entire fuel system if it clogs up with dirt.

"You're talking a minimum of a couple of hundred dollars if it really jams up the system," Brauer says.

At the very least, you'll need to replace your car's fuel filter more often. That will run you about $100. And if sediment deposits or sludge form on your fuel injectors, you won't like the way your car drives.

"The car will run funny," says Tony Molla, a spokesman for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. "It will feel like the car needs a tune-up."

The best advice? Never let your gas level dip too low.

"It's a good idea to keep your tank half full," Molla says.

citations: Lucy Lazarony, http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20031114a1.asp

I totally agree!!! this is the "truth"!

[B18b1ex]

What are you doing then?

Calling BS. Using my brain, you should try it.

[B18b1ex]

The only bad thing is that you will starve the pump and maybe overheat it, and that is if it runs dry.

[B18b1ex]

I totally agree!!! this is the "truth"!

Really?

[Tek4ever]

I believe I read that the fuel warning alarm is triggered when there is 2.5 gallons left. On average, I get around 13 mpg. I'm planning on adding the race gas when the cluster says I have about 13 miles to go. 1 gallon of 93 + 5 gallons of 104 = roughly 102.

Now - to practice my reaction time to the "Pro Tree"
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/nhraxtreepro.html

[i_eat_staples]

so the consensus on this was to fuel up w/ unleaded 104 any time after 1/4 tank if u want to use the GIAC race program?

[Monchichi8]

Really?

Yes, Really! Do what you want but I would never treat my car with such disrespect,but thats just me.

[Tek4ever]

so the consensus on this was to fuel up w/ unleaded 104 any time after 1/4 tank if u want to use the GIAC race program?

When the center cluster displays 13 miles to go, I'll add the 5 gallons of 104 octane. Diluted with approximately 1 gallon of 93, I'll end up with about 102 octane. GIAC race file requires 100 octane.

[B18b1ex]

Yes, Really! Do what you want but I would never treat my car with such disrespect,but thats just me.

You are free to do what ever you want but, it makes no sense, follows no real logic or facts. I'm not advocating running the car always on E. To state that is somehow disrespecting the car is idiotic, use your head. THE FUEL PICK UP IS ONTHE BOOTOM WHERE ANY CONTAMINANTS WOULD ACCUMULATE ANYWAY!

[RAudi Driver]

I don't care who wrote it, it's BS. If you have crap in the tank and any amount of gas is moving around it will stir up that crap. You would have to have a completely full tank all the time the stop the gas from moving around.

The gas is pick up from the bottom, any crap will be at the bottom, it's not floating on the top of the gas. Do you believe everything you read? Use your own knowledge, and really think about it, don't blindly follow people.

I don't know man. You got Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief at Edmunds.com and Tony Molla, a spokesman for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence stating that running the car till empty is bad. Then you got B18b1ex saying that it doesn't matter. I'm gonna go with the car guys.

[B18b1ex]

I don't know man. You got Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief at Edmunds.com and Tony Molla, a spokesman for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence stating that running the car till empty is bad. Then you got B18b1ex saying that it doesn't matter. I'm gonna go with the car guys.

The article you quoted is about bad habits, if you read all of them you see that many of them really affect nothing. All I'm saying is if you use your own brain, their reasoning makes no sense.

[ieatfishburitos]

The article you quoted is about bad habits, if you read all of them you see that many of them really affect nothing. All I'm saying is if you use your own brain, their reasoning makes no sense.

I agree with B18b1ex on this one. The guys at edmunds are problably referring to crappy cheap gas put in an old american car which has a top down pick up. That isn't the situation on a premium fuel only S4 with a bottom of the tank pick up.. You can't apply everything you read in general about cars to every car.

[Meradin]

I believe I read that the fuel warning alarm is triggered when there is 2.5 gallons left. On average, I get around 13 mpg. I'm planning on adding the race gas when the cluster says I have about 13 miles to go. 1 gallon of 93 + 5 gallons of 104 = roughly 102.

Now - to practice my reaction time to the "Pro Tree"
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/nhraxtreepro.html

When your car reads 0 miles left you will have about 1.5/2 gallons left in your tank.

[cit1991]

citations: Lucy Lazarony, http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20031114a1.asp

Anywhere below full, the tank is totally stirred up from just driving, and any suspended solids will eventually get pulled in and filtered. Running the tank low doesn't make this any worse.

I don't care how many websites say otherwise.

In answer to the original post, run it until the light comes on, and stays on.

[S4B6Dave]

.....back to the original subject.....Let us know on the results of the chip program! I was considering getting this myself! I would love to see a dyno result! Also wondering if it would mess up the plugs.

[Tek4ever]

I'll share my reslults as soon as I get home. April 19th...get here already!!!!

[Tiesto]

Anywhere below full, the tank is totally stirred up from just driving, and any suspended solids will eventually get pulled in and filtered. Running the tank low doesn't make this any worse.

I don't care how many websites say otherwise.

This would make a great Mythbusters episode.

[S4B6Dave]

Well, where are the results?

[Tek4ever]

The day I had race gas in my tank, RT66 Speedway in Joliet, closed their track because of rain. So, never had a chance to try it. Blocks away from the track I got gas at a Speedway; highest octane they sold was 92 octane. (GIAC installer said my pump file was optimized for 93 octane) For a good 30 minutes, I drove with most of the tank filled with 92 and remembered to switch back to GIAC's pump file. During those 30 minutes, the car ran the same - didn't feel a difference at all. I remember when I first bought the GIAC flash I was told never to run the race file w/ regular gas and that the car would run rough.

Went back Sunday, ran only in pump mode and the best I could do was a 13.8 - trap 98.

Here is a my time slip...

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...eslip42008.jpg


B6-S4 | MT6
Stock wheels w/ GoodYear F1's A/S (heavier than most summer tires)
Half a tank of gas (92 octane)

I'm hoping to do this again within 30 days and have lightweight wheels & summer tires. Hopefully, with less rotational mass, 13.6 is obtainable. Or, just buy an old muscle car, crate motor it, and make that the track car. Until that supercharger price drops, the cost of dp + cat-backs, lightweight wheels, 2 sets of tires, ECU flash, snub & filter for maybe a 3-5 tenth gain...not worth it imo.

One thing I'm definitely interested in trying is a road course track. I'll probably get the better sway bars prior. I think that'll be a blast & learn what your car can do.

[S4B6Dave]

So with the program and the 100 octane, you couldn't feel a difference on the street before you filled up? Come down to Mid Ohio!

[Tek4ever]

Yup, I didn't feel a difference at all.

[speedee911]

Driving on empty
Do you pride yourself on getting every last drop of gas out of your gas tank before filling up? Cut it out.

Nobody said that they have a habit of doing that, we're just discussing if it's bad for your car or not. "cut it out"??? we can't question things we hear??

Driving on empty
"It's a good idea to keep your tank half full," Molla says.

that's one of the dumbest, most retarder things I've heard in my life.. yea, it's also good to change your oil every 100 miles. hell, why not change your cylinders every 10,000, just to be on the safe side. I like to take care of my car, change the oil every 5,000 miles and use good, mobil 1 oil, wash it often, etc. but there's a limit.. and I don't think filling up soon after the light comes on will do any damage. your engine will be long gone by the time a thing like that could affect your engine, after 100s of thousand of miles..

Yes, Really! Do what you want but I would never treat my car with such disrespect,but thats just me.

lol.. treat your car "with such disrespect".. first of all, it's a car.. second, just because you don't fill up 100 miles before you should doesn't mean you're abusing your car.

and if you can't tell, I'm with the opinion that it doesn't really matter since your "dirt" in the gas tank moves around anyway.. so I don't worry about it

[B6_Rakete]

I don't care who wrote it, it's BS. If you have crap in the tank and any amount of gas is moving around it will stir up that crap. You would have to have a completely full tank all the time the stop the gas from moving around.

The gas is pick up from the bottom, any crap will be at the bottom, it's not floating on the top of the gas. Do you believe everything you read? Use your own knowledge, and really think about it, don't blindly follow people.

I second this, unless your car sits perfectly still, any crap in the tank will be sloshing around with the gas when you turn any corner/hit any slight bump.

Try this:

1) Get some black coffee, add some creamer *very carefully* with a spoon so that it floats on top of the coffee.

2) Put the coffee in the crappy Audi cup holder.

3) Drive your 2-30 miles to work.

4) Review the results

5) Smack yourself in the head for good measure.

[B18b1ex]

^
^^
Finally sane and sensible people. (On this subject, no disrespect intended)

[S4B6Dave]

Yup, I didn't feel a difference at all.

Guess I'll skip that program...