New Owner Questions

[phil swanson]

I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyonlands that the motor
home should

be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area, and
probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium unleaded.
The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran regular in it and
it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it ping either and the regular
is still in it. I have not checked the initial timing on it but it might
be retarded some. My question is, do most of you run regular or premium?
I hate the thought of having to run premium in it because gas is higher
here that anywhere in the U.S.. except Hawaii. And where do
most of you run your initial timing?

Also, I was going to replace my
thermostat, among other things, and I noticed it was a 195 degree type.
Any harm in installing the 180 degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot.
Does anyone know if this is really necessary in a motor home for some reason?
It's not like it's being run only on short trips to the grocery store and
it should come up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.

Also what is the recommendation for shocks.
The Bilsteins come in at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they
are often higher. The Napa and the KYB types run about $90
a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth the difference? With six of these
these things involved, it makes allot of difference on the bucks. All are
lifetime guaranteed anyway.

What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
Bilsteins handle that much better?

Any input would be much appreciated.
....... Thanks, Phil Swanson

- --------------FB9EA576AD0D78D951150EF4--

 

[phil swanson]

I read in the owners manual for my 1973 23' Canyon Lands that the motor
home
should be run on at least 91 octane fuel. Here in the San Diego area,
and probably just about everywhere else these days, that's premium
unleaded. The last owner of the motor home told me he always ran
regular in it and it never pinged or detonated. I haven't heard it ping
either and the regular is still in it. I have not checked the initial
timing on it but it might be retarded some. My question is, do most of
you run regular or premium gas? I hate the thought of having to run
premium in it because gas is higher here that anywhere in the U.S..
except Hawaii. And where do most of you run your initial timing?

Also, I was going to replace my thermostat, among other things,
and I noticed it was a 195 degree type. Any harm in installing the 180
degree? The 195 degree seems awful hot. Does anyone know if this is
really necessary in a motor home for some reason? It's not like it's
being run only on short trips to the grocery store and it should come
up to full operating temperature on long hauls anyway.

Also what is the recommendation for shocks. The Bilsteins come in
at about $80 each. That's a good guy price, they are often higher. The
Napa and the KYB types run about $90 a pair. Are the Bilsteins worth
the difference? With six of these these things involved, it makes allot
of difference on the bucks. All are lifetime guaranteed anyway.
What do you think the best buy is for the money and do you think the
Bilsteins handle that much better?
Any input would be much appreciated. ....... Thanks, Phil
Swanson

 

[scott woodworth]

Phil,

Check the owners guide to see if the octane requirement is listed as
"Research Octane". That's a computed octane that has nothing to do with
how the fuel performs in actual use.

There are two different methods for measuring a fuel's octane. The
first one is the aforementioned "research" octane. I'm not sure how
they come up with that one. Maybe it's figured mathematically. This
one is always the highest number.

The second method is the "motor method". A special one cylinder
variable compression ratio laboratory engine is used to figure the
"knock value". The engine is run on the test fuel under a calibrated
load while the compression is slowly increased. At the point the knock
begins, the compression ratio is noted. This number is motor octane and
is always the lowest number.

If you look on the pump next time you buy gas, you should see a
sticker that reads, octane measured by the r+m/2 method. That's the
average between research and motor octane and is the way the FTC says
octane will be advertised.

In my 65 Buick shop manual, the 300 engine octane requirements are
as follows: research 99, motor 89. Today's would be 94. In my
experience, that's a pretty accurate assessment of it's requirements in
real world driving.

- -Scott Woodworth