REC 90 Fuel

GeeBee

GeeBee

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Recently all the marinas around the lake have started dispensing REC 90 fuel which is ethanol free. Even some gas stations such as the Valero up from my house has it. I was initially very happy. However the more I used it the greater I noticed a power drop off. Cleaning the bottom helped some, but I suspected the fuel.

My engine ('98 Merc 7.4 MPI) requires 89 octane determined by R+M/2 method (average of research and motor determination). No one will tell me how the 90 octane number is derived. I note that RaceTrac (a large chain of gas stations) labels their non ethanol fuel as 87 R+M/2. I am suspicious that "REC 90" may not be 90 R+M/2 but in actually lower. I simply find it hard to believe they are shipping two different non ethanol fuels, thus I suspect the "90" in Rec 90 is a research number only.

That all said, I added octane booster to my last fill up and found performance greatly improved. I have an MPI engine and it has anti knock sensors that will retard the timing for sub standard octane.

Has anyone else noticed similar effects with REC 90?
 
Never heard of it. That being said, if all other fuel is measured as 'R+M/2', then Rec 90 should be also. Maybe a call to your local department of weights & measures would be in order?
 
All other pumps I see state octane as R+M/2. However REC 90 pumps just say, "90 Octane"
 
I've been burning non-ethanol 87 octane in my 2013 Hondas for the past few months. I get more speed out of the boat than with 89 or 91 octane crap-o-hol. It costs more and I have to drive 38 miles round-trip out of my way to buy it (I usually only need 20 gallons at a time), but I find it worth it. The station I go to in PA has "pure gas" in 87, 89, and 91 (87 was $4.20 the last time I checked compared to 3.49 ethanol locally).

I checked the map below around your area and it does seem like all the marinas are just selling 90, except Port Royale shows 91.

http://pure-gas.org/extensions/map.html
 
Port Royale is now REC 90 as well.

I have been doing a little research here is a quote from a Merc dealer in SC

"Fuels vary from one area (even within a particular state) to another. I'm certain there ARE places that carry a 90 octane, ethanol free fuel that will function fine in your engine. However- there are also a NUMBER of states (especially in the SE and gulf-coast region) where fuels meeting this description have been known to cause performance problems, fuel restrictions, or even restricted fuel filters."
 
I'm wondering if because it's "recreational" use and not "vehicular" on the road it is exempt from (R+M)/2. If so it's as much bullsh!t as ethanol. Greg, you are pretty anal about maintenance. If you had trouble either the gas was faulty or I'm thinking they are just posting the RON.
 
Your marina should be able to provide you the distributor's contact info upon request. I'd call them directly.
 
I've used the Rec 90 several times from a marina in South FL, and had no issues. The marina's pumps are selling it under the Marathon label.
 
The Gate stations here in Northeast Florida have 89 R+M/2 non-ethanol. Since I had been running 93 ethanol gas I kicked the timing back to 19 from 21 and still get more power than I got with 93 ethanol. And better mileage. Tried it in the Grand Marquis and got about 10% better mileage. It's too expensive to use in the car, but my Tower of Power loves it and Whatever makes that old engine happy is great with me. So now I use it in lawn stuff and the 1986 115 Inline. They do run great. And no more worries about alcohol.

I would say that they really are selling 89 Octane. Just 30 to 40 cents more than 93 hurts but it's worth it to me.
 
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