Random MS3 Chat Thread

For those of you too lazy to search for a topic or just want to shoot the sh!t about MS3...here you go!

This thread shall serve as the defacto offline "informal MS3 chat" over the winter season...

I'll organize another "Informal MS3 Chat" meet after the new year.

Remember, if you have something meaningful to ask or contribute, it's best to start a new thread so others or yourself can easily search for it in the future...these "catch-all" threads are difficult to search through and info may get lost...

So in the meantime, between now and our next meet, ask you questions here...

Gas?

I dunno, I've read so much about gas, but there doesn't really seem to be a consensus on Pioneer 91 octane gas. I know that a lot of people are beholden to the Shell 94, but I'm wondering if anyone has had any actual bad experiences with Pioneer 91? Is it actually supplied by Sunoco, or no? I have a Pioneer very close to the house, use it for all my BBQ propane needs, and the Bonus Bucks thing is pretty awesome. I've gone through one tank of the gas the dealership put in, and just filled it with the Pioneer to give it a shot. No big deal, what do you guys think?

While we're on the topic of gas... how about Canadian Tire Gas bar 91 octane? The 87 octane is good to my regular Mazda, hoping the 91 will prove to be as good. The reason why I mention this is because I can save anywhere from 2cts to 10cts per litre depending on how much I spend on a billing cycle on my Cdn Tire mastercard, always a minimum 2cts savings at all times. Obviously I don't overspend to get the higher gas discount, but I do look for ways to put expenses on the card so I can reach the next tier (buying stuff for a family member, etc).

(yes, I did also read that people swear by Sunoco 94, now sold by Petro Canada I believe?)

Y'all splurged for the turbo zoom zoom, splurge and feed your new baby some quality fuel?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by horto

Y'all splurged for the turbo zoom zoom, splurge and feed your new baby some quality fuel?

---

:( such a slippery slope. Can you describe the diff. between regular 91 and sunoco 94, in feel of the car?

No. That's why god invented search buttons! :)

http://archive.perfectduluthday.com/...dead-horse.gif

My point is not about feel, but about care and feeding of a quality piece of machinery. Those of us that are passionate about our cars are passionate about what fluids and fuel we put into them.
No offense, but I wouldn't put Canadian Tire gas into ANY car that I own...

Would you feed your own child discount baby formula? Hells no!

Quote:

---

91 Shell cannot be compressed as much as 94 before pre-detonation occurs hence the engine senses detonation and runs in safe mode and dumps excess fuel to lower cylinder tempreture and prevent pre-detonation. Hence more fuel that can possibly be burnt while running in safe mode and out onto back of car!!! 94 octance can be compressed and does not pre-detonate prior to top dead centre does not run in safe mode all fuel is burnt when spark fires at TDC,(top dead centre) hence no unburnt fuel on back of car only slight soot on tailpipes.

---

Something like this? Found it with searching on google.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elusivellama

Something like this? Found it with searching on google.

---

I believe that's called knock. Higher octane prevents the fuel mix from igniting due to high compression before being fired buy the plugs. That's all that higher octane does...prevents, knock. My understanding is that unless you are tuning the car, the motor and fuel system is designed to run with minimal knock on 91. I'm not really sure that you get any benefit from 94 unless you tune for it. I'm guessing the stock ECM won't make enough of a timing adjustment to really add power.

But I could be wrong...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by horto

No. That's why god invented search buttons! :)

http://archive.perfectduluthday.com/...dead-horse.gif

My point is not about feel, but about care and feeding of a quality piece of machinery. Those of us that are passionate about our cars are passionate about what fluids and fuel we put into them.
No offense, but I wouldn't put Canadian Tire gas into ANY car that I own...

Would you feed your own child discount baby formula? Hells no!

---

Where does Canadian Tire get their gas? I was under the impression that there are 4 refineries that it may have come from in Ontario, by 3 different companies. They don't make their own gas. What is the issue with CT gas? I have always liked it.

Firstly, I'd like to point out that I did do a search of both the internet and this forum to find out if there was any specific, complete, verifiable information on Pioneer gas in the Mazdaspeed 3. Neither search provided the information I was looking for, and most from this forum referred to Pioneer electronics. What little mentions there were on Pioneer gas products referred to information that was either incomplete or not specific to the MS3.

Second, I have no issue whatsoever spending extra money on gas. I don't find gas prices to be expensive in North America, as I'm fully aware that we pay significantly less than most other places in the world. I have zero problem with the extra money involved in paying for 94 octane vs. 91 octane gas. However, I don't have a convenient station near to me, so if Pioneer 91 has been deemed completely acceptable by a fair number of MS3 drivers, I'm more than happy to purchase that gas. However, because Pioneer stations are few and far between, I'm not surprised that there is a small amount of information.

If it needs to be Sunoco 94 gas, and Pennzoil Premium/Ultra oil, and whatever brake/tranny/whatever fluid, that's what I'm going to buy. But if there's no measurable difference then I just don't see the point in going well out of my way to get the 94.

So, I wonder, is there any information that you guys have on Pioneer specifically, or is it too small a statistical sample size to know? If yes to the second part of the question then I will err on the side of caution and go the extra distance for the Sunoco Ultra 94.

To quote Zoom Zoom Boy "My car does not like Shell 91 octane fuel and other MS3 owners have also concurred with this. Then again, plenty run Shell 91 and swear by it, but to each their own." That doesn't sound conclusive to me, but I am more than happy to bow to the forum's significant experience.

The closest gas station to Cayuga is a Pioneer...unless I'm on fumes LEAVING the track, I'd never fill there...and if I do, it'll be just enough to get to a petro/sunocco...

I think the very fact that you don't see/hear anyone using Pioneer for the MS3 or have written any glowing reviews about Pioneer speaks volumes about its use with the MS3.

having ssaid that, I need to state that I'm not pointing out that this or that gas is no good...all I'm saying is that there is overwhelming evidence that Ultra 94 is best for this car, esp when tuned...

stock guys wouldn't feel a diff between 91 and 94...and I dare anyone to prove me wrong on a track/dyno.

I don't see what the hype is about 94 Octane when your car is made from the factory to run on 91. Unless your tune requires 94, don't see why not 91. I personally run V-Power 91 all the time, and if I'm too lazy to find a Shell, I use the PetroCan 94

I also wouldn't drive like 10 km out of the way to get gas tho...lol...but getting gas could be "habit forming" in this car...so in the past couple of moves, one of the first thing I looked for was a gas stn/dealer with Ultra...I know I have three near me, and more importantly, I also know all the ones that don't...haha...

if you're not in the city, getting one stn to another costs more than a litre of gas, then I'd say, it's not worth it...but I might also alter my routes a bit to allow me to get my personal preference of gas...

even tuned, I sometimes run Petro/Esso/Shell 91 when I know I'm not going to be pushing my car into the rpm ranges where I have advanced timing.

I guess I'll find some 94 for my next fill-up, and see if I notice any difference. I'm probably not going to do any modifications to the car until it stops being my daily driver, so maybe it's a moot point for now.

I didn't want to confuse things, or raise anyone's ire, so thanks everyone for all your input.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chrismelito

I guess I'll find some 94 for my next fill-up, and see if I notice any difference. I'm probably not going to do any modifications to the car until it stops being my daily driver, so maybe it's a moot point for now.

I didn't want to confuse things, or raise anyone's ire, so thanks everyone for all your input.

---

hey man...it's the random chat...put your legs up and get to know the personalities behind the words...=)

we didn't get this car cuz we're generally agreeable...and another reason to chk out the scene on mazdaspeedforums.org for a wider perspective.

Argh! Too many forums! :thumbsup

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fobio

hey man...it's the random chat...put your legs up and get to know the personalities behind the words...=)

we didn't get this car cuz we're generally agreeable...and another reason to chk out the scene on mazdaspeedforums.org for a wider perspective.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chrismelito

Argh! Too many forums! :thumbsup

---

you'll need to grow some thick skin to surf, let alone post, on msf.org :chuckle

as for gas, i ran Shell 91 for 7 months, and the previous owner put nothing but Shell 91 in the car ...it ran fine both stock and on the cobb stg1 91 tune.

+1

As I've said in other posts: I prefer to run Shell V-power 91 with a 91 octane tune (on my Cobb AP) for daily driving (commuting), because in *my* car, I get better gas mileage that way. Track days and summer I run Ultra 94 with a 94 octane tune whenever possible.

Problem is, I don't have a Sunoco anywhere near me. But I do have a Shell on my way home from work. So I balance convenience with performance. (And tune accordingly).

Back to my original point, my car gets Sunoco/Petro 94 or Shell 91. Nothing else. Esso if I'm really desperate. Nothing less than that.

Now, stock was a different story. I got super shit gas mileage with Ultra 94. When I got mods and the AP, the 94 octane tune made my gas mileage better (plus performance, higher boost targets, butt dyno, etc). If I was stock I wouldn't bother with the 94 octane, just Shell V-power 91. But every car is different... I even notice a huge difference between my '07 and Acechikita's 07. Same car, same year, relatively close manufacturer's dates, but totally different beasts. Can't really explain it other than nuances.

What I would suggest is run through a few different kinds of gas. Get a full tank at a time, measure your mileage with the trip odometer and see how the car feels. As you get to know the car, you'll get a feel for what it likes and what it doesn't...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fobio

I also wouldn't drive like 10 km out of the way to get gas tho...lol...but getting gas could be "habit forming" in this car...so in the past couple of moves, one of the first thing I looked for was a gas stn/dealer with Ultra...I know I have three near me, and more importantly, I also know all the ones that don't...haha...

if you're not in the city, getting one stn to another costs more than a litre of gas, then I'd say, it's not worth it...but I might also alter my routes a bit to allow me to get my personal preference of gas...

even tuned, I sometimes run Petro/Esso/Shell 91 when I know I'm not going to be pushing my car into the rpm ranges where I have advanced timing.

---

i've only had to get one fill up so far since the dealer, which was probably running it on 91, i normally use ultra and have gotten used to pumping that, but surprisingly i haven't noticed much of a difference in this car except for the terrible fuel ecom but that's not really something i didn't expect.
also a random note and seek a little advise:
i'm thinking of getting a new set of rims+tires for spring/summer, my stock speed rims and tires are still brand new (never driven on yet), should i try and sell those off or should i just hold on to them, with the old speed, the rims look pretty nice, but i don't really like the look of the new ones so powder coating them isn't really an option i want to take.
as for rims i'll just end up picking out whatever it is that i like, but i need some help with the tires. any suggestions?

For tires, since you have a dedicated winter set, I would go with a straight summer set instead of an All-Season.

Pros: Awesome grip, handling
Cons: Greater wear you'd need to replace them more

Some good ones are Dunlop Star-Specs, Hankook RS-3, Yokohama AD08 - the Dunlop being the general bang for the buck tire. These are on the more aggressive end of the spectrum. You can go for a milder set like the Hankook V12 and still get awesome grip. Personally, I'm getting meself a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cups - I don't drive the car all that much so I can deal with the wear.

MBNTO and Fobio should have good info on tires

Since we're talking about gas and there are a couple other new MS3 owners in here aside from myself, I expect that we'll see break-in fuel economy (ex. 13 - 14L/100km or worse) until the car is ready to play nice, probably due in part to the whole 'varying speeds' break-in procedure along with occasional mid-open throttles. That's something I'll have to remember when I'm cruising on the highway, I tend to go about 110 these days and let all the faster drivers go ahead and trigger all the speed traps for me :P Do you think it's a good idea to bring it up to around 5000 or even 5500 rpm on occasion, to let the car experience a higher rev range than normal DD rpm range? I know the manual says not to go WOT in break-in, especially not WOT starts, so I was planning on doing a downshift at highway speeds to a safe gear while letting off the throttle, stay there for about 5 seconds or so while allowing the car to rev up to that range, then go back to normal highway driving. If this is the wrong thing to do, let me know.

Does anyone know if Pioneer changed gas suppliers/refineries?

I say this because I am suspected to believe that maybe Pioneer uses the same refinery as Sunoco/Petro Canada. Remember back in the day they (Pioneer) carried the "MAGNUM 94" gas? It wasnt at all stations but I remember them having it. Given right now the only supplier is Sunoco/PetroCanada that has 94, it could have been from the same refinery? I dunno just a thought.

Personally I use Sunoco 94 (My strategy is if you use your points you can get a 5cent off per litre card (for 200L) for 6000 points, so use that and the gas effectively becomes cheap as 91) and luckily theres a Sunoco/Petro that has 94 2 minutes from my house. If I am in dire needs I get Shell 91. Its maybe in my head but I get better mileage with Shell 91 (maybe lack of ethonol in their 91? I dunno).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by laksman91

For tires, since you have a dedicated winter set, I would go with a straight summer set instead of an All-Season.

Pros: Awesome grip, handling
Cons: Greater wear you'd need to replace them more

Some good ones are Dunlop Star-Specs, Hankook RS-3, Yokohama AD08 - the Dunlop being the general bang for the buck tire. These are on the more aggressive end of the spectrum. You can go for a milder set like the Hankook V12 and still get awesome grip. Personally, I'm getting meself a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cups - I don't drive the car all that much so I can deal with the wear.

MBNTO and Fobio should have good info on tires

---

Thanks for the pointers I'll definitely look into those tires. I was lookin at the Toyota t1r and it seems to have some good reviews any input on those?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PR3Y11

Thanks for the pointers I'll definitely look into those tires. I was lookin at the Toyota t1r and it seems to have some good reviews any input on those?

---

I wouldn't buy Toyota tires, even if they made them...they might not stop. EL OH EL

Hankook V12's...they're the best bang-for-buck tires out there...a great number of positive reviews on msf.org. Great in the rain...amazing price...other than a softer than normal side-wall, they're better than the Falken 615's or Nitto 555's that I have ran before.

Lol, Toyota.. The Toyo T1Rs are priced pretty high if I remember correctly - probably better options at that price range.

When I was stage 2+ I never felt a difference between the 91 tune running 91 and the 93 tune running 94. I travel a lot and have used pretty much every gas station Ive seen around, aside from the one-off single location places. Ive used Pioneer, Husky, Ultramar, etc. Ive only ever had a problem with one single tank recently from the Shell across the street from my apartment building, where I always get gas from whenever I fill at home. Made my exhaust reek of sulfur smell and made a CEL come on twice. Two tanks of 94 then I started using that Shells 91 again and all was fine. No smell anymore and the CEL went off and stayed off so far. No one gas station or company will have the highest quality gas ALL the time. Theres always that one bad batch, like what I must have got.

If you want the peace of mind and you think 94 will be super duper for your car then limit yourself to finding only 94 octane gas. Id personally only search for it out of my normal driving routes if I was tuned for 93 again. My opinion is this car was designed to run on 91. 91 octane is 91 octane, I wont look for one company in particular to get it from, as its all the same to me. I just wont go to any of those one location places because of the horror stories I have heard from friends and family about places dumping water in their fuel to dilute it.

Random question, how do you guys store your loose parking change? I used to put them in my ashtray, that's gone now for the 2010s lol

I keep 4 quarters in case I need to pump my tires in the little holder thing on the centre console just to the right of the shifter. dont know if that area is still in the 2010s.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alhope34

I keep 4 quarters in case I need to pump my tires in the little holder thing on the centre console just to the right of the shifter. dont know if that area is still in the 2010s.

---

Its gone in 2010s. There isn't a great spot for change which sucks on one hand, but then again areas where you keep change get pretty nasty. There is the ledge to left of the wheel which isn't great, or in the armrest in a small removable tray.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JStroke

Its gone in 2010s. There isn't a great spot for change which sucks on one hand, but then again areas where you keep change get pretty nasty. There is the ledge to left of the wheel which isn't great, or in the armrest in a small removable tray.

---

get a nice black plastic cup, and leave it in the cup holder.

Quote:

---

get a nice black plastic cup, and leave it in the cup holder.

---

I'll tape it to the ceiling :P

No seriously, I was in CT... just poking around... and saw these overpriced ricer-emblem ash-trays about 4" high and with a lid that look perfect for holding coins, fit in the drink holder or can be left in the centre console out of sight.

I'm so picky about stuff being in the cabin of my car, I even hide my gloves when I'm not wearing them. I have no idea where I would put coins in this car, so I guess I'll just make sure I have coins in my pocket.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fobio

I wouldn't buy Toyota tires, even if they made them...they might not stop. EL OH EL

Hankook V12's...they're the best bang-for-buck tires out there...a great number of positive reviews on msf.org. Great in the rain...amazing price...other than a softer than normal side-wall, they're better than the Falken 615's or Nitto 555's that I have ran before.

---

lol yes i definitely meant toyo, my iphone likes correcting even when i'm right

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chrismelito

I'm so picky about stuff being in the cabin of my car, I even hide my gloves when I'm not wearing them. I have no idea where I would put coins in this car, so I guess I'll just make sure I have coins in my pocket.

---

You don't like the dashboard bagel and the week old McD fries in the drink holders?

I put some red LEDs in my front seat foot wells yesterday. Looks nice and goes well with the other red dash lights at night, I think. I want to get some white LED strips like I got in red for the front and mount them on either side of my trunk. The stock trunk light is useless. I'd wire the LED strips to the stock trunk light switch and just take out the stock bulb.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fobio

I wouldn't buy Toyota tires, even if they made them...they might not stop. EL OH EL

Hankook V12's...they're the best bang-for-buck tires out there...a great number of positive reviews on msf.org. Great in the rain...amazing price...other than a softer than normal side-wall, they're better than the Falken 615's or Nitto 555's that I have ran before.

---

I also have the Hankook V12s.

PR3Y11, if the Star Specs and RS-3 (a step up from the V12 in Hankook's product lineup) are considerably cheaper than the V12s then, by all means, pick them up ....but know that the limit of the V12s are quite high and you may not even reach their limit on the street.

it all boils down to what you want to do with the tires..

* If it's just street driving, the V12s are hard to ignore.
* If it's street/auto-x/track, then the RS-3 or AD08 would be the way to go
* If you have another set of rims for auto-x/track then, again, V12s for street and whatever R-compounds you want for the track are a popular combo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MajesticBlueNTO

I also have the Hankook V12s.

PR3Y11, if the Star Specs and RS-3 (a step up from the V12 in Hankook's product lineup) are considerably cheaper than the V12s then, by all means, pick them up ....but know that the limit of the V12s are quite high and you may not even reach their limit on the street.

it all boils down to what you want to do with the tires..

* If it's just street driving, the V12s are hard to ignore.
* If it's street/auto-x/track, then the RS-3 or AD08 would be the way to go
* If you have another set of rims for auto-x/track then, again, V12s for street and whatever R-compounds you want for the track are a popular combo.

---

thanks for the advice mbnto and fobio, i think i'll be looking to get a set of v12's since both you and fobio say it's good, and as for track tires, i'll have to pay the track a visit this summer and see if i'll be making frequent visits, if so then i'll be investing some money in another set for the track

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elusivellama

You don't like the dashboard bagel and the week old McD fries in the drink holders?

---

I don't like the anything in the anything. My GF thinks I'm crazy, and subsequently has a Ford Escape that is full of crap. Do the other MS3 drivers keep the inside spotless, or am I the only nutter?

I used to, until I realized its still just a cheap econobox with a turbo and that worrying about it gave me more stress than it was worth.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chrismelito

I don't like the anything in the anything. My GF thinks I'm crazy, and subsequently has a Ford Escape that is full of crap. Do the other MS3 drivers keep the inside spotless, or am I the only nutter?

---

I keep the interior of any of my cars, doesn't matter what it is, as clean as I can, but at the same time I don't really spend much time thinking about it. It just happens. I do spray armor all on the dash every now and then, and vacuum the carpets once in a while, but mostly my habits and the weathertech digitalfits keep things clean.