Our '83 B23F with 10.25 compression runs just fine on garden variety 87 Octane from the corner Shell station. Just like the owner's manual says it will.

It used to ping a lot, but I had occasion two yrs ago to pull the head, and in the process, cleaned up the piston tops and chambers. I made sure the timing was at the specified 12deg. and since then, no pinging and 30mpg(US) on the highway.

The 940 also runs great on the recommended 87. So does the Chev LT-1 in the 740. It has milled heads, high-lift rocker arms and a ton of power; smooth as glass on the cheap stuff.

Like George Downs (thanks for the kind comments on us Canucks, George), I kinda wonder what all the fuss is about. If your engine is pinging on the Volvo-recommended octane, don't blame the gas...have a look at the engine - it needs some help.


...and to second the comments of Rhys: I listened to an interview yesterday on the global warming issue on CBC radio. The interviewee was an MIT professor, holding the Alfred P. Sloan (Google him) Chair of Atmospheric Science. He shocked the (as usual) greenie CBC interviewer by stating that at least 90% of the reasoning behind the current global warming hysteria was simply bad science, and in 100 years we are just as likely to be bemoaning Global Cooling.

I'm sure as hell NOT against environmental responsibility and stewardship - my kids will have to live on this ball and breathe its air long after I check out. But it's gone WAY past tiresome, listening to the Chicken Little's with an agenda. Let the real scientists figure this out, and get the hand-wringers out of the pulpit.

--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD and 89 745 (LT-1 V8); hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)