Vehicle adjustments for altitude?? (how much, contractor, tile)

[Terytee]

Hey Coloradans!

I'm currently in the Washington DC/NoVA area and am moving to Co Springs next month upon my retirement from the Air Force.

I was stationed at Peterson AFB waaay back in 1992 and fell in love with Colorado. It's been a long time coming, but I can't wait to get back to the Rockies!

I do remember that a car bought on the east coast won't run very well at altitude, but I don't remember what needs to be adjusted.

With fuel injected vehicles, does the air/fuel mixture have to be adjusted??
For those that have moved to Colorado recently, was it something that you had to get done? How much did it cost?

Tks Coloradans.
Terytee

[$upra$ize]

Fuel injected vehicles will acclimate to the altitude. The ecu will notice the lack of air density and adjust fuel curves accordingly.

[Mike from back east]

....but my attitudes sure adjusted nicely when I came here. I left behind that DC / East Coast type A crap, got jeans & boots, took lessons to ride a horse, chilled out big time, got friendly and all smiley like.....what, me worry?

My cars were fine....1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6-cyl and 2004 Toyota Camry 4-cyl. No problems at all. Funny thing, here they sell gas that is 85 octane, as well as 87 octane and a premium that is maybe 91 octane. I use the 87 octane, per the manufacturer's owner's guide, never had a problem. You may detect some slight sluggishness with initial acceleration, due to less oxygen in the atmosphere at 6600 feet, but my mileage hasn't changed a bit.

s/Mike from back east
don't worry - be happy (everybody singgggg)

[COflower]

Mike (just replied to your PM, sorry for the delay)...anyhow I have a 93 Honda Accord and I run it with the lowest octane and it runs fine. I would go up to mid-grade but I find she runs just fine.

Try a half a tank and see. You can save yourself some money. Granted my car was a used car from Cheyenne so it's always been run in the higher altitudes but I have been filling it with the lowest since I bought it.

[Terytee]

Thanks for the info Suprasize.

Mike from back east, being a fellow "immigrant" from DC, I'm hoping to experience the attitude adjustment too! Can't wait until November!!

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Terytee

Thanks for the info Suprasize. Mike from back east, being a fellow "immigrant" from DC, I'm hoping to experience the attitude adjustment too! Can't wait until November!!

You are going to love Colorado......so far our experience has been superb.
s/Mike

[cluckk]

Actually people have a harder time adjusting than their cars.

Recipes have to be adjusted and if you work physically it can be real hard to breathe for a few days. When I moved there last time I was a tile contractor. I moved there from Texas and grabbed a box of tile and started running up the stairs with it. I almost took the fast way to the bottom. I have never been so dizzy in my life. We adjusted very quickly though and found all the benefits of living there outweighed the cons of the thin air. Besides if you play golf, you'll love the altitude and thin air.

[Pax_Avatar]

I didn't need to do any adjustments to my cars from Chicago. Also, lower octane works great here. I have been advised by a couple of gas station owners that due to the altitude the higher grade fuels is a waste of money as the engine can not really benefit from the higher octane.

[ryanek9freak]

yeah like everyone said, unless your car is carburated , you have nothing to worry about

[John.Bishop14]

Ethanol will lean your mixture and raise effective "octane" rating. You can increase your compression ration at this altitude and get away with it too.