This might sound goofy, but it works. When you gas up, use the highest octane gasoline available. I use Sunoco 94 octane. I have found my gas budget goes farther, because I am able to run longer on the higher octane gasoline! It costs more at the beginning but at the end of my budget, I have money left over!
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I was under the impression that using a grade of gas not recommended by the car's manufacturer's manual can acutally harm your engine after a period of time.
I have not heard that higher octanes harm cars but with a newer car I always use the cheaper grade. Generally newer cars, post 1987, don't benefit as much as older cars from higher octanes because of a more advanced fuel injection system.
Sounds completely goofy to me. Octane is a measurement of how hard it is to ignite the gas, not the quality of the gas or how many miles per gallon you'll get.
Here's a nice article on the subject...
What's the difference between premium and regular gas?
www.straightdope.com/
When I tried that my gas milage got worse so I called the dealer service dept. They said you should only use the specified gas for your car.
We were trying to find out why our minivan was getting such bad gas mileage. Then I gassed up my car at the same gas station where my wife gasses up the minivan. My car immediatetly started pinging when going up any hills. I think some gas stations are over rating their octane rating. An engine that pings will cause the computer to increase fuel input by lengthening injector pulse. Thus, worse gas mileage. If you hear any ping use a higher octane or go to a different station. I find Arco cheapest gas to be superior to Cheverons low or mid grade.
The octane rating your needs is all dependant upon your engines compression ratio and is stated in your owners manual what you should use. High octane will not increase horse power or gas mileage. If you use the wrong octane you could damage your engine over time.
Engineer and Mechanic.
My dad has been in the business all his life (his dad was a mechanic) and it's true. It gives you better milage, and not only that it's cleaner and thus your fuel filter needs to be changed less often. My sister has had 2 cars and both went downhill fast when she started putting regular in them.
If you can, always use a higher octane. Most modern vehicle computers work both ways. If you use low octane the timing is decreased when a ping is detected. If you use higher octane the computer senses more efficient fuel is being used and will add timing thus giving you more power and efficiency.
Also after running 87 octane I removed the spark plugs at 20K miles and found deposits. When using only 93 octane and a fresh set of plugs at 20K miles later the ceramic part of the plug was still white and new looking.
The important thing is proper maintenance. If you have a ping or knock and loss of gas mileage, always perform maintenance. Change your air filter, pcv valve, fuel filter, and use a high quality engine oil when changing the oil. If the ping still exists run a fuel system cleaner through the gas tank. Then if it is still there try higher octane. You can also run Seafoam through a vacuum line.
I perform all these thing on a regular basis and my 80K mile V8 gets 24 MPG
If you have a car designed for 93 octane and you use 87 octane you will loose gas milage and power. If your car is designed for 87 and you use 93 chances are your engine will almost never detonate(knock/ping) resulting in 0 knock retard and giving you better gas milage and power.
I think buying the higher octane doesn't matter because of how you drive. Buying the higher octane and driving like a maniac with or without the a/c on will kill your gas and you wallet. If you're always on the "go" so is your gas. But if you go to work and come home and stay, your gas will probably last regardless of what octane.
Detonation occurs when the compressed fuel explodes inside of the engine without the spark from the plugs. This being said, this is the only time that higher octane fuels should be used in a car, as they tend to be more difficult to knock. Unless your owner's manual specifies to use higher octane fuels, regular should be fine for most cars. Manufacturers, believe it or not, know which fuel to put into the engine THEY designed. So use that as a rule of thumb. : )
You may love 94 Octane from Sonoco however they are phasing it out. Every gas station I checked in PA, MD and VA were now 93. No better than any other gas comapny. I went out of my way to find a Sonoco Station. Not anymore. Anyone that has been to Europe knows about the luxury of High Octane without governmental interference.
Your car will maintain a specific air to fuel ratio, no matter what fuel you use. You will not use less gas by using a higher octane.
Well o well I use 94 octane in my twin turbo supra. It's recommended for it, I get a good gas mileage too but I think it's gotta to do with over all maintenance of the car. No. 1 condition is doing the job its the whole bunch that does the job if everything's right.
My father has a '78 Buick Electra carbed and putting in 93 makes a world of difference. Newer cars, maybe not so much.
I drive a 1.4 liter 1971 mini with my home brew octane booster and I love it. Costs like an extra 2 dollars to fill up and it performs much better. Using premium w/octane booster comes out to like 99 octane. I use it almost every time I fill up and i have never had a problem with it. A far as gas millage is concerned, it appears to be the same although my driving styles don't serve as a good reference. I've heard all over the web that adding acetone to gas tank can help gas millage but I've never tried that.
My fuel of choice is 93 Amoco, Now BP. It was tye only fuel for my 1970 4 banger volvo which was designed for 98 octane fuel. The better gas mileage means a lower cost per mile for my 3 liter Ranger pickup
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