Gas. 87, 91, 93 Octane?

[Beege]

Wow people are so angry in this forum, a simple statement can drive them to get irritated and sarcastic... LOL

I take a fence to that

 

[Clearly Canadian]

These are fine engines, people don't cheap out on couple hundred dollars a year, no worth damaging your engine prematurely.

Why is there no rolling eyes emoji?

 

[SteveCo]

Why is there no rolling eyes emoji?

 

[MisterMac]

Wow people are so angry in this forum, a simple statement can drive them to get irritated and sarcastic... LOL

Only idiots get that reaction.

 

[Mike_TX]

Lol. On every car forum I've been on, the "regular vs. premium" threads always get testy. People really seem to be passionate about their choice in gas (of all things).

Wait until we start debating about nitrogen vs. plain air in tires!

 

[Jimmer]

Lol. On every car forum I've been on, the "regular vs. premium" threads always get testy. People really seem to be passionate about their choice in gas (of all things).

Wait until we start debating about nitrogen vs. plain air in tires!

When I was at Minot ND, one of the things I used to have brand new airmen do is go to vehicle maintenance and get winter air put in the tires of our GOVs ;-)

 

[SteveCo]

When I was at Minot ND, one of the things I used to have brand new airmen do is go to vehicle maintenance and get winter air put in the tires of our GOVs ;-)

On the first morning he started at his very first job at an electrical service shop, they sent a friend of mine out to pick up a box of ohms ...

 

[eflyguy]

I think we should start an oil thread.. that'll get people going..

Only idiots get that reaction.

Please no name calling. I know, I know..

 

[MisterMac]

I think we should start an oil thread.. that'll get people going..

You're right


Please no name calling. I know, I know..

you are correct, I should've said:

"Only partially intelligent comments based primarily upon assumption and/or incomplete understanding get that reaction."

 

[Graphite_GT_305]

In everyday driving, the Stinger GT is so fast, I can't be on full throttle too long. I don't want to say it's overpowered because hey, if it had more power I'd take it. But the small loss of power is no big deal for those that want to save some money per month. On a long road trip with minimal acceleration runs needed, I'd get regular fuel for sure. For very hot weather, I'd get 93 octane for sure. The rest of the time it's either one.

 

[MerlintheMad]

For the 700th time, there is no damage to any engines occurring. Do people not read anything prior to posting? I guess that's why a 1 page-worthy topic is now 13 pages of the same things repeated over and over again.

I've read probably every post on this and other threads on this subject since joining the forum. And I am not convinced either way. You say "no damage occurring". Yet the engine is "protected" against any damage from lower grade fuel; the timing is adjusted to prevent premature ignition. Could the complexities of the failsafe contract a compromise in the chips or software that regulate these adjustments? Would there be physical evidence of a problem before some damage had occurred? If there is any chance of the timing software not doing its job, then that is reason enough to not risk it, it seems to me. If the engine is having to go through a process of adjustment to accommodate lower grade fuel, then avoiding the need for that process in the first place should be a good thing, for peace of mind if nothing else.

 

[MisterMac]

I've read probably every post on this and other threads on this subject since joining the forum. And I am not convinced either way. You say "no damage occurring". Yet the engine is "protected" against any damage from lower grade fuel; the timing is adjusted to prevent premature ignition. Could the complexities of the failsafe contract a compromise in the chips or software that regulate these adjustments? Would there be physical evidence of a problem before some damage had occurred? If there is any chance of the timing software not doing its job, then that is reason enough to not risk it, it seems to me. If the engine is having to go through a process of adjustment to accommodate lower grade fuel, then avoiding the need for that process in the first place should be a good thing, for peace of mind if nothing else.

Merlin, don't confuse lower octane with lower grades of fuel. They are not the same, per se.

The grade of a fuel refers to the amount of cleaning additatives

 

[StingIt]

What are your thoughts on ethanol? I recently switched to Shell v power after being a long time Petro Canada member, even Ultra 94 fuel has ethanol. Not the only reason, find that Shell just seems to run better.

 

[SteveCo]

What are your thoughts on ethanol? I recently switched to Shell v power after being a long time Petro Canada member, even Ultra 94 fuel has ethanol. Not the only reason, find that Shell just seems to run better.

All other things being equal (including octane), pure gasoline contains more energy and will give you better performance and fuel mileage for a given volume.

According to pure-gas.org, both PetroCan 91 octane and Shell V-Power do not contain ethanol.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

For those two retailers that applies to their dealers Canada-wide, but as you can see from their site that isn't always the case. To get the most out of this forum you'll want to to put your location in your profile.

 

[dgreen045]

I cannot tell any performance differences in my 2019 GT1 whether I run regular or super. Ironically enough, the worst MPG I have gotten thus far was using super unleaded - I know, I know. There are many variables at play here...

I feel Kia quotes horsepower and mpg rating on regular unleaded which is why they want us to put a gas treatment in our tanks at 6k miles. I was reading the Kia Maintenance Manual which I believe is posted elsewhere on this forum and thought I read that the gas treatment was necessary if premium fuel is not used.

Regardless, I do a lot of highway driving to/from work. MPG is generally the same, so I will keep running regular and use my savings for beer money.

 

[Graphite_GT_305]

The last 5 cars i've had all ran better with 93 octane fuel except.........the Stinger. Perhaps more testing is needed but I can't notice a performance difference.

My previous car, a GTI, ran significantly better with 93 octane.
Another car, a Mini Cooper (no turbo), couldn't even run right with 87. It HAD TO have Premium.

 

[davebo]

Another car, a Mini Cooper (no turbo), couldn't even run right with 87. It HAD TO have Premium.

Out of curiosity, did the Cooper's manual say Premium recommended or required?

 

[Jimmer]

Oh, about the blown engine, did you use 85 octane? ;-)

 

[Graphite_GT_305]

Out of curiosity, did the Cooper's manual say Premium recommended or required?

It said required.

I formerly had a BMW 325i that also said Premium required, but I ignored it and put 87. Ran just fine for years.
The Mini, however, wouldn't run right. Luckily, I had only put half a tank just in case I had to mix in some Premium.

I drove it on regular for a day and it just had no power, so I filled the remaining half of the tank with Premium and it was fine.

 

[eflyguy]

Would love to know what year mini you had. I just did a quick check of 2010 & 2012, and they both say 89 minimum *required* but 91 recommended.