What's the best octane to use?

[MisterMac]

A must watch.

 

[stung cb]

A must watch.

Thank you Mr. Mac. Chrisfix confirmed what a few us on the forum have been saying.
87 Octane IS PERFECTLY OKAY TO BURN AND WILL NOT, WILL NOT DAMAGE YOUR ENGINE. He also said you may(again)you may lose some performance and or mileage but it may not be noticeable.
IT MAY DAMAGE YOUR ENGINE IF THE MANUFACTURER STATES 91 (PREMIUM) IS REQUIRED AND YOU DON'T DO SO.
Kia specifically states 91 octane is recommended. NOT REQUIRED.
At 10 to 1 I wouldn't think the Stinger 3.3L would be considered a high compression engine. My Chevy Colorado 3.8L is at 11 to 1 plus.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

ChrisFix:
"So in turbocharged engines, supercharged engines or high compression engines, like in this Corvette, you are more likely to get detonation if you are using a lower octane fuel."

Stinger ECU:
"Not on my watch."

 

[MerlintheMad]

A must watch.

At home I get Costco gas. On road trips I look for Shell.

 

[MisterMac]

I am almost exclusively COSTCO gas. Top Tier, best price.

 

[stung cb]

I've been buying gas for my vehicles for over 54 years in many states, cities & towns. From many, different oil companies and from
many, many different gas stations. I have owned 36 different vehicles in 54 years and have never once had a negative engine
issue or noticeable lack of performance traced to poor gas. I run the octane allowed by the manufacturer and have never experienced an issue.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Jeez dude, every thread I click on I see you arguing with a different person. You really love arguing with everyone.

On the contrary, I actually don’t like arguing at all. However, I hate when people spread misinformation and rumors even more.

Actually if you look, almost all my disagreements are with the same handful of people. Mistermac, Tork and his couple minions, and a few other trolls all of which repeatedly post misleading or false information on our forum.

I simply do my best to correct it by showing facts or evidence that back up my statements and those same people get bent out of shape and go on the attack when proven wrong.

I apologize and agree that there are more tactful ways of responding, but this isn’t my first run-in with mistermac and just lose my patience having to constantly correct peoples “nonsense”, for lack of a better term.

@StungBlueGT2 , you are the crack-up.

See above, the word is "could", not will. My experience is no noticeable loss of power and fuel economy does not change between 87 and 91. None, zero, zilch difference.

Your arguments to support your beliefs that you must use premium fuel are nothing more than supposition based on an illiterate interpretation. If the OM read this way: "Premium octane fuel is required. Use of non-premium fuel WILL cause the engine to lose power and to consume more fuel", your arguments would be indisputable. However, that is not the case.

Following in suit, your assumption that the reason behind running regular fuel is based on trying to save a few bucks demonstrates you are either biased or clueless. Now, I realize the Stinger GT2 could very well be the most expensive and highest performance car you could ever dream of having. It might be your "baby", and you can't even imagine not feeding your baby the highest dollar caviar available. That is fine, go buy the premium caviar. I'll take the regular caviar and enjoy it just as much.

Now, @StungBlueGT2 , do yourself and everyone else on this forum a public service: get over yourself. Accept the fact that aside from a few horsepower difference at the height of the power band, the owner of a Stinger GT may run any grade of Top Tier fuel they desire for whatever reason. If, over the long-term, it is proven that those who chose to run regular instead of premium fuel caused some irreparable harm to their engine, I will be the first publish those results and to hail your lucky guess as accurate.

You really need to stop spreading misinformation and inaccurate statements based on misguided assumptions.

If you had any mechanical knowledge about engines you'd understand the facts that I, and informed people like NismoDPB are explaining. No matter what you think you feel or assume is not changing with your power/mpg between regular and premium fuels, you are simply incorrect. All the evidence, tests and facts about internal combustion engine prove otherwise. Using lower octane on an engine designed to use premium will undoubtedly cause knock or detonation and the ECU will be forced to protect itself by retarding/pulling ignition timing and in-turn less power/mpg.

The reason Kia says "could" instead of "will" is because octane levels & amounts of ethanol added to them vary from station to station. All fuel pumps show "Minimum" octane rating and most say "Up to 10% ethanol", which means some regular fuel can be 87 while others can be higher so mpg & power might not be effected as much.

Also, I never said you "must" use premium and the reason the manual doesnt say "required" or "will" is because modern engines have adaptable ECUs that can adjust timing/boost to accommodate non-recommended fuels. They can detect knock/detonation and lower the preset parameters to help save the engine from damage. Before the time of modern ECUs it was "required" to use certain fuels because ignition timing was predetermined.

Either way, using regular fuel is not recommended because you are forcing the engine to momentarily malfunction by knocking and then hoping the ECU pulls timing fast enough to prevent permanent damage. Not only does that reduce power/engine efficiency, its just tempting fate and will possibly cause less engine longevity. This is illogical to people that know better so I'm simply trying to help you and others understand the facts, over vague terminology and semantics.

I admit I'm assuming the reason anyone would go against Kia's recommendations and choose to sacrifice power & mpg, would be to try to save money on fuel. If you can give me a better reason why people would do this please explain since I and others dont understand why anyone would choose to put the lowest octane fuel in a high performance twin turbo engine built & intended to run on premium... Yes, my Stinger is my "baby" and just like my real baby boy I wouldnt feed him unhealthy foods that werent recommended by the experts/doctors that know best.

To summarize, yes our ECU's can reduce timing/power/efficiency so Stinger GT owners can run any grade fuel they desire. However the fact that its NOT recommended to run anything less than premium fuel and using regular will most definitely cause knock which will lead to power & MPG losses wont change. Bottom line is that our Stingers will under perform, and not run as intended unless using premium fuel like they were built for. So please stop trying to justify your choice to not follow Kia's & experts recommendations by saying regular fuel is just as good, because its simply incorrect and is poor advice.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

The mic has been dropped.

 

[stung cb]

The mic has been dropped.

"The mic has been dropped"?????

 

[MisterMac]

The mic has been dropped.

Thank God! It was either he needed to drop the mic, or someone needed to take it away from @StungBlueGT2 .

The best octane to use in the Stinger is whichever one the driver choses. The computer takes care of the rest.

 

[stung cb]

Thank God! It was either he needed to drop the mic, or someone needed to take it away from @StungBlueGT2 .

The best octane to use in the Stinger is whichever one the driver choses. The computer takes care of the rest.

Thank you Mr. Mac. Ole Blue does get a bit motor mouthed when you rile him. He needs to review post #81 you made.
I'm finishing up 4 fill-ups alternating premium to regular on my new GT2. I'm not seeing a difference in either performance or mileage.
Perhaps some recorded 1/4 mile numbers might show me a difference in performance. I would think it would be almost impossible to tell a mileage difference without a detailed comparison study. Like driving exact routes, exact acceleration, exact road traffic and other factors.

 

[MerlintheMad]

He needs to review post #81 you made.

I am sure he watched the video. His main point isn't potential loss of power/MPG; it is mentioned here, at 4:16 in the video: "But you don't want to have engine knock in the first place." 15:45, "It really is that simple, use what the manufacturer recommends." I.e. you don't want to have to engage the computer changing the timing to make running your choice of lower octane gas safe.

 

[stung cb]

I am sure he watched the video. His main point isn't potential loss of power/MPG; it is mentioned here, at 4:16 in the video: "But you don't want to have engine knock in the first place." 15:45, "It really is that simple, use what the manufacturer recommends." I.e. you don't want to have to engage the computer changing the timing to make running your choice of lower octane gas safe.

Merlin, Being that KIA has warranty repair exposure for 10/100K, don't you think they would want to cover their butt and say 91 octane is REQUIRED due to potential engine damage by using gasoline less than 91 octane? Why would they expose themselves to millions of dollars of engine repairs by NOT saying REQUIRED. The KIA manual states that you MUST change the oil every
6000 miles or 12 months "to protect your warranty" because they know it will lead to potential damage if not followed.
They do not state "to protect your warranty" you must use 91 octane gasoline. They only make a weak reference "could result in loss of engine power and increased fuel consumption". But....no words of engine damage or even potential engine damage.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Merlin, Being that KIA has warranty repair exposure for 10/100K, don't you think they would want to cover their butt and say 91 octane is REQUIRED do to potential engine damage by using gasoline less than 91 octane?

Good point. The apparent reasoning is that any potential damage from incipient knock would not appear until long after the 100K miles/10 years. But damage is not expected regardless, because Kia has confidence in their prevention programming and sensors.

 

[stung cb]

Good point. The apparent reasoning is that any potential damage from incipient knock would not appear until long after the 100K miles/10 years. But damage is not expected regardless, because Kia has confidence in their prevention programming and sensors.

You make sense to me. I guess if spending the extra money makes you feel good. Go for it.

 

[Rob M]

If presented with the following three options, and choosing the one on the left, you will have saved enough to buy a brand new engine, if the original ever fails after the powertrain warranty expires. Guess which option I choose?

 

[stung cb]

If presented with the following three options, and choosing the one on the left, you will have saved enough to buy a brand new engine, if the original ever fails after the powertrain warranty expires. Guess which option I choose? View attachment 39041

Rob, is this a trick question? Are you trying to trick all of us and StungBlueGT2 ? Is option 2 and 3 prices from the last mid grade and premium on earth? Come on now Rob what's going on? StungBlueGT2 is going get all riled up again when he reads some of these recent posts.

 

[Rob M]

I wouldn't argue too much with StungBlueGT2. He recently took an exam on gasoline. I heard he got a high test score.

 

[stung cb]

I wouldn't argue too much with StungBlueGT2. He recently took an exam on gasoline. I heard he got a high test score.

Whew! That has to leave you with breath worse than morning mouth.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

Thank God! It was either he needed to drop the mic, or someone needed to take it away from @StungBlueGT2 .

LMAO! You obviously dont know what that expression means and he was actually giving me a compliment of my victory in this conversation... Just so you understand "A mic drop is the gesture of intentionally dropping one's microphone at the end of a performance or speech to signal triumph."

The best octane to use in the Stinger is whichever one the driver choses.

This comment is wrong in so many ways its just laughable. Truly shows how stubborn youre acting.

Thank you Mr. Mac. Ole Blue does get a bit motor mouthed when you rile him. He needs to review post #81 you made.
I'm finishing up 4 fill-ups alternating premium to regular on my new GT2. I'm not seeing a difference in either performance or mileage.
Perhaps some recorded 1/4 mile numbers might show me a difference in performance. I would think it would be almost impossible to tell a mileage difference without a detailed comparison study. Like driving exact routes, exact acceleration, exact road traffic and other factors.

Lol and sorry if my thorough explanations are hard for some of you to follow. I understand 280 characters is the limit of many peoples attention spans now a days...
However, if you read the whole thread you would have seen how often these facts were explained, and that detailed comparison studies have already been performed which is where I got most of my information. Here's a few posts showing those details and the reputable sources(EPA, US Department of Energy, AAA & Motortrend, etc.) that shared them. Dont take my word for it and believe whatever you want, but the facts are there and thats better to trust than the difference you dont think you feel or "see"...
Gas. 87, 91, 93 Octane?
Gas. 87, 91, 93 Octane?
Gas. 87, 91, 93 Octane?
Nothing personal but some of you just dont understand how our modern engines work, or are simply in denial of the facts. But like they say "ignorance is bliss"...

I am sure he watched the video. His main point isn't potential loss of power/MPG; it is mentioned here, at 4:16 in the video: "But you don't want to have engine knock in the first place." 15:45, "It really is that simple, use what the manufacturer recommends." I.e. you don't want to have to engage the computer changing the timing to make running your choice of lower octane gas safe.

Exactly! And even the video he shared proves my point even further.