premium fuel
Question:
Bob I agree with you. It’s worth the couple of pennys! Old saying ? Penny wise Dollar foolish
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Bob, > What makes no sense is using a higher octane than the engine needs. It’s > money in the toilet. > Dean >I keep reading the comment that there is no difference in running regular >gas over premium. Where have you people been and what are you driving????? I >have never driven a V8 with fuel injection or a 4 barrel carb that didn’t >get at least 1 mpg better with premium and since it leaves less deposits on >the cylinders and valves it means that aside from the extra performance, my >truck will run much longer and cost me less in total maintenance. After >spending $25,000 – $40,000.00 on a leather clad vehicle with a big V8 and >advanced ignition and suspension components, why would you run it on >anything less than the highest grade of gasoline? It just doesn’t make >sense. Over 10,000 miles the added cost is approximately $75.00 to run >premium fuel and the engine will run better and last longer. People will >think nothing of spending a few thousand dollars on lifts, tires and all >sorts of performance parts and useless cosmetic add ons but will gladly save >a few pennies on lower grade fuel. >Bob Walker
Response:
RE/ >What makes no sense is using a higher octane than the engine needs. It’s >money in the toilet.
But that still begs the question in the original post: what about the possbility of increased MPG? I haven’t done any ‘hard’ study on my own vehicles, but the comment that higher octane is good for an extra 1 mph or even more rings true based on the occasional tankful of higher-than-minimum octane that I’ve burned. Pete Cresswell
Response:
Pete, Or decreased mileage? The bottom line is that unit for unit, premium gas has LESS energy than regular. If your engine can take advantage of the higher octane gas, it might get slightly better mileage and performance. These engines have knock sensors and advance/retard the spark as required. If you engine does not, and the owner’s manual calls for regular gas, you’ll get better mileage and performance from regular gas. Of course, if your owner’s manual dictates premium gas, then that’s what you must use. Dean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >RE/ >What makes no sense is using a higher octane than the engine needs. It’s >money in the toilet. >But that still begs the question in the original post: what about the >possbility of increased MPG? I haven’t done any ‘hard’ study on my >own vehicles, but the comment that higher octane is good for an extra >1 mph or even more rings true based on the occasional tankful of >higher-than-minimum octane that I’ve burned. >Pete Cresswell
Response:
In reality, the higher the octane of fuel technically should slow the combusion process (though only slightly) and not burn as hot (due to the slowed combusion process) if you’re jetting the gas equally between say 87 and 93 oct. If the computer and/or person adjusting timing and carb can tell there is a change in octane it could potentially bump the timing and/or lean the mixture slightly and take advantage of the higher octane, but most modern computer controlled engines can’t detect this, and you’re just wasting more cash per gallon, getting slightly less power, and carboning up the combusion chamber. 87 octane is usually the cleanest gasoline you can get at a station as its generally sold in a higher quantity so it doesn’t spend as much time in the station’s tanks, where most "nasties" are added to the fuel. Save the dollar or so per tank and dump in a bottle of good injector cleaner every 10 fillups or so – still overkill but at least then you *MIGHT* be doing yourself any sort of a favor. JS
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I keep reading the comment that there is no difference in running regular > gas over premium. Where have you people been and what are you driving????? I > have never driven a V8 with fuel injection or a 4 barrel carb that didn’t > get at least 1 mpg better with premium and since it leaves less deposits on > the cylinders and valves it means that aside from the extra performance, my > truck will run much longer and cost me less in total maintenance. After > spending $25,000 – $40,000.00 on a leather clad vehicle with a big V8 and > advanced ignition and suspension components, why would you run it on > anything less than the highest grade of gasoline? It just doesn’t make > sense. Over 10,000 miles the added cost is approximately $75.00 to run > premium fuel and the engine will run better and last longer. People will > think nothing of spending a few thousand dollars on lifts, tires and all > sorts of performance parts and useless cosmetic add ons but will gladly save > a few pennies on lower grade fuel. > Bob Walker
Response:
then there are octian boosters to add to the mix.
Response:
Why boost octane if it doesn’t help anything?!?!!?! *forehead slap* JS
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> then there are octian boosters to add to the mix.
Response:
Dean, You are right on, To think you would get better MPG just because of a higher octane is total HORSESHIT. The higher octane just contains additives to buffer the explosion and prevent pre-ignition knock. A higher compression ratio must have these additives to stop pre-ignition. Lower compression ratios found in vehicles without high performance engines actually thrive (more MPG) on lower octane fuels. The best answer is, buy the cheapest gas you can find as long as it meets your manufacturer’s requirements. STOVEBOLT – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Pete, >Or decreased mileage? The bottom line is that unit for unit, premium gas >has LESS energy than regular. If your engine can take advantage of the >higher octane gas, it might get slightly better mileage and performance. >These engines have knock sensors and advance/retard the spark as >required. If you engine does not, and the owner’s manual calls for >regular gas, you’ll get better mileage and performance from regular gas. >Of course, if your owner’s manual dictates premium gas, then that’s what >you must use. >Dean >RE/ >>What makes no sense is using a higher octane than the engine needs. It’s >>money in the toilet. >But that still begs the question in the original post: what about the >possbility of increased MPG? I haven’t done any ‘hard’ study on my >own vehicles, but the comment that higher octane is good for an extra >1 mph or even more rings true based on the occasional tankful of >higher-than-minimum octane that I’ve burned. >Pete Cresswell
Response:
Bob, I have a 95 GMC w/ the 350V-8 and TBI. I averaged 9.8 MPG on regular and 11.3 on 93octane. The math works out to be to my advantage. It also performs better! I’m sold!
Response:
Not saying to do it, just that they are out there. i dont use them my self, never saw a need.
Response:
I have done an unscientific study on this. A year I tracked the fuel and mileage of my 1992 GMC Sierra 2wd, 5 Spd 6 Cyl. Here’s the final results: Tank size 30 (gal) Reg. Price 1.55 ($) Prem. Price 1.75 ($) reg 15.92 mpg prem 17.44 mpg regular $0.0974 ($/mi) premium $0.1004 ($/mi) 0.0030 $/mi increase So yes, it is more expensive to run premium: here are the year projections: These dollar figures indicate the additional money that will be spent on premium fuel: 1 month $7.13 2400 miles/month 1 year $85.57 28800 miles/year 3 year $256.72 86400 miles/3 year Basically, the higher cost of fuel is offset by the higher mileage. But not 100%. I have the Xcel sheets to back up my findings, for my own vehicle, for one year of back and forth to work and the occaisonal camping/ canoeing trip. Hey – I’m an engineer, I actually like doing this kind of shit. :) ctb
Response:
I keep reading the comment that there is no difference in running regular gas over premium. Where have you people been and what are you driving????? I have never driven a V8 with fuel injection or a 4 barrel carb that didn’t get at least 1 mpg better with premium and since it leaves less deposits on the cylinders and valves it means that aside from the extra performance, my truck will run much longer and cost me less in total maintenance. After spending $25,000 – $40,000.00 on a leather clad vehicle with a big V8 and advanced ignition and suspension components, why would you run it on anything less than the highest grade of gasoline? It just doesn’t make sense. Over 10,000 miles the added cost is approximately $75.00 to run premium fuel and the engine will run better and last longer. People will think nothing of spending a few thousand dollars on lifts, tires and all sorts of performance parts and useless cosmetic add ons but will gladly save a few pennies on lower grade fuel. Bob Walker
Response:
Bob, What makes no sense is using a higher octane than the engine needs. It’s money in the toilet. Dean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I keep reading the comment that there is no difference in running regular >gas over premium. Where have you people been and what are you driving????? I >have never driven a V8 with fuel injection or a 4 barrel carb that didn’t >get at least 1 mpg better with premium and since it leaves less deposits on >the cylinders and valves it means that aside from the extra performance, my >truck will run much longer and cost me less in total maintenance. After >spending $25,000 – $40,000.00 on a leather clad vehicle with a big V8 and >advanced ignition and suspension components, why would you run it on >anything less than the highest grade of gasoline? It just doesn’t make >sense. Over 10,000 miles the added cost is approximately $75.00 to run >premium fuel and the engine will run better and last longer. People will >think nothing of spending a few thousand dollars on lifts, tires and all >sorts of performance parts and useless cosmetic add ons but will gladly save >a few pennies on lower grade fuel. >Bob Walker
