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Does Premium Gas Really Matter?

agh agh agh

octane is how explosive gas is under pressure

you get less power out of 93 octane then you do for 87 octane since 87 more easily ignites

if your engine only requires 87 octane use 87 for best performance
 
in a normal car? nope it does not. but of course there are some cars that HAVE to have it.

My dad has a Cadillac STS that needs it.
 
Originally posted by: Spooner
I heard somewhere that it really doesn't matter. Stats on this?
Click to expand...
If your car needs it (forced induction or high-compression pistons); use it. If not, you're wasting your money.
 
somewhere around 5% of cars actually need premium, most of those are forced inducted. most others that use it will restrict timing a bit if a lesser grade is put in, and usually the difference is not noticeable.
 
My 97 Nissan Quest ran like crap with regular gas and much better with premium. But those Quests had issues with PVC valves getting clogged up and my mechanic told me premium would minimize the problem.
 
very few cars need anything but regular

read the owners manual for your car, if it says regular, don't waste your money
 
I know in the owner's manual for my Mustang Cobra it says to use at least 91 octane fuel.

My 97 F150 says 87... so I put regular in that.

-Matt
 
If your car requires premium or a high octane fuel than 87 it will usually indicate this on the fuel filler door. My wife's old BMW indicated that it required 89 octane fuel. Our '03 Maxima says to use premium fuel for best performance on the fuel filler door. If your car doesn't have any indications then it probably only needs 87 octane. Check your owners manual though to be certain.
 
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Your ECM will retard the ignition until the knocks stop, which will hurt your fuel economy and power. So, yes. If your car recommends premium, use premium.

Source (from Roger)
Click to expand...

ok I may be wrong but isn't knocking VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE!?!?!?!?! You don't want to wait for the ECU to retard the timing. Because by that time damage has already been done to the engine.
 
Originally posted by: iloveme2
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Your ECM will retard the ignition until the knocks stop, which will hurt your fuel economy and power. So, yes. If your car recommends premium, use premium.

Source (from Roger)
Click to expand...

ok I may be wrong but isn't knocking VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE!?!?!?!?! You don't want to wait for the ECU to retard the timing. Because by that time damage has already been done to the engine.
Click to expand...

excessive knocking is, yes. you think the computer is just going to wait until knocking happens for 5 minutes or what?
 
Originally posted by: Shanti
My 97 Nissan Quest ran like crap with regular gas and much better with premium. But those Quests had issues with PVC valves getting clogged up and my mechanic told me premium would minimize the problem.
Click to expand...

that doesn't make sense.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: iloveme2
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Your ECM will retard the ignition until the knocks stop, which will hurt your fuel economy and power. So, yes. If your car recommends premium, use premium.

Source (from Roger)
Click to expand...

ok I may be wrong but isn't knocking VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE!?!?!?!?! You don't want to wait for the ECU to retard the timing. Because by that time damage has already been done to the engine.
Click to expand...

excessive knocking is, yes. you think the computer is just going to wait until knocking happens for 5 minutes or what?
Click to expand...

so irreversible damage can't happen after one knock? let alone if the person is always filling up with regular when the ecu is expecting premium. it will constantly have to retard the timing after hearing knocking.
 
Originally posted by: iloveme2
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Your ECM will retard the ignition until the knocks stop, which will hurt your fuel economy and power. So, yes. If your car recommends premium, use premium.

Source (from Roger)
Click to expand...

ok I may be wrong but isn't knocking VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE!?!?!?!?! You don't want to wait for the ECU to retard the timing. Because by that time damage has already been done to the engine.
Click to expand...

Nah, its almost instant. I notice it in everyday driving with this piss gas we cali folks get for premium.
 
My Crossfire requires premium, so if the manufacturer says so, it must matter. My old Eclipse only needed 87 octane and that's what it got. Way too many people think premium is better, but if the manufacturer doesn't say you need it, there's no reason to buy it.
 
This has been discussed many times and the consesus is still that if your vehichle manual says to use Premium you use Premium if not than use what it tells you!
 
Originally posted by: iloveme2
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: iloveme2
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Your ECM will retard the ignition until the knocks stop, which will hurt your fuel economy and power. So, yes. If your car recommends premium, use premium.

Source (from Roger)
Click to expand...

ok I may be wrong but isn't knocking VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE!?!?!?!?! You don't want to wait for the ECU to retard the timing. Because by that time damage has already been done to the engine.
Click to expand...

excessive knocking is, yes. you think the computer is just going to wait until knocking happens for 5 minutes or what?
Click to expand...

so irreversible damage can't happen after one knock? let alone if the person is always filling up with regular when the ecu is expecting premium. it will constantly have to retard the timing after hearing knocking.
Click to expand...

once it hears it it retards back and gradually tries to advance it until it hears knock again, but i wouldn't expect that it would try and advance it back to premium defaults over and over and over again until the next key cycle.
 
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