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Gas mileage on my truck.. UPDATE
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11 M.P.G. or so isn't so bad - for this time of year in your particular vehicle. Consider the following:
1) Colder temps lead to worse gas mileage. Keep a log of your fill-ups and average the numbers out at the end of the summer. More than likely, your vehicle will average much closer to the 15 M.P.G. figure.
2) Winter fuel blends. The current blends of "winter" fuel that are being sold can rob you of about 2 M.P.G.
1) Colder temps lead to worse gas mileage. Keep a log of your fill-ups and average the numbers out at the end of the summer. More than likely, your vehicle will average much closer to the 15 M.P.G. figure.
2) Winter fuel blends. The current blends of "winter" fuel that are being sold can rob you of about 2 M.P.G.
I've used 87 octane on various cars, and I honestly don't like the sound of the pistons knocing the way they do with the cheaper gas. It almost sounds like the cylinders are about to seize.
I don't mind paying for the more expensive gas, even if it isn't meant for the type of compression my engine puts out.
Unlike Mitsubishi's and Toyota's which have a button, typically on the transmission shift to turn on or off the overdrive, my truck simply engages it if I step on the gas hard enough.
I think she burns gas quicker when I engage it constantly, or at least it seems like she does, so I don't mind it disengaged most of the time.
Gillbot
Lifer
Not really, It's not cleaner or anything like everyone thinks. It actually doesn't burn as easily. A motor needs a few things other than Air and spark to run. The compression actually aids in the combustion process. 87 works best in most cars because they are designed around it. Higher octanes are for performance cars with high compression and the like. As the piston comes up right before the plug fires, it compresses the air and fuel to make it easier to combust. In your vehicle, there isn't enough of this "squeezing" and thus the fuel doesn't ignite as easily and will burn more slowly and unevenly causing fuel to be wasted. My car requires 93 octane since i'm running 10.2:1 compression, any less and the fuel explodes as it's compressed, without the plug firing. This is pinging. ANY reputable mechanic will tell you to run as low of an octane as possible without pinging. This would be 87 for 90% of the cars on the road today. Any higher and the fuel is not burning efficiently in the motor and is being wasted. This can also lead to premature catalitic converter failure as it has to work extra hard burining off the excess fuel.
Gasoline is made up of many different compounds. Is is most definately not a simple binary mixture of octane and heptane.
The octane rating is a measure of how resistant the mixture is to detonation with pure octane having a rating of 100 though it really isn't even that simple with the different methods of measuring it, motor and research.
The main thing you need to know is - if your car manual says to use 87 octane than you don't need any higher and won't get any benifit out of it.
There are even some exceptions to that but mainly dealing with old cars that have carbon buildup or some cars that can adjust their ignition timing to take advantage of the higher octane.
Is pinging when the engine sounds like it's about to give in when it's straining? You know.. When going up a steep hill and it needs to work a little harder to push out some power? I know the difference between 87 and maybe 91 is considerable. My ex used to drive a '91 Ford Escort. She would always put the cheaper gas and always used to make that noise that sounded like the pistons were getting screwed up. As soon as I told her to put 93 octane gas in, the noise stopped.
I don't know.. Maybe there was something else wrong with her car.
As others have said, this is absolutely incorrect. It amazes me that people (still?) believe that Octane rating has something to do with the quality of the fuel.
Unless your engine really does ping on 87 octane(in which case, you probably have another problem.. severe carbon buildup, perhaps), you are wasting money, fuel economy, and performance by using Premium.
Pinging is just that. Its a slightly dull, slightly metallic "thud", or "ping" comming from the engine bay.. It can be almost machine-gun like when it's really bad.
Straining is when an engine is most likely to ping, but what you're describing doesen't sound like pinging.
By the way; almost all newer cars have a ping sensor that retards timing to stop the pinging if it's detected, which results in slightly less fuel economy.
The heads would need to be removed so you could gain access to the combustion chambers to be cleaned.
When was the last time you changed your sparkplugs? Were they fouled black with carbon, or were they the healthy tanish color with no deposits?
At 113k miles, you're in the middle life of your engine. It should have plenty of life left.
Well thank you for calling me an idiot by the way.
My manual does suggest 87 octane for my truck. I do find it funny that people who opt for putting the cheaper gas in their tanks always find themselves leaving their cars at the shop for repairs more often. Don't know, maybe general ignorant observation on my part.
Ahh I don't know. When I more or less know she needs a tune up (rougher idling than usual, less engine response, etc), then I take her to the shop and let them do it.
I'm sure she has a long time to go. She still runs like new. I just want to keep her running that way, like new.
It indeed can cause pinging... carbon buildup in the combustion chamber can increase the compression ratio. It can also cause pinging if there is a hotspot in the carbon buildup igniting the fuel/air before the plug does.
Again.. 113k, while significant.. does not mean your engine is on it's death bed. After an engine is broken in, it enters a period of long life and very little wear(assuming proper maintenance). Assuming things aren't worn out(in which case your Jeep would also double as a mosquito fogger), I bet your cylinders are within 5% of spec.
LOL! Where on earth did you come up with that conclusion? It's totally wacky, lol.
Again.. you are using cheap in the wrong way. Just because the gasoline is cheaper does not mean that it is of lesser quality. Infact, it is the same gasoline - it just has different.. or more.. additives in it that increase octane rating. The Octane rating is simply a (rather non-scientific)measure of the fuels ability to resist spontaneous ignition.. Nothing more, nothing less.
Fortunately, most states regulate gasoline quality. You have nothing to worry about by buying the cheapest fuel you can find.
Pinging is a pretty distinct sound. Once you hear it, you'll know.. since you haven't heard it, I doubt you're experiencing it.. although, it is funny how different people percieve different sounds. Fill it up with 87 and listen carefully next time you're driving.
I just want to reiterate that the fuel you use has absolutely nothing to do with the longevity of your engine.
That is determined by your maintenance habbits and schedules, amongst other things. You could use 5$/gallon 110 Octane Racing Fuel and it would not matter if you never changed your oil and filters.
LOL I know, I know. I'm sure people find themselves having to leave their cars at the shop often for all kinds of reasons, and I'm sure cheaper gas isn't likely one of them.
I think I'll try that with one of my pop's cars. I'm not sure I want to experiment with a truck that cost me eight grand just a year ago. 😉
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