Poahl: What grade gasoline do you buy?

[gabemcg]

I run on methane

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: gabemcg
I run on methane

the fuel wash in the engine oil must be awful.

 

[Toastedlightly]

I ran 89 in my semi-souped-up 74 Dodge Warlock (5.4L v8)

 

[Evadman]

I get premo usually. it's less than 5% difference, and I get about 9% better gas millege in the summer, ~18% better in winter.

 

[poopaskoopa]

93.

 

[jaybert]

premium....subaru wrx with a 93 octane tuned map...

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: freebee
Always regular. Its pointless to put in the higher grades. Most engines have anti-knock capability, doesn't "hurt" the engine to run on regular. For optimal performance, many engine can take advantage of higher octanes, but for everyday low-load, level grade city driving, not necessary.

If the engine is supercharged (which includes turbos), you could blow a piston by running regular. You seem to be very misinformed on this subject. Anti-knock capability simply involves altering the ignition timing. To improve fuel efficiency, new cars with OBD will advance the timing as far as possible -- until it senses knock -- then retard slightly. That's all "anti-knock" is for.
With a supercharger under boost and in lean conditions with insufficient octane fuel, knocking can occur from pre-detonation prior to spark ignition. Can you say boom?
Oh well, it's your motor.

If your owners manuals says to run regular, then always run regular. You won't gain anything from running premium. If your owners manual says to run premium, then always run premium. But the only thing you gain is not blowing your engine.

My car has a turbo. I run premium, always. Which in my state is 92 octane.

Forced induction engines are a bit different. Perhaps I should have qualified my statement to reflect that. However, a large number of higher compression luxury car engines (and most modern higher performance engines) will run fine with regular gas. Our fleets all run on regular, whether or not it says "premium unleaded". Its fine. We wouldn't put a few billion dollars worth of new cars at risk if there was a problem.

Again, the above does not apply to turbo/supercharged/modified/chipped/etc. vehicles.
Edit: I should further add, while running regular won't damage most vehicles, following manufacturer suggestions will offer the best performance and reliability. * Just a note, most cars filled at the port for transport only have regular available.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
Unless your engine specifically asks for mid or premium gas, you are wasting money.

BINGO! And even those acrs don't want SUPER premium, thus my shock when seeing the poll.

 

[aphex]

they don't sell 91 down here in FL...

Only 87, 89 and 93

 

[OrganizedChaos]

87 here. engine specs: 4.0l OHV V6 9.0:1 160hp@4200 220 ftlbs@2400

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Both my cars require Premium, best I can buy in California is 91 Octane

 

[Rhin0]

-87 in my Jeep Wrangler
-87 in my Ultra 150 Jetski (150psi compression)

Run what is recommended. Actually on the Jetski I usually run a mix of 87/89 or just run 89. better safe than sorry on detonation. If I put my other heads on it I have to run 91 or 93. It just doesn't do as well on 93, its just not meant to run on that. You can actually lose performance

 

[Eli]

Use whatever your manual recommends.

If you use Plus or Premium when you only need Regular, you are throwing money down the intake.

 

[Heisenberg]

GTP needs 91 since it's supercharged.

 

[Chaotic42]

The book says 87, so I buy 87.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
The book says 87, so I buy 87.

Good man.

How's the new car treating you? I forgot what you got...

 

[SynthDude2001]

Always premium (93) because of my car's supercharged engine

 

[brtspears2]

Regular 87 since my Chevy don't need anything better.

 

[Pacfanweb]

My 2 Tahoes, and Suburban, 87 octane.

My race truck, 640hp...116 octane racing gas. 14-1 compression, gotta have it.

 

[saxophonoia]

usually I buy plus because it's not that much more.........it's not too much more expensive if you can afford it, so why not?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
The book says 87, so I buy 87.

Good man.

How's the new car treating you? I forgot what you got...

1995 Mazda 626.

It's running very well. No real problems (the catalytic converter rattles, but I don't really care).

It gets regular oil changes every 3000 miles (About every 5 weeks) and it still performs the way it did when I bought it. Not bad for $2800.

 

[trmiv]

I have a 2002 Maxima. My manual recommends 89 ( I think, could be 91), but I use 91, because it still pings with most 89 I put in it. The knock sensor should compensate by adjusting timing when lower octane gas, but apparently it isn't working very well.

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

My race truck, 640hp...116 octane racing gas. 14-1 compression, gotta have it.

What kind of race truck? I drive race cars too. NASCAR modified with a 650hp SBC running on Methanol.

 

[bapace]

Highest octane for Motorcycle, Premium for car.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: saxophonoia
usually I buy plus because it's not that much more.........it's not too much more expensive if you can afford it, so why not? I just like pissing my money away on something that does absolutely no good for my car

There, I fixed that for you.
You are wasting money for no good reason. But go ahead, the oil companies love it when dummies like you do just that.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: trmiv
I have a 2002 Maxima. My manual recommends 89 ( I think, could be 91), but I use 91, because it still pings with most 89 I put in it. The knock sensor should compensate by adjusting timing when lower octane gas, but apparently it isn't working very well.

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

My race truck, 640hp...116 octane racing gas. 14-1 compression, gotta have it.

What kind of race truck? I drive race cars too. NASCAR modified with a 650hp SBC running on Methanol.

It's a drag race, 1/2 ton Chevy truck.