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Should I try 87 octane fuel?

A

archcommus

Diamond Member
I currently use 89 octane fuel in my 92 Sable. I want to give 87 octane a try since 89 currently costs $2.17 a gallon, but I'm afraid it will make an engine of this age ping. If it does would it be a problem to just deal with it for a week and get 89 again the following week?
 
It will do nothing but deepen your pockets. Back then, if your car recommended a certain octane, and you ran a higher octane, it wouldn't really matter. Nowadays, you'd better run whats recommended.....

Heh, however, if its does start to ping....just go back to 89.
 
Go ahead, try it. Chances are, it'll work fine. If not, dump in some premium (89 octane is mixed in the tank 87 and 91)
 
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
 
Use 87. If your old crappy engine knocks then go up to 89, if it still knocks go up to 91/93. If it still knocks get a better car!
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
 
Originally posted by: her209
I wouldn't suggest mixing the different octanes.
Click to expand...

And why exactly would that be?

In older engines, the higher octane can help compensate for minor engine wear (I had an 85 mustang 4-banger that graduated from regular to premium over the course of it's second 120 000km).

No harm in trying it out though; most low-compression engines can deal with a bit of pinging with no harmful effects in the short term, so if you put a tank of regular in, and hear pinging, just top off the tank with premium when you have some space in teh tank, and go back to mid grade after that.
 
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
Click to expand...

Nope - run what's in the manual; if the car develops pinging at high mileage, running higher octane gas can be a cheaper option than an engine overhaul.
 
is 89 octane ethanol blended where you live? (it is here, that's why I ask) if so, your engine will be OK, and you'll get a minor bump up in mileage
 
The manual does say to use 87 but when I first got the car (almost two years ago) I put 91 or 93 in because my dad did when he owned it (of course, with the common mindset that higher is better), and at the time I didn't know any better so I did the same. Once gas prices got about $1.80 for premium I dropped it to plus (89 octane), only because I read that older, gunked up engines tend to ping more easily and thus I figured maybe the days of 87 for my car were over. However now, if I can do it, I want to.
 
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
Click to expand...

did you even read my post? i mean it was like one line and you couldn't even make it all the way through?
 
Originally posted by: andylawcc
what does your user manuel said?

I saw some old dude pumped 87 in his S-class.... he's a Scorge alright.
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AND? If his S-class runs fine on 87, then that is the RIGHT FRIGGING GRADE for him to use. if any engine runs fine on 87 and the stupid put in 93, then the stupid are giving the oil company 20 cents more per gallon than they should. Oil companies LOVE stupid people
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
Click to expand...

did you even read my post? i mean it was like one line and you couldn't even make it all the way through?
Click to expand...

To be quite honest with you, I did read your post and my reply was not in any directed at you. I simply quoted you so people would see what I was talking about. It was in reference to your question to him asking why he was even using 89.
 
High octane Gas is generally for high compression motors....or low compression motors with forced induction, which in turn, makes them high compression. It prevents "detonation"
 
Originally posted by: archcommus
I currently use 89 octane fuel in my 92 Sable. I want to give 87 octane a try since 89 currently costs $2.17 a gallon, but I'm afraid it will make an engine of this age ping. If it does would it be a problem to just deal with it for a week and get 89 again the following week?
Click to expand...

it's a 13 year old piece of poopoo, it will ping, or it won't. won't it be a pisser if you find out that it runs fine on 87 and for 13 years you have been giving the oil compaines 10 cents per gallon (that's every gallon for 13 years) too much money. Gee you could afford a better car with all those dimes😀
 
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
Click to expand...

did you even read my post? i mean it was like one line and you couldn't even make it all the way through?
Click to expand...

To be quite honest with you, I did read your post and my reply was not in any directed at you. I simply quoted you so people would see what I was talking about. It was in reference to your question to him asking why he was even using 89.
Click to expand...

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: DaTT
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i know the 3.0 takes 87, i don't know about the 3.8 but i assume it's the same thing. why were you using 89 octane in the first place?
Click to expand...

....here we go with the higher the octane the better.....
Click to expand...

did you even read my post? i mean it was like one line and you couldn't even make it all the way through?
Click to expand...

To be quite honest with you, I did read your post and my reply was not in any directed at you. I simply quoted you so people would see what I was talking about. It was in reference to your question to him asking why he was even using 89.
Click to expand...
It's ok; Pepsi's missing half of his brain.
 
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