• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Standard unleaded vs. Premium unleaded

RaistlinZ

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Just for the hell of it I filled my car up with Premium gas last week, just to see if there was any difference in the way my car performed. I didn't notice any so I was wondering if anyone knows what benefit there is with premium gas, if any. Will I get better gas milage with premium?
 
If your car needs it, yes it is worth it. My car pings on anything under 91 octane, so that's what I use. You're not going to see a performance increase. Higher octane fuels don't create more power, they prevent pre-detination.
 
Unless you car needs it, don't bother, its wasting your money.

Look at your service manual, or just tell us the car, and any mods (if any), and we could probally determine if you do or don't.
 
No. If you don't get a spark knock at 87 don't worry about it. It isn't going to give you better mileage or any other benefit. If your engine reuires premium then yes.
 
If your car actually needs it (turbo or supercharged), yes, it makes a HUGE difference. In fact, if the fuel injection system can't tell what octane of gas you're putting in and you fill up on regular, you're going to be pinging your engine like hell.

If your car doesn't need it (naturally aspirated), then it makes virtually no difference. Save your money and get 87 octane as a decent gas station (Sunoco gas r0x).
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
If your car actually needs it (turbo or supercharged), yes, it makes a HUGE difference. In fact, if the fuel injection system can't tell what octane of gas you're putting in and you fill up on regular, you're going to be pinging your engine like hell.

If your car doesn't need it (naturally aspirated), then it makes virtually no difference. Save your money and get 87 octane as a decent gas station (Sunoco gas r0x).
Click to expand...

Many N/A cars need it too. Depends on timing, compression, and alot of other things.

My car doesn't need it on standard settings, but if I bump the timing from the base 10 degrees BTDC to 18 degrees, it would require Premium. I have it at 14 degrees, and doesn't ping with regular.
 
Originally posted by: Actaeon
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
If your car actually needs it (turbo or supercharged), yes, it makes a HUGE difference. In fact, if the fuel injection system can't tell what octane of gas you're putting in and you fill up on regular, you're going to be pinging your engine like hell.

If your car doesn't need it (naturally aspirated), then it makes virtually no difference. Save your money and get 87 octane as a decent gas station (Sunoco gas r0x).
Click to expand...

Many N/A cars need it too. Depends on timing, compression, and alot of other things.

My car doesn't need it on standard settings, but if I bump the timing from the base 10 degrees BTDC to 18 degrees, it would require Premium. I have it at 14 degrees, and doesn't ping with regular.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, but chances are that if he needs to ask, he's not spending enough time under the hood (or spending enough money on a car) to need premium in a NA engine. Just saying "turbos need higher octane" covers your common cases, I think.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: Actaeon
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
If your car actually needs it (turbo or supercharged), yes, it makes a HUGE difference. In fact, if the fuel injection system can't tell what octane of gas you're putting in and you fill up on regular, you're going to be pinging your engine like hell.

If your car doesn't need it (naturally aspirated), then it makes virtually no difference. Save your money and get 87 octane as a decent gas station (Sunoco gas r0x).
Click to expand...

Many N/A cars need it too. Depends on timing, compression, and alot of other things.

My car doesn't need it on standard settings, but if I bump the timing from the base 10 degrees BTDC to 18 degrees, it would require Premium. I have it at 14 degrees, and doesn't ping with regular.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, but chances are that if he needs to ask, he's not spending enough time under the hood (or spending enough money on a car) to need premium in a NA engine. Just saying "turbos need higher octane" covers your common cases, I think.
Click to expand...

Well, yes, you have a point about that, but some cars need it even from the stock factory settings.

Trans-Am, Z28s, Corvettes, RSX-S, most(if not all) BMWs... all are N/A, and all require premium. These are just off the top of my head. There are likely many more. If he would state his car, I could probally figure it out of he needs it or not.
 
RSX-S takes premium? I didn't know that.

I know there are quite a few NA engines that take premium from stock settings (my father has owned two), but like I said, chances are if he owned one of them he wouldn't need to ask. 🙂 If he noticed no difference, he certainly wasn't pinging (its pretty hard to miss).
 
I got a friend who drives a dodge van and he drives up a hill with a 23* slope, despite the manual saying he can use regular, if he uses anything other than premium he will get knocking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top