Whoa, there's a lot of confusion in regards to gasoline in this thread. Please don't spread misinformation as it could cause someone gradual or even catastrophic failure.
Gasoline BRANDS are largely irrelevant. Each brand may have a slightly different additive (detergent, etc.) mix that they specify for their gasoline, but, generally speaking, Shell, Mobile, Hess, BP, Texaco, Gulf, etc. are all so close due to government regulation and standards that it would take laboratory tests to tell the different. I doubt your engine will notice in the long term. The same most likely goes for big-name stations as opposed to Joe's gas shack.
Gasoline grades (octane rating), on the other hand, can matter a great deal. True, modern (say, within the past 20-30 years) vehicles will detect knock and adapt the timing accordingly, and the list of vehicles that require premium is dwindling. However, saying that the octane rating doesn't matter at all is simply false. Read your owner's manual. If your vehicle "recommends" higher-octane gas, you should be safe running regular. Often you'll simply see slightly worse fuel economy or slightly less power. If your vehicle requires premium, you shouldn't use anything else. Could you run regular in a vehicle that requires premium and never notice any ill effects? Probably. You could probably also run 10w-30 oil in a vehicle that calls for 5w-20 and never notice a difference. If something DOES go wrong, just don't expect the manufacturer to pick up the tab for you simply not following directions.
The more important consideration is for older vehicles that cannot detect / compensate for knock like modern vehicles can. In those cases, running regular instead of premium, where required, can literally destroy your engine in fairly short order. Someone stumbling upon a thread like this who just so happens to have a vehicle like that could be mislead.
In a final thought, if you don't want to run premium in your vehicle, simply don't buy one that requires it. No one is telling you that you have to buy a BMW 3-series. However, if you do buy one, BMW is telling you that you have to run premium, or void your warranty.
Gasoline BRANDS are largely irrelevant. Each brand may have a slightly different additive (detergent, etc.) mix that they specify for their gasoline, but, generally speaking, Shell, Mobile, Hess, BP, Texaco, Gulf, etc. are all so close due to government regulation and standards that it would take laboratory tests to tell the different. I doubt your engine will notice in the long term. The same most likely goes for big-name stations as opposed to Joe's gas shack.
Gasoline grades (octane rating), on the other hand, can matter a great deal. True, modern (say, within the past 20-30 years) vehicles will detect knock and adapt the timing accordingly, and the list of vehicles that require premium is dwindling. However, saying that the octane rating doesn't matter at all is simply false. Read your owner's manual. If your vehicle "recommends" higher-octane gas, you should be safe running regular. Often you'll simply see slightly worse fuel economy or slightly less power. If your vehicle requires premium, you shouldn't use anything else. Could you run regular in a vehicle that requires premium and never notice any ill effects? Probably. You could probably also run 10w-30 oil in a vehicle that calls for 5w-20 and never notice a difference. If something DOES go wrong, just don't expect the manufacturer to pick up the tab for you simply not following directions.
The more important consideration is for older vehicles that cannot detect / compensate for knock like modern vehicles can. In those cases, running regular instead of premium, where required, can literally destroy your engine in fairly short order. Someone stumbling upon a thread like this who just so happens to have a vehicle like that could be mislead.
In a final thought, if you don't want to run premium in your vehicle, simply don't buy one that requires it. No one is telling you that you have to buy a BMW 3-series. However, if you do buy one, BMW is telling you that you have to run premium, or void your warranty.
AznAnarchy99
Lifer
- Dec 6, 2004
- 14,695
- 117
- 106
On a domestic flight, it isn't worth it, but if you ever fly across an ocean, I would never not spring the extra few grand for it. But, that is mostly because international airlines (especially Emirates and the Asian carriers) have great first and business class. I wouldn't fly Delta first class, it is worse than coach on Emirates.
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
- 25,284
- 1,996
- 126
Dude, I don't know whether this is a parody or whether you're really that stupid. The first paragraph is about the danger of spreading false information and then the 2nd paragraph is nothing except false information. An auto manufacturer CANNOT require premium gasoline. Period. End of discussion. It is illegal. Period. End of discussion. If you use ANY legally sold gasoline of ANY brand or ANY octane and something goes wrong they will most definitely be picking up the bill. For warranty purposes all legitimate gas sold through legitimate service stations is the same. If you grow a brain and actually learn what you're talking about you'll see that maybe the owners manual will say something like "Use only Premium 93 Octane gasoline..." the actual warranty will be worded like "premium 93 octane gasoline is suggested...." BMW or Mercedes or any other manufacturer has absolutely no choice in the matter and no legal ability to require customers to use certain grades of gas on any vehicle sold in the USA. It's a law. Period.
Soap, shower gel etc. The commercials make it look like there's a revolutionary new scientific breakthrough in soap technology every month. In reality any cheap generic product gets the job done just fine.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,418
- 1,598
- 126
Oh man there is a vast difference between the uber cheap shot and even the semi-premium mass produced shit.
Svnla
Lifer
- Nov 10, 2003
- 17,986
- 1,388
- 126
Oh, and no premium watch for me. My < $10 metal band watch from Big Lots is still running strong.
I agree with the folks that say pay more for international air travel (10 hours or longer) but the price is too much for me ($5K or more for business class vs. $1.5K or less for economy). Just check on United, a business ticket would be $7,125 vs. $1,400 for economy (same date, same flyer, same on everything).
I agree with the folks that say pay more for international air travel (10 hours or longer) but the price is too much for me ($5K or more for business class vs. $1.5K or less for economy). Just check on United, a business ticket would be $7,125 vs. $1,400 for economy (same date, same flyer, same on everything).
Last edited:
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
- 48,517
- 223
- 106
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,418
- 1,598
- 126
Soap, and cereal.
Not getting into the fuel debate because I only put diesel in my Honda. It costs more, so it has to be better, right?
Not getting into the fuel debate because I only put diesel in my Honda. It costs more, so it has to be better, right?
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,418
- 1,598
- 126
airlines? I scouted out my honeymoon to Singapore/HK and found ~3500 for b.class fairly often.
//edit
just searched right now, $3500 Air China Business LAX -> HK
3600 ANA
3900 United
Economy = 1200-1500
Last edited:
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,418
- 1,598
- 126
uh...take southwest to LAX and then take business class to Asia.
what the fuck is up with DFW prices!? 6k for United.
Svnla
Lifer
- Nov 10, 2003
- 17,986
- 1,388
- 126
See? I wasn't lying or joking around. You guys in the western US are spoiled with cheap prices to Asia. Friends in CA said they could pay less than $1K for economy seat when things were on sale/special <envy>. Direct trip from CA to most of major cities in Asia with no stop.
Last edited:
I think because getting there it stupid. ORD (Chicago) flies to DC and then to Japan before Singapore. That is the only business class flight available. Why? If I flew cheap econ to LA and then business to China, it would be cheaper.
Imp
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2000
- 18,828
- 184
- 106
*shudders*
I was thinking that I was looking at the wrong airlines, and the cost was smaller than I thought -- nope.
You be ballin'.
I just can't get over the fact that I could fly to/fro a few extra times if I just sucked it up for a dozen hours per flight (e.g. east coast Canada to Japan. Or just staying for an extra week in a hotel or staying in a nicer hotel. On the other hand, I happily took a 12 hour Greyhound home from another city to save $200 -- train was 6 hours.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,418
- 1,598
- 126
It is a lot of the middle US. The price is stupid because you are paying like $1,000 for the flight to the east or west coast and then the $3,000 to Asia. If you are a smart traveler, you just take a cheap, economy flight to LA and have a couple hours to kill before you take your business class flight out. Then, rather than $5,000, you're paying like $3,600.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 20K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 12K
-
Discussion Speculation: Zen 4 (EPYC 4 "Genoa", Ryzen 7000, etc.)- Started by Vattila
- Replies: 13K
-
Facebook
Twitter