what's the point of midgrade gas?

[alphatarget1]

Most cars these days spec either unleaded (87 octane) or premium unleaded (91 octane)... Does anyone buy midgrade and what's the point of having that?

 

[olds]

Sucks we don't have a car forum.

 

[JohnCU]

i thought premium was 93?

 

[Colt45]

What's the point of 91 instead of 100LL?

What's the point of a half dollar instead of a dollar bill?

 

[BassBomb]

My I30 takes Middle grade
My dads ES350 takes High grade
My Civic takes Low grade

I use what is reccomended, hell im glad the I30 takes middle and not high so I can save some money

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
i thought premium was 93?

Depends where you live.

Regards to OP, some Chryslers still take 89. Dodge Magnums with the 3.5L V6 does, for example.

 

[Turin39789]

mmmm I'll go check my garage I think I have the answer out there under a carburetor.

 

[bobsmith1492]

I get midgrade; my truck gets slightly better mileage on it than on regular so I use it. It's essentially the same price, so why not? With regular at 3.09, midgrade is only 3.2% more expensive - a dollar or two per fill-up.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
I get midgrade; my truck gets slightly better mileage on it than on regular so I use it. It's essentially the same price, so why not? With regular at 3.09, midgrade is only 3.2% more expensive - a dollar or two per fill-up.

in some areas the midgrade is the same price or cheaper then the low grade. so i get the midgrade

 

[RapidSnail]

Does higher octane rating fuel have a greater efficiency in real world performance? (I would assume that's relative to the engine as well.)

 

[JMWarren]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
My I30 takes Middle grade
My dads ES350 takes High grade
My Civic takes Low grade

I use what is reccomended, hell im glad the I30 takes middle and not high so I can save some money

Really, Middle grade in an I30? I thought all I30's took 91 minimum

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Sucks we don't have a car forum.

Yep, that would be nice.....................

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail
Does higher octane rating fuel have a greater efficiency in real world performance? (I would assume that's relative to the engine as well.)

I read an article that said to use whatever is recommended by your manual. Anything higher does NOT help power or efficiency, but it does help line the pockets of the gas station. Using anything less than recommended DOESN'T HURT your engine either with today's knock sensors. It simply may run less efficiently in that case.

Truths?

Personally I've used 91(recommended) & 94 and don't feel a damn difference.

 

[heymrdj]

My 04 Expedition with the 5.4L is supposed to be smart and run well on 87. It does...BUT, after 8 full tanks of 87, it's definitely lost power, and i can't get it's mpg over 16.4 cruising, on 89 I could see 17.2-17.5, and as much as 19.8 on the interstate. I'm going to run some injector cleaner through it soon, this 87 stuff is horrible for the motor.

 

[SoulAssassin]

I believe mid grade is just the low and high octane stuff mixed proportionally, there are only two tanks underground.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
My I30 takes Middle grade
My dads ES350 takes High grade
My Civic takes Low grade

I use what is reccomended, hell im glad the I30 takes middle and not high so I can save some money

Stop calling them grades. They aren't different grades, just different octanes.

 

[Mermaidman]

My Olds takes premium fuel, but will scale back the motor if regular is burned, so basically, I get what I pay for.

"recommended, but not required"

 

[ponyo]

No point of mid-grade. If your car requires premium and says it on the fuel display, use premium. If not, put the cheap stuff.

 

[spidey07]

There are cars that specify 89 octane, there are cars that call for 87 octane, there are cars that specify 91 octane.

It's all up to the engine design/manufacturer on what compression ratio/timing they want and hence the different octane levels. You can get more performance out of 91 octane but only if the manual specifies it and the engine is designed as such.

 

[Throckmorton]

Guys, stop calling it "premium", "mid grade", "low grade" etc. You are playing into the marketing. The only difference between the gasses are the amount of octane modifier they put in. None is better than the others.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: heymrdj
My 04 Expedition with the 5.4L is supposed to be smart and run well on 87. It does...BUT, after 8 full tanks of 87, it's definitely lost power, and i can't get it's mpg over 16.4 cruising, on 89 I could see 17.2-17.5, and as much as 19.8 on the interstate. I'm going to run some injector cleaner through it soon, this 87 stuff is horrible for the motor.

If you're buying your 87 and 89 from the same station then the 87 isn't clogging your injectors. They have the same additives.

 

[marvdmartian]

Don't know what sort of difference it makes for daily drivers, but a work truck I used to drive ran like crap on 87, and any time you put it under heavy power, it would knock like crazy. One time we went to gas it up, and the gas station was out of 87 octane, so we put 89 in there. Didn't really see a rise in power or mileage, but damned if it stopped that knocking!

 

[magomago]

Ya guys I also don't agree with those calling it based on "Grades"...the only difference is that higher octanes take higher compression ratios which can push out more work. Those who are getting 89 as oppoised to 87 are just wasting the higher compression ratio. That Civic isn't going to compress the gas further...but that old 91 octane car without a sensor will compress gas further and cause the 87 octane to prematurely ignite. The "Quality" of gas isn't higher.

Of course if you get knocking like crazy at 87, and it goes away with 89...your car should probably be using 89 anyways

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
I get midgrade; my truck gets slightly better mileage on it than on regular so I use it. It's essentially the same price, so why not? With regular at 3.09, midgrade is only 3.2% more expensive - a dollar or two per fill-up.

in some areas the midgrade is the same price or cheaper then the low grade. so i get the midgrade

That's usually due to ethanol. There is the possibility that you'll actually get higher mileage on the 87 with less ethanol than the ethanol-blend 89...assuming your car doesn't require the higher octane, of course.

Mind you, I haven't done this experiment myself.

 

[mooseracing]

A blend of 110 and 93 works good in my car, keeps the knocking to a minimum even with the dizzy and cam retarded.