[Guest]

OK, so today my car got premium (93 octane gas) for the first time since I got it. It ran significantly better (more power and everything) plus I am anticipating much better mileage because I am getting more miles than I have ever seen per mark on the gas gauge. (I drove almost 200 miles today).

Anyways, I was wondering if there's any reason I shouldn't run premium gas all the time? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[pc_marine]

Placebo effect maybe?

Previously I ran some 89 octane (as opposed to the regular 87 octane) for 2 tank fulls and I didn't really notice a difference at all.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by PC_Marine@Feb 16 2004, 08:12 PM
Placebo effect maybe?

Previously I ran some 89 octane (as opposed to the regular 87 octane) for 2 tank fulls and I didn't really notice a difference at all.

Same thing happened to me when I accidentally used 89 once (in my old car). I think 89 octane is a waste of money IMHO.

 

[Guest]

I tried premium, I thought my car ran better two, but it made do difference in gas milage or whatnot.

 

[bco1206]

My roomates a tech for a Ford dealership in Philly. He said the Duratec, anyway, was built to run on 87 octane. I have had my car running on 87 octane since last March when I got it. Just today I installed my new Jet Perforamnce chip and filled it up with super $$$. Its probably both the chip and super that made my car run much better now, so we'll see.

He also told me that if I start running super and start to get engine pings to go back to regular gas (87).

Except for the chip making my THEFT light and engine kill come on,

I like it running on super.

 

[2FST4U2C]

at some gas stations the only difference between the 87 and the 93/premium is the price, some use the same gasoline for both, hence the minimum label attached below the 87 octane fuel.

 

[DayOff]

My 98 Sable Gs was pinging with 89 octane and I switched to the 93 and the pinging stopped.

 

[cincyses]

Search the archives for a thread called "92 octane"...we beat this horse to death and then some......

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by CincySES@Feb 16 2004, 09:35 PM
Search the archives for a thread called "92 octane"...we beat this horse to death and then some......

Thanks, I didn't realize there was a discussion about it before - I'm as bad as a noob

I don't use search!

On a side note... oddly enough, they have 93 octane more commonly around here than 92 (not that 1 "octane" would make a difference, but I just thought that was kind of weird)

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by DayOff@Feb 16 2004, 09:34 PM
My 98 Sable Gs was pinging with 89 octane and I switched to the 93 and the pinging stopped.

I remember hearing before that higher octane gas is one way to help get rid of pinging.

My 99 vulcan had some pinging problems even with 93 octane, I wanted to make sure that there shouldn't be any correlation before I start using it in my 01 vulcan I have now. Definitely don't want those problems again. <_<

 

[cincyses]

"Thanks, I didn't realize there was a discussion about it before - I'm as bad as a noob I don't use search!"




no, no I didn't mean it like that, I just happened to remember the name of the topic and I hope it helped

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by CincySES@Feb 16 2004, 11:36 PM
"Thanks, I didn't realize there was a discussion about it before - I'm as bad as a noob I don't use search!"




no, no I didn't mean it like that, I just happened to remember the name of the topic and I hope it helped

I didn't take it that way, no hard feelings here

I was just making a funny

Sarcasm is difficult to express via a message board, lol.

 

[Sablewagon]

FWIW: I bumped my 3.8's initial timing to 15°, and began using 89 octane gas. It seems to run quite a bit better. It's a lot smoother and more eager to accelerate; and my gas mileage has definitely improved.
Around here, BP/Amoco gasoline has more detergents in their 89 than the 87. More yet in the 93. Maybe the higher detergent content helps keep the engine cleaner, and the idle bypass unclogged.

 

[joe5.0]

Originally posted by 2FST4U2C@Feb 16 2004, 10:29 PM
at some gas stations the only difference between the 87 and the 93/premium is the price, some use the same gasoline for both, hence the minimum label attached below the 87 octane fuel.

WTF are you talking about? You realize that would be unethical and not to mention illegal?

No reputable gas station does that. Can you imagine the lawsuits from people filling up their sports cars with regular and melting pistons because of detonation?

I'm not sure what the ratings mean, but I'm sure its just a standard rating that every gasoline grade has to pass.

And how in the world would going to a lower grade octane make pinging GO AWAY? The only purpose higher octane gasolines serve is that they are slower burning, ie. they will not ignite as easily as a lower octane. This is most significant for cars with high compression ratios, aggressive timing, or forced induction. None of which apply to your taurus jason. I think what you are feeling is placebo effect + cold temps. It has been proven that an engine not designed for premium will in many cases make LESS hp than if it was ran with regular grade.

 

[biteableniles]

If his car is knocking, then the PCM will retard the timing and pretty much eat up the power. Put in higher octane fuel, and the knocking has a good chance of going away, returning the original timing and probably giving him back some power he lost from the pinging, knocking, detonation, or other problems that come with hot plugs, low octane fuel, etc.

This is like replacing old, worn out plugs with new uber-Bosche plugs; that horsepower gain some people feel is really just recovery from bad plugs.

If using higher octane fuel gives you back power, and you know you can feel it, keep using it. It's not going to harm us and, by damn, you can feel better about yourself. Really, though, in a car that is running fine, using higher octane fuel in an engine not designed for it just means less power, not more.

Btw, if your engine is pinging on 93, figure out why, and don't skip back to a lower octane, or you'll blow your engine up.

 

[joe5.0]

While I agree with everything you posted bite, I do not believe that the Vulcan has knock sensors. So, the computer will not retard timing if it has no sensors telling it that is knocking in the first place, obviously. Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong, but last time I checked the vulcan didnt have them.

 

[detroit_raver]

now i'm not sure if the vulcan has knock sensors. i thought they did. i hope they do. i use premiem gas all the time, so i hope its not destroying anything.

 

[zeptoplix]

My 1990 Vulcan had a knock sensor. I ran a scan and it told me there was no input from the knock sensor. I replaced it, but that wasnt' the problem. On the vulcan its located on the rear side of the block, below the exhaust manifolds, you can see it if you are under the car looking at the area around the frost plugs.

 

[impatient95]

One thing, if you have a 4 banger and run less than 87, it does not matter, but for V6 or bigger, ya kinda need at least the 87.

Colorado has this volitile water called 85 octane gas.

years ago when driving my bull in indiana, I put 93 in there and it does seem to help it's performance, I could actually chirp the tires, in a vulcan.

 

[cudaman84]

There are many other factors involving 89 octane. 89 is 65% 87 octane and 35% 93 so thats why nobody gets any difference out of 89 because it's a rip off. Also many of the name brand petrol stations like Shell and Chevron have additives I know this becuase I work at a generic station and I get complaints about what our gas does all the time. So the more you stick to the cleaner burning fuels the less opportunity carbon dust gets to build up.