Switching octane
#1
Switching octane
Recently i got another promotion at work and no longer have to take deliveries(loving to drive may this job so nice) but since i was going through a tank of gas every 4 days i switched down to 87 octane, 2 days ago i switch back to the 90's (91 92 93) octane and i forgot how much jump our cars have. its so nice not being in safe mode every morning and having to sift from 2nd gear because my first was a 2 legged dog..
when i switch i also tossed in a can of injector cleaner just to clean the junk crap out.
im still testing to see if my gas milage will go up or down to tune it back to normal.
anyone else enjoying the perks of 90's octane and of course the downside of a 50$ fillup.
when i switch i also tossed in a can of injector cleaner just to clean the junk crap out.
im still testing to see if my gas milage will go up or down to tune it back to normal.
anyone else enjoying the perks of 90's octane and of course the downside of a 50$ fillup.
#2
I use 93 in my 04 max but only 89 in my 99. I put alot of highways miles on the old one and the gas milage using 93 was lower than using 89 octane. Its a little bit slower, but i can deal with that. I just run some lucas injector cleaner every month and its fine.
#11
Anyone trying to test different fuel grades for mileage right now might get a false improvement from the switch. Summer is a lot better for mileage than winter because the temperature rises and the fuel is better across the board. Try it in the middle of summer and see what kind of results you get. I get better mileage on 92-3, without a doubt.
Also, the winter mix for one octane may help your mileage, but the summer mix of another might be better. Unfortunately, it's hard to know exactly what your gas station is putting into your tank, so there's a lot of guess work.
Also, the winter mix for one octane may help your mileage, but the summer mix of another might be better. Unfortunately, it's hard to know exactly what your gas station is putting into your tank, so there's a lot of guess work.
Last edited by VQ30MPG; 03-24-2010 at 07:52 PM.
#12
Always use premium in my cars that require it. Always use regular in my cars that require it.
My '02 runs so much better since I got it from the P.O. He was using 87 and after a few tanks of 94 she feels pretty much like she should.
My '02 runs so much better since I got it from the P.O. He was using 87 and after a few tanks of 94 she feels pretty much like she should.
#13
We had customarily put 93 in the wife's car.
The other day I decided to try 91 for the first time (it's extremely hard to find 91 around Baltimore).
I'm going back to 93. I can definitely feel a difference.
The other day I decided to try 91 for the first time (it's extremely hard to find 91 around Baltimore).
I'm going back to 93. I can definitely feel a difference.
#14
when i've been low on money, being unemployed, i've put in 87 about 2 times and have noticed a big difference performance wise. mpg has gone down too those times i used 87. 93 only for me
#15
well, it has been a couple weeks and i have to say, gas milage went up an easy 4-7%
normally i get about 400 to a tank on 87, now im at 450 with no light yet. but it was lots of highway driving, in the city it tanks a bit because of my newfound 1st gear powuh lol still getting used to it
normally i get about 400 to a tank on 87, now im at 450 with no light yet. but it was lots of highway driving, in the city it tanks a bit because of my newfound 1st gear powuh lol still getting used to it
#18
#19
no more 89 for me after reading this, i want to feel this diffence everyone is talking about and ill get back at ya, even when i put in 89 my freinds are like are you crazy thats so much more expensive why would you put that in.... lets see a reaction with the 93
#20
I learned to always use 93 from my 5th gen, my city mpg would go down to 18-20 (from 25), and the car would feel so gutless below 3k. The savings were not worth the drop in fun and mpg.
I've never tried anything less than 91 in this car (Damn KS and it's lack of 93, I'd have to hunt down a BP whenever I took a trip outside of Manhattan, just to get 92).
I've never tried anything less than 91 in this car (Damn KS and it's lack of 93, I'd have to hunt down a BP whenever I took a trip outside of Manhattan, just to get 92).
#21
you guys are all crazy!! I use 87 always. i drive the hell out of it then fill it up with 87 again. I have never noticed a difference between 92or93 and 87. cause really theres not that great of a difference. you guys make is seem like night and day, its all in your mind. maybe it idles a little better but I have never noticed and trust me I know when this thing goes over a bump funny I always pay attention to the little stuff on this car. oh PS i put on about 300mi a week so I go threw my fair share of gas.
jake
jake
#22
you guys are all crazy!! I use 87 always. i drive the hell out of it then fill it up with 87 again. I have never noticed a difference between 92or93 and 87. cause really theres not that great of a difference. you guys make is seem like night and day, its all in your mind. maybe it idles a little better but I have never noticed and trust me I know when this thing goes over a bump funny I always pay attention to the little stuff on this car. oh PS i put on about 300mi a week so I go threw my fair share of gas.
jake
jake
For about eight months my (wife's) Max had a busted KS due to repeated low-octane use and was running on retarded timing. I may as well have been driving an Altima 2.5 with the loss of power... and a Town Car with the loss of efficiency.
So paying more for gas by having to visit the pump more often is definitely not anything in my head.
#23
i noticed a difference though with 93 and i blow through a tank usually every week to a week and a half, and ive got a 5 minute drive to work. a extra 15 cents/litre for 93 isnt going to kill me
#24
you guys are all crazy!! I use 87 always. i drive the hell out of it then fill it up with 87 again. I have never noticed a difference between 92or93 and 87. cause really theres not that great of a difference. you guys make is seem like night and day, its all in your mind. maybe it idles a little better but I have never noticed and trust me I know when this thing goes over a bump funny I always pay attention to the little stuff on this car. oh PS i put on about 300mi a week so I go threw my fair share of gas.
jake
jake
With the 87, my DTE gauge also used to tell me I could go between 50-55 miles on a 1/8 tank of gas. Now it runs somewhere around 70-75
Last edited by Mr. Brett; 04-08-2010 at 07:18 PM.
#25
my 06 got nothing but 93, even when I was getting screwed over by my company and traveling a 1000 miles a week for work, still used 93
I've noticed many times over the year that certain cars that should get premium, are such different cars when your behind the wheel, slow no pickup, they lag, but since the owner is use to it they never pick it up, it's like when you get new tires, you did not realize how the ride deteriorated, but with new rubber it suddenly such a better ride
I've noticed many times over the year that certain cars that should get premium, are such different cars when your behind the wheel, slow no pickup, they lag, but since the owner is use to it they never pick it up, it's like when you get new tires, you did not realize how the ride deteriorated, but with new rubber it suddenly such a better ride
#27
#28
fixed.
I remember realizing I hit the wrong button (stupid shell has the damn buttons reversed on the 2nd pump on the same side )
I was all
and pumped 93 to finish. So I basically bought 90 that day.
basically choose 87 if you feel you need to save roughly $0.25 a gallon.
choose higher if you experience knock or care about having the maximum possible output.
but stick with whichever one so your computer doesn't hate you.
93 for my 04 always and forever. it's a whopping 8% more
I remember when gas was less than $1. 93 cost at least 20% more back then.
I remember realizing I hit the wrong button (stupid shell has the damn buttons reversed on the 2nd pump on the same side )
I was all
and pumped 93 to finish. So I basically bought 90 that day.
basically choose 87 if you feel you need to save roughly $0.25 a gallon.
choose higher if you experience knock or care about having the maximum possible output.
but stick with whichever one so your computer doesn't hate you.
93 for my 04 always and forever. it's a whopping 8% more
I remember when gas was less than $1. 93 cost at least 20% more back then.
#30
#31
#32
True story below.
For about eight months my (wife's) Max had a busted KS due to repeated low-octane use and was running on retarded timing. I may as well have been driving an Altima 2.5 with the loss of power... and a Town Car with the loss of efficiency.
So paying more for gas by having to visit the pump more often is definitely not anything in my head.
For about eight months my (wife's) Max had a busted KS due to repeated low-octane use and was running on retarded timing. I may as well have been driving an Altima 2.5 with the loss of power... and a Town Car with the loss of efficiency.
So paying more for gas by having to visit the pump more often is definitely not anything in my head.
jake
#33
Well I've used both 89 and 93, and I believe I get better mileage with 93, at least if I'm not driving like a maniac! If I drive normally, I get better milage with 93, the car seems to run a bit smoother and is less jerky.
#36
yup their was someone in the 7th gen forum who said the gas attendant accidentally filled his car with 87 and the moment he started it till some BS time in history, whatever length of time he said he drove the car, he said it knocked and rattled and vibrated, thats a little extreme, in fact that is way over board, my 06 and 09 have both been on occasion filled with 87, and except for the lesser gas mileage still ran as smooth as ever just like on their diet of 93
#37
yup their was someone in the 7th gen forum who said the gas attendant accidentally filled his car with 87 and the moment he started it till some BS time in history, whatever length of time he said he drove the car, he said it knocked and rattled and vibrated, thats a little extreme, in fact that is way over board, my 06 and 09 have both been on occasion filled with 87, and except for the lesser gas mileage still ran as smooth as ever just like on their diet of 93
#38
yup their was someone in the 7th gen forum who said the gas attendant accidentally filled his car with 87 and the moment he started it till some BS time in history, whatever length of time he said he drove the car, he said it knocked and rattled and vibrated, thats a little extreme, in fact that is way over board, my 06 and 09 have both been on occasion filled with 87, and except for the lesser gas mileage still ran as smooth as ever just like on their diet of 93
My car also rattled and detonated under load with 87 in it. Vibrated, no. But the "bees in a can" sound, yes. I've since Seafoamed and started using 93. No more rattling and detonation.
I'm sure your car ran fine. But try stepping on it hard sometime when you have 87 in it. You'll feel the difference.
The car has a knock sensor for a reason. When it recognizes detonation, it retards ignition timing to keep the engine from getting damaged. The car, just in normal driving conditions will "feel" just fine, sure. But when you break it down, the car wasn't really designed to take 87, so you're only shortening the life expectancy of your engine...
Last edited by Mr. Brett; 04-10-2010 at 10:21 PM.
#39
i can see feel it, going into higher RPM my 3rd gen sounds cleaner with 93 than 87, i still say just shell out a few extra bucks and get the best, same with oil, just get the best and dont cheap out
#40
Maybe you're just imagining it. Sounds like you take acid before you drive...