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Can I Save Money and Run Low Octane?

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Old 12-22-2001, 03:47 PM
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Can I Save Money and Run Low Octane?

Article/dyno taken from http://www.dynospotracing.com

Granted it's not a Maxima, it should make you think twice before filling up with the cheap stuff.

Here is a dyno chart showing two different cars. When I dynoed one of these cars, I knew that something was immediately wrong! Guess which one?

Notice that the 89 Octane car's power curves are very jagged. This is a result of the car "hearing" knocking and pinging and desperately trying to adjust the timing and save the engine. The ECU is almost searching for the best advance and having quite some trouble, not good.

The stunning results of running the lower grade fuel are -22 ft/lbs and almost -19 HP!!!! Ouch!

Folks, don't abuse the knock sensing capabilities of you beloved car. Let's just stick to the good stuff!

http://www.dynospotracing.com/images/octane.jpg
Click here to see the article: http://www.dynospotracing.com/octane.htm
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Old 12-22-2001, 05:07 PM
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Yep Yep

That's why my Baby Eats Better than I DO.

Sunoco 94 Octane EVERY single damn Fill Up, regardless of my $$$ Status!!! I just eat McDonalds when I'm Poor!
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Old 12-22-2001, 05:10 PM
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Re: Yep Yep

Originally posted by Empz
That's why my Baby Eats Better than I DO.

Sunoco 94 Octane EVERY single damn Fill Up, regardless of my $$$ Status!!! I just eat McDonalds when I'm Poor!
What's wrong with McDonald's? $4 for a meal... that's bling bling.
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Old 12-22-2001, 05:15 PM
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dollar menu owns everyone on this board.
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Old 12-22-2001, 05:54 PM
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Re: Re: Yep Yep

Naw Dogg ... I'm a Straight Up "Yellow Fellow" ... I need my "Shark Fin", my nice "Steamed Fish" ... my "Ginsing Soup"!

Or AT LEAST my "Wonton Noodles" ... McD's is killin' me ... my "Yellow" Body Rejects that stuff!


Originally posted by Y2KevSE


What's wrong with McDonald's? $4 for a meal... that's bling bling.
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Old 12-22-2001, 05:56 PM
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Yup, Just follow the instructios inside the door (Premium Fuel Recommended)
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Old 12-22-2001, 06:57 PM
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maybe this should be FAQ'd?
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Old 12-22-2001, 06:58 PM
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Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE
maybe this should be FAQ'd?
You can add it and take the credit.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:01 PM
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Originally posted by Y2KevSE


You can add it and take the credit.
no no... the credit would all be yours
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:04 PM
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Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE


no no... the credit would all be yours
Make people think you're contributing.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:06 PM
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Originally posted by Y2KevSE


Make people think you're contributing.
hmmm... you trying to call me a cheater?
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:11 PM
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Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE


hmmm... you trying to call me a cheater?
No.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:14 PM
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Kev

See! I told you not to use 89 on your dyno runs!
 
Old 12-22-2001, 07:21 PM
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Re: Kev

Originally posted by PhatGuy
See! I told you not to use 89 on your dyno runs!
Sorry. I'll use race fuel next time.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:22 PM
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Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by Y2KevSE


Sorry. I'll use race fuel next time.
doesn't that stuff eat away at the injectors?
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:23 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE


doesn't that stuff eat away at the injectors?
Once wouldn't hurt too much.

Nah, I use 91 (which is NorCal's highest).
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:26 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by Y2KevSE


Once wouldn't hurt too much.

Nah, I use 91 (which is NorCal's highest).
yeah... sucks that you only get 91 out there.... we have 93 out here and they sell 94 in New Jersey.... emissions restrictions
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:27 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE


yeah... ucks that you only get 91 out there.... we have 93 out here and they sell 94 in New Jersey.... emissions restrictions
Do you guys have 104?
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:28 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by Y2KevSE


Do you guys have 104?

not that I have seen... but if I looked, I am sure I could find some
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:33 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by UMD_MaxSE



not that I have seen... but if I looked, I am sure I could find some
i reckon they have 104 over yonder by the drag strips.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:37 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Kev

Originally posted by Newman96SE


i reckon they have 104 over yonder by the drag strips.
Yeah, Nauman. Drive to your local drag strip each time you need to fill up.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:43 PM
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Only 91 in CA? Its 93 here in NJ and sunoco 94 Ultra.

Certain Sunoco stations sell 104 octane. They have over 110 + at our drag strips.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:48 PM
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Imma gonna steal ... errr ... copy this into the 4th gen FAQs also.
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:50 PM
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How about Gen forum?
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Old 12-22-2001, 07:57 PM
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Yeah only 91... but I haven't been to the strip so I don't know if they have higher octane. They probably do though.

Feel free to use the link/article/dyno Calvin.

If you go to their dyno section, you'll see some nice jpg's of different cars (including M5, F355, blown E36, blown NSX, blown S2K, etc.).
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Old 12-22-2001, 08:25 PM
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Originally posted by Y2KevSE
Yeah only 91... but I haven't been to the strip so I don't know if they have higher octane. They probably do though.

Feel free to use the link/article/dyno Calvin.

If you go to their dyno section, you'll see some nice jpg's of different cars (including M5, F355, blown E36, blown NSX, blown S2K, etc.).
Ya, 91 blows.. previously, i've seen 92, then before that there was 94 and 93.. but No.. By the way, since your boosted the 91 will do better than 89
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Old 12-22-2001, 08:26 PM
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Re: Re: Yep Yep

Originally posted by Y2KevSE


What's wrong with McDonald's? $4 for a meal... that's bling bling.
shiet...$4? i wish! it's like $5 now...holy cow McDonalds!!
and to get cheap stuff, you have to have really good memory to memorize all the days! i'm eating Del Tac 49cent tacos..but still no ARCO for me!

and uh...Kev...stop pumping cheap gas
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Old 12-22-2001, 08:38 PM
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I think Road and Track or something published an article on the affects of using a lower grade gasoline and they found the only difference it makes is a couple of hp on the dyno
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Old 12-22-2001, 09:53 PM
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I know this is off topic but why did they go from 92 or 93 octane to 91? At the time gas prices were very high I wonder why we were paying the same for lower octane gas.
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Old 12-22-2001, 10:13 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Yep Yep

Originally posted by irvine78


shiet...$4? i wish! it's like $5 now...holy cow McDonalds!!
and to get cheap stuff, you have to have really good memory to memorize all the days! i'm eating Del Tac 49cent tacos..but still no ARCO for me!

and uh...Kev...stop pumping cheap gas
You guys are your Del. Jane and I had no idea what you guys were talking about when you kept mentioning Del.
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Old 12-22-2001, 10:13 PM
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Originally posted by Menacer
I know this is off topic but why did they go from 92 or 93 octane to 91? At the time gas prices were very high I wonder why we were paying the same for lower octane gas.
I don't remember.
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Old 12-22-2001, 10:34 PM
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Originally posted by Menacer
I know this is off topic but why did they go from 92 or 93 octane to 91? At the time gas prices were very high I wonder why we were paying the same for lower octane gas.
i think this had to do something with the MTBE ratings in our gasoline. but not quite sure why the rating went down. i'm sure it was something about the emission control thingy.

and Kev..yeah, DEL means Del Taco..

i guess you don't have one up north?
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Old 12-22-2001, 10:36 PM
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Originally posted by irvine78

and Kev..yeah, DEL means Del Taco..

i guess you don't have one up north?
Not many.
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Old 12-23-2001, 06:43 AM
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Keep in mind, the reason some people see lower octanes is due to higer elevations. Parts of CA may only get 91 octane because they're higher up Same with Colorado.
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Old 12-23-2001, 08:25 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Yep Yep

Originally posted by Empz
Naw Dogg ... I'm a Straight Up "Yellow Fellow" ... I need my "Shark Fin", my nice "Steamed Fish" ... my "Ginsing Soup"!

Or AT LEAST my "Wonton Noodles" ... McD's is killin' me ... my "Yellow" Body Rejects that stuff!


does your body detonate when you pump up with McD's?? mine does with jack..
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Old 12-23-2001, 10:09 AM
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Originally posted by carnal_c30
I think Road and Track or something published an article on the affects of using a lower grade gasoline and they found the only difference it makes is a couple of hp on the dyno
It was Car and Driver I believe and they showed that it depended on the car. There were some cars that it made a noticable difference by going to 91 or higher, but then there were other cars that showed no gains by running 91 vs. 87.

So I'd say to some extent the jury is still out until someone actually dynos a VQ with 87 and with 91. (however I'll be putting 91+ in my car once I get it.)

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Old 12-23-2001, 10:11 AM
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I found the article.

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...e_gasoline.xml

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Old 12-23-2001, 01:02 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Yep Yep

YEP!


Originally posted by mingo

does your body detonate when you pump up with McD's?? mine does with jack..
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Old 12-23-2001, 02:48 PM
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gas is cheap now.... filled up with 93 for $1.29 the other day
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Old 12-23-2001, 03:37 PM
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Re: Re: Yep Yep

Originally posted by Y2KevSE


What's wrong with McDonald's? :confused $4 for a meal... that's bling bling.
You miss my cooking, huh?
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