Which octane is best? 87? 89? 91? Other?
December-6th-2007 | 12:28 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 175
From: California
Which octane is best? 87? 89? 91? Other?
When at the gas pump, does it really matter which octane I'm using? 87, 89, or 91 octane? I think 87 is recommended for our cars but I'm using 89. Once in a while 91 Just something i was pondering on....
December-6th-2007 | 12:47 AM
#2
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 48
From: Omaha, NE
89 is ethanol... i personally believe that stuff ruins engines... i could be wrong. but in my experience... its burns hotter... its 10% CORN!
87 isn't bad. it doesn't have corn mixed into it....
91/92/93 depending on the gas station.... seems to give a little more punch to the little 4 banger, but maybe thats just a phsycological thing that i trick myself into believing... and most oil companies add detergents to it to help keep your fuel system clean, at least they CLAIM to.... who knows these days.... OPEC rules all of our lives whether we like it or not... lol
87 isn't bad. it doesn't have corn mixed into it....
91/92/93 depending on the gas station.... seems to give a little more punch to the little 4 banger, but maybe thats just a phsycological thing that i trick myself into believing... and most oil companies add detergents to it to help keep your fuel system clean, at least they CLAIM to.... who knows these days.... OPEC rules all of our lives whether we like it or not... lol
December-6th-2007 | 12:57 PM
#3
The man behind the mask
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,572
From: Birmingham, AL
totally wrong.
ALWAYS use the lowest octane rating you can get away with without pinging or knocking.
Octane has NOTHING to do with performance. It's the unit to measure a fuels resistance to pre-detonation (or pinging).
The higher the octane you use the harder it is for your car to ignite the fuel and it throws off ignition timing. Stick with what the label says.
ALWAYS use the lowest octane rating you can get away with without pinging or knocking.
Octane has NOTHING to do with performance. It's the unit to measure a fuels resistance to pre-detonation (or pinging).
The higher the octane you use the harder it is for your car to ignite the fuel and it throws off ignition timing. Stick with what the label says.
December-6th-2007 | 02:32 PM
#4
Clean-Up Crew
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,360
From: Pleasure Point, Ca.
^^ Listen to the man, he knows his s#it.
Higher octane gas burns slower than low octane. Use the lowest you can get away with before your motor begins to "ping". In my P5, it's 87. In the MSP, 89. In the FD with all its mods, it's the $3.75 a gallon stuff.
Unless your pinging/detonating, then it's smarter to save your money on something worthwhile....LIKE PINK UNDERCAR NEONS!!
Higher octane gas burns slower than low octane. Use the lowest you can get away with before your motor begins to "ping". In my P5, it's 87. In the MSP, 89. In the FD with all its mods, it's the $3.75 a gallon stuff.
Unless your pinging/detonating, then it's smarter to save your money on something worthwhile....LIKE PINK UNDERCAR NEONS!!
December-7th-2007 | 02:46 PM
#6
Moderator/ Pocket Tuner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,150
From: Tampa,Fl
totally wrong.
ALWAYS use the lowest octane rating you can get away with without pinging or knocking.
Octane has NOTHING to do with performance. It's the unit to measure a fuels resistance to pre-detonation (or pinging).
The higher the octane you use the harder it is for your car to ignite the fuel and it throws off ignition timing. Stick with what the label says.
ALWAYS use the lowest octane rating you can get away with without pinging or knocking.
Octane has NOTHING to do with performance. It's the unit to measure a fuels resistance to pre-detonation (or pinging).
The higher the octane you use the harder it is for your car to ignite the fuel and it throws off ignition timing. Stick with what the label says.
December-23rd-2007 | 12:36 AM
#13
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 19
From: Houston
89 is ethanol... i personally believe that stuff ruins engines... i could be wrong. but in my experience... its burns hotter... its 10% CORN!
87 isn't bad. it doesn't have corn mixed into it....
91/92/93 depending on the gas station.... seems to give a little more punch to the little 4 banger, but maybe thats just a phsycological thing that i trick myself into believing... and most oil companies add detergents to it to help keep your fuel system clean, at least they CLAIM to.... who knows these days.... OPEC rules all of our lives whether we like it or not... lol
87 isn't bad. it doesn't have corn mixed into it....
91/92/93 depending on the gas station.... seems to give a little more punch to the little 4 banger, but maybe thats just a phsycological thing that i trick myself into believing... and most oil companies add detergents to it to help keep your fuel system clean, at least they CLAIM to.... who knows these days.... OPEC rules all of our lives whether we like it or not... lol
All grades of gasoline sold in the US are up to 10% ethanol- at least anything you buy at a gas station.
Higher octane is generally for higher compression engines. A naturally aspirated Mazda3 isn't high performance by any means. Using premium gas is just pissing money away.
Last edited by maximus_84; December-23rd-2007 at 12:38 AM.
December-28th-2007 | 04:10 PM
#15
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 71
From: Oconomowoc, WI
Not all gasoline sold in the US has ethonal in it tho.
Until recently all gasoline sold at shell stations was pure gasoline.
Now I believe they only put ethanol in regular unleaded.
Some BP stations around me have pure gasoline. I hate ethanol. I had a 1993 honda civic ex coupe before my mazda 3 and they screwed up the winter mix of gasoline and broke all 4 of my fuel injectors.
I hope ethanol just goes away ... is it really better for the environment when it takes more energy to produce ethanol then it does gasoline. We should be concentrating on other alternative fuel sources.
Until recently all gasoline sold at shell stations was pure gasoline.
Now I believe they only put ethanol in regular unleaded.
Some BP stations around me have pure gasoline. I hate ethanol. I had a 1993 honda civic ex coupe before my mazda 3 and they screwed up the winter mix of gasoline and broke all 4 of my fuel injectors.
I hope ethanol just goes away ... is it really better for the environment when it takes more energy to produce ethanol then it does gasoline. We should be concentrating on other alternative fuel sources.