what octane gas do you use?

[epoxi]

i just bought a 96 gsr, and im not sure which octane to use...any advice? does it not matter?

[nhbilly]

HAVE to us the high grade stuff.
GSR VTEC has a high compression engine. You risk pinging or detonation, in other words a fucked up engine if you use cheap grade.

[Burzhui]

I always use the highest that the station has to offer, be it 93 or 95, i actually saw 100 one time in NJ, it cost 2+ times as much as the second highest grade was

[Ice-9]

Ha ha. Have fun filling your tank with gold - my engine was built in '84, so it's made to use good old 87 octane. If I use higher, it actually just makes the engine run rich. What is the compression on that VTEC, anyway?

[attgig]

for any 'normal' engine out there, SOHC & DOHC v6 engines, what's the best octane to use?
my manual says i should use at least 87 octane, but do I go higher?

[Ice-9]

Yeah, it pretty much depends on how your ignition timing is set. You can set the timing more aggressively if you only use higher-octane gas, which means you'll squeeze maybe half a horsepower more out of the engine (maybe a little more, depending on the car). This is one way that a lot of the aftermarket chips increase horsepower, although the biggest difference is when they increase boost in turboed engines. So, for most cars, use what it says in the owner's manual - more expensive gas probably won't help you, and (duh) it's more expensive, so you're just burning up your money.

[Apex]

92 octane (*sigh* that's all we get here in socal, only the eastern states get higher), non-Arco gas. Unfortunately, 91+ is all I can use.

[Grimm]

95% of all cars will do fine with 87 octane. So long as you aren't getting any pinging that is what you should use. High performance engines or tricked out cars might require more but those are the exception to the rule.
If you don't know, ask you dealer (auto, not street corner). Better yet ask the maintenance department at your dealer.

[Apex]

Not really. Almost all modern cars have ping sensors so that it'll auto-retard the engine timing if it detects low grade fuel. Even ferrari's have this. Sure, you'll foul your plugs, lower your mileage, decrease the life expectancy of your engine, and drop your horsepower into the pits, but you won't hear a ping.

[epoxi]

Originally posted by Apex
92 octane (*sigh* that's all we get here in socal, only the eastern states get higher), non-Arco gas. Unfortunately, 91+ is all I can use.


what's the difference between Arco and non-Arco gas?

and does it really help the engine to use the same gas throughout it's lifetime? ie. shell, cheveron?

[IntegraTypeR]

i can definitely feel a difference between arco and chevron. i only use chevron (no matter the octane)

[babymike]

Arco is definitely at the bottom of the heap. I was talking to a mechanic at the honda dealer once, and he told me the only times they've had problems with cars and fuel related incidents were when the people used Arco. Chevron on the other hand is the best. I have a friend who's parents own a gas station, and they use chevron gas to clean out their underground tanks. As for all the other brands, I don't think there's a huge difference. As for which octane, it's best to just use the recommended, no more no less. There are too many people who swear they get better performance out of the higher octanes, but they are just wasting their money.

[leemaj]

Originally posted by Apex
92 octane (*sigh* that's all we get here in socal, only the eastern states get higher), non-Arco gas. Unfortunately, 91+ is all I can use.

what kind of car do you got?

[Ice-9]

leemaj:

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=7732

[Apex]

91 Toyota MR2 Turbo. Unfortunately, it's mostly stock, so we're not talking over 230-240hp or so to the crank... which is way WAY low for a car that's almost 2800lbs. I absolutely hate driving such a slow underpowered car, but since I'm working at home these days, it's not too big of an issue.

Arco generally has the lowest quality gas. You can really tell with turbo cars that have the boost turned up (though you don't want to. It's easy to melt a piston). I believe it's around 10% ethanol, but don't quote me on that. This makes it pretty clean burning, but low performing.

In terms of gas stations, believe it or not, for MOST areas (not all), the gas is all about the same. You generally want to go to a busy station (because gas cycles through faster, so it's left sitting in the bottom of the tanks less). If you follow the gas tankers from the refinery, you'll find that 1 refinery will actually service quite a few different stations in a given area. This being said, the additives do differ from brand to brand.

I've personally have had great luck with Chevron. Beyond that, Unocal 76 and Mobil have been good too. This varies from area to area, of course. Some areas, Sunoco absolutely rocks.

In terms of octane, as a general rule, as your car ages, the octane requirements increase. This is a gradual process, but something you'll definitely notice.

[Nanotech9]

Originally posted by Apex
91 Toyota MR2 Turbo. Unfortunately, it's mostly stock, so we're not talking over 230-240hp or so to the crank... which is way WAY low for a car that's almost 2800lbs. I absolutely hate driving such a slow underpowered car, but since I'm working at home these days, it's not too big of an issue.


Hahahahha... and I though i was just a "little underpowered" with my 100hp? (or so) geo prizm... God i burn rubber in that thing like she was a ferrari testarossa (uhuh, uhuh, you know i gonna get myself one of those babies if I have to beg, borrow, or stal it ;) ).


Actually Apex, one of these days I'm gonna ask you about your 91 Mr2. I've though about buying one sooo many times. Let me know if you ever decide to sell. (It is a tossup between the Mr2 and a '91 318is).

oh, I use meduim (89) to hight (91) octane in the bike, and good 'ole low-grade (87 baby) in the car. In oklahoma your hard pressed to find anything below or above 87-91. Go up to wisconsin, and you get into the 84 octane stuff :puke:

[Burzhui]

dudes saw 110 the other day 25 bucks a gallon :( freeaky shit

[Nanotech9]

you must mean $2.50 / gal???... 110 - thats like jet fuel :)

[Paladin]

Originally posted by Nanotech9
you must mean $2.50 / gal???... 110 - thats like jet fuel :)


Not even close

Regular Airplanes use 105-110, and Jets and Turbo Props use Jet A fuel. I don't think Jet Fuel has an octane rating, Or at least the Fuel truck does'nt Say an octain rating. The fuel guy's name is Norm and he is really cool. Humm I think Jet fuel was 4.50 something last time I walked in the terminal building. I know 108 was 3.17. But at the Airport the tanks are cycled really slow and prices are lagged. The older Fuel truck that carries humm 80 or 84 Leaded gas is the biggest P.O.S. You ever saw it looks like it leaks fuel every where. I think racers use That high octain shit to prevent detination and knocking from running crazy amounts of boost.

[Sportzcoop]

I use premium which in my area is 92 or above. I would suggest mid to high grade for ur gsr but check ur manual first.

[CluelessSi]

Hmmm how do you listen for Pings? Do they occur while the engine is running or after you turn it off?

How can you tell if the gas is Arco or not? (as in what gas stations)

I don't seem to see any Chevron gas stations in the East only in the midwest and west...

[Jihforce]

Yeah I heard about the difference of the quality in gas from this classmate of mine. He mentioned to me that the best are Shell, Mobil, Chevron and Unocal 76. A step down would be Texaco and lastly, of course, is Arco. This dude's parents owns 3 Shell stations in OC so he does have some sort of credibility I think.
I use midgrade right now...Gassing the damn 325i is costing me too much...I'm only getting 19.5 miles to the gallon. sucks.

[TheLoneGunman]

92 Cheveron Supreme with Techron only.

I am scared that I will mess up my engine (Infiniti Q45) and I DON"T have the $12k to replace it.

[Apex]

Originally posted by TheLoneGunman
92 Cheveron Supreme with Techron only.

I am scared that I will mess up my engine (Infiniti Q45) and I DON"T have the $12k to replace it.

The Q has an excellent ping detection system that automatically retards timing when it detects lower grade fuel. This makes you far less likely to kill your engine on crappy gas than most.

[Leon]

My local Unocal 76 now has these octane readings:

87/88.5/91

What the heck?

[attgig]

wow, you guys on the west coast are lacking on the octane.
Most gas stations on the east coast have: 87/89/93 (such as exxon, shell, mobil, etc). and then there's sunoco that has 87/89/92/94.

wassup with 91/92 being the highest???

[Ice-9]

Well, actually, I know of at least two places where one can get 110 octane... :D

That's a bit higher than 91/92, so maybe it brings the average up?

[Nanotech9]

my new-found BMW mechanic told me (and my friend tol d me this too) that i have to run 91 octane in my bimmer. If i put a chip in it, i have to run 93 :(