Re: Gas Prices


"Mike Burke" <mburke@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:5l8o24tia4s1uu3vd4nnt5takkd3geh8r3@xxxxxxxxxx
On 14 May 2008 21:10:40 -0700, Pam K <my2pugs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I wouldn't use premium gas in any old car, and we don't in the Kia, but Audi
says use 92 octane & I'm not about to void a warranty, either. TG I don't have
to use ultra-premium. (not sure if it's even sold in WA state)

I passed up a very nice V6 Mazda 6 for a V6 Toyota Camry because the
Mazda used the more expensive premium grade fuel as opposed to
standard fuel for the Camry.

Even the recommendation of premium gas is mostly snobbery these days, though if your engine is designed for it, it will likely be a little more powerful with the higher octane. All modern engines are loaded with sensors that detect detonation and oxygen levels and make fine adjustments constantly, so the risk of knocking damaging your engine is no more.

In some cases, the engine in the luxury car requiring premium is basically the same engine that in a cheaper car doesn't. They'll claim it's state of tune or something similar, but it's also that customers for high-end cars with powerful engines won't believe it really is adequately exotic if it runs on regular gas. But if you can afford the expensive car, the extra bit for the gasoline won't hurt that much, and it may well keep the service guys from blaming you when something unrelated malfunctions. As is likely on German luxury cars, if not on Japanese.

Mark Alan Miller

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Going to the dark side.
    ... If you consider that particularly car ... the engine management doesn't have a clue about what fuel octane ... It might also burn out the valves if injection and combustion control ...
    (alt.horology)
  • Re: Tesco diesel...
    ... litre turbo petrol engine is on the cusp of the sort of power level where it'll start to be worthwhile putting the better stuff in. ... I have a 250bhp twin turbo and got the same or worse fuel consumption with the high octane stuff, ... The 'better' fuel for your car is the one that your engine has been set up for. ... If your car isn't compensating for knocking on normal octane petrol then you get absolutely no benefit from the high octane stuff. ...
    (uk.rec.cars.misc)
  • Re: OT, but relevant
    ... Do you listen to the Car Guys on NPR? ... They say there's no reason to use premium unless you want ... manual to learn which octane rating to use for your car. ... prescribed in the owner's manual you will damage your engine and void ...
    (rec.food.cooking)
  • Re: Accord 2008 and fuel octane
    ... The manual says to use regular 87 ... The compression ratio in this car is high enough where premium would ... as high as other Hondas that do require premium. ... Where I live the Regular unleaded octane is 87, ...
    (rec.autos.makers.honda)
  • Re: Toyota Avalon - what grade of fuel?
    ... Modern microprocessors can easily de-tune an engine by adjusting the F/A ... ratio and timing to run on a lower octane fuel that for which it was ... fuel for which it was designed. ... When an oil company implies your car will ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)
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