Hiya gang,

How many of you run premium gas? Occasionally to clean 'er out? Consistently? Never?

What are the pros and cons, there, expert panel?

As always, thanks for the feedback.

 

The tank I'm running now is non-ethanol, 89 octane. I don't know that the octane makes much difference, but the non-ethanol does.

 

Hey Stroh,
I "always" use premium (in the Vette/bikes). I think everything runs better on higher octane but just may be a psychological thing too. Interesting to see what the rest come back with. I know it is very effective at getting the bonfires going. Just overall better/cleaner burning fuel.

While in Colorado one time I used some low 80 something octane in my Mustang and the drop in performance was astounding. I know the elevation had alot to do with it too. However, I thought I may have gotten some bad fuel because the car ran so bad. So I use the highest I can get at the pumps (not counting the pump in the back of Sunoco, Race fuel).

Terry

 

Premium, pure gasoline always.
No more than the car gets driven (apx. 2000mi/yr) price isn't an issue.
Ethanol is a scam, pure and simple...

 

What kind of difference does non-ethanol make?

 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...tos/aut12.shtm

The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
Are you tempted to buy a high octane gasoline for your car because you want to improve its performance? If so, take note: the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane. In fact, in most cases, using a higher octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner. Your best bet: listen to your owner's manual.

The only time you might need to switch to a higher octane level is if your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel. This happens to a small percentage of cars.

Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money, too. Premium gas costs 15 to 20 cents per gallon more than regular. That can add up to $100 or more a year in extra costs. Studies indicate that altogether, drivers may be spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year for higher octane gas than they need.

What are octane ratings?
Octane ratings measure a gasoline's ability to resist engine knock, a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders. Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane) and premium (usually 92 or 93). The ratings must be posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump.

What's the right octane level for your car?
Check your owner's manual to determine the right octane level for your car. Regular octane is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, need mid-grade or premium gasoline to prevent knock.

How can you tell if you're using the right octane level? Listen to your car's engine. If it doesn't knock when you use the recommended octane, you're using the right grade of gasoline.

Will higher octane gasoline clean your engine better?
As a rule, high octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car's engine. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that all octane grades of all brands of gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against the build-up of harmful levels of engine deposits during the expected life of your car.

Should you ever switch to a higher octane gasoline?
A few car engines may knock or ping - even if you use the recommended octane. If this happens, try switching to the next highest octane grade. In many cases, switching to the mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will eliminate the knock. If the knocking or pinging continues after one or two fill-ups, you may need a tune-up or some other repair. After that work is done, go back to the lowest octane grade at which your engine runs without knocking.

Is knocking harmful?
Occasional light knocking or pinging won't harm your engine, and doesn't indicate a need for higher octane. But don't ignore severe knocking. A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.

Is all "premium" or "regular" gasoline the same?
The octane rating of gasoline marked "premium" or "regular" is not consistent across the country. One state may require a minimum octane rating of 92 for all premium gasoline, while another may allow 90 octane to be called premium. To make sure you know what you're buying, check the octane rating on the yellow sticker on the gas pump instead of relying on the name "premium" or "regular."

 

Never! My 81 was designed to run on unleaded regular and my 62 now has flat top pistons, so it's happy on regular too.

There are no additives or cleaning properties in premium, that are not in regular. The only difference is the octane rating. If your car doesn't need the higher octane, there is no advantage to using a higher grade fuel.

Even new Corvettes, which Chevrolet recommends using premium in, will run fine on regular, if need be. The computers in modern cars will modify the timing, fuel mixture, etc to compensate for a lower grade fuel.

Your just wasting money, putting premium in a car designed to run on regular gas.

 

[QUOTE=xCCTer;1580783247]http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...tos/aut12.shtm

The only time you might need to switch to a higher octane level is if your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel. This happens to a small percentage of cars.



This was usually caused by Higher compression ratio.. around 10:1 your running 97.....in fact running higher octane can cause "dieseling" when your car doesn't want to die when you shut it off.....

 

FYI ... http://pure-gas.org/

 

My vette runs on 91 octain anything less, it will run on after shut own and it can knock. In our cars, use the octain the car is tuned to, since there is no computer to adjust the timing according to the gas octain in the tank. In modern cars you will get better performance and better gas mileage with higher octain gasoline.

 

I run premium. Purely psychological fulfillment. Complete waste of money. Makes me feel better.

I run premium in my wife's Volvo even though it can run on regular. It allows the engine to advance more and it makes a noticeable amount more power. It is the VVT 4.4 V8. I can tell the first time I stab the gas if my wife has put premium or regular in it.

 

Great state of MA is not on there.

 

I guess I should have been a little more clear. I run the non-ethanol because my '81 doesn't get driven much at all for about 5 or 6 months of the year, (cold winters in PA), and I don't want the ethanol gas sitting in the tank that long. From what I've read, ethanol gas absorbs moisture, giving you watered down gas and poor performance. If this is not a fact, I hope someone clears this up for me, since I drive a little bit to get this gas and it costs more.

 

Ditto on the non-ethanol gas..

I have been advised by local mechanic's to not leave ethanol in the lines or tank for any lenght of time.. !
( as a side note..local fire dept now buy's non-eth..for generators and mowers as they had line issues with standard ethanol gas )
My observations are a slight improvement in mileage and response.

And Peace of mind..

 

During storage time, I throw some stabilizer in the tank and bring it for a nice ride. I put that in all my gas powered equipment that sits for the winter. In the spring, everything fires right up.

 

I generally stick to Chevron or Shell premium. I miss being able to buy Amoco.

 

What octane rating do you consider 'Premium'? When I pull up to a gas pump I don't look for regular, midgrade or premium labels. I look for octane ratings. I dump in my pre-mixed witches brew of additives and fill to the brim with 91...my engine is far from stock. If a trip takes more than 1 refill, I fill with 93 and hope for the best.

 

In May 2008, United States BP stations mostly discontinued use of the "Amoco Fuels" logo as BP introduced its new brand of fuel, "BP Gasoline with Invigorate".

The only remaining usage of the Amoco name is the brand of BP's highest grade, 93-octane "Amoco Ultimate".

 

93.

Remember SUNOCO 260 and 280 back in the 70s?

Now THAT was Premium fuel.

 

Premium is the only ethanol free option I can get local so stuck using it.