http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/octane.htm 

You may be wasting money. Some fast facts I looked up because my car recommends "Using premium fuel for optimum performance".

I use premium in both my 87 T Bird Turbo and the
Audi A4

In the T Bird because it runs better and does get better milage with it (around 23 MPG not bad for an 87 210 HP 4cyl moving a 3600lb car)
In the Audi cuz its still under warranty

I use Diesel in the Truck with a little cetane booster added once in a while

The Harley always uses premium because it does knock with reg and why take the chance

Yard equipment (power washer, tractor, snow blower etc) gets regular

I use midgrade.

When I bought the vehicles I ran several tanks of each grade and compared the avg gas mileage. the mid gave me 4-5 MPG over reg while premium gave about .5 MPG better than mid.

In my wife's older car it did not matter what gas you used mileage was the same.

Holy crap! You have an 87 turbocoupe?!?!? I loved that car! I'm dying to find another in good condition. The seals on my turbo blew, and I think it was throwing oil into my engine. Sad day when it went to the junk yard 😢.

And anything with a stock turbo, I'd run premium through it.

I have a racing computer in my car, so I have to run premium, or else it knocks.

I drive an Acura 3.2TL and I vary the grades of gas in it from fill up to fill up. When gas is below 1.75 for Premium, i go with that all the time, but when it goes up then I will use the cheap crap for a one tank and then go back to the up end crap! Probably doesn't matter, since I am on my third Acura in 12 years and all have performed greatly!

Charlie

ON the street: 91 octane because it's the highest you can get in Cali. I'd burn 93 if I could get it.

On the track: 114 or higher. I change the chip, turn up the boost, and let 'er rip!

Car: 87 Buick T type. Lower octane just makes her detonate.

I did an extensive search folks. This was just one link that I posted. Bottom line is this: If your owners manual calls for 87 octane and you're putting anything more... you're wasting your money (unless your car is one of the few that recommends 87 and still knocks if you don't go higher).

Google Octane Rating and see what you come up with. My brother is a mechanic in PA. The guy can look at a friggin' tail light and tell you what kind of car it came off of and what year it was. He told me this and I thought he was full of it. Turns out big brother was right... again.

" Author: cexshun Date: 02/11/2005 11:07 AM Reply
Holy crap! You have an 87 turbocoupe?!?!? I loved that car! I'm dying to find another in good condition. The seals on my turbo blew, and I think it was throwing oil into my engine. Sad day when it went to the junk yard 😢.

And anything with a stock turbo, I'd run premium through it.

I have a racing computer in my car, so I have to run premium, or else it knocks. "

Thread Jack On
Yep and its only got 60,000 miles on the clock
Runs like a scalded dog two days a week to my part time job.
My dad bought it from the dealer that had it in the auto show and since they said it was a display model they knock the price wayyyyyyyyyyyy down

Thread Jack Off

Regular. Jeeps are made for regular.

I drive a newer Civic and use 87 octane. Works just fine. If I'm in South Dakota, I use ethanol.

I give her a tank of the good stuff every once in a while. My car has a stock turbo and it seems to like the higher octane. The performance doesnt increase, just runs smoother.

the highest octane available. toby's scion has a litle over 1000 miles on it in 7 months so the cost of gas is not really important and we want to be ready in case we find ourselves "on the track."

Charlie

i haven't seen gas at $1.75 in years. where do you go to fill up, TJ.

Damn Rickamaven, you better add Stabil to that gas to keep it from going stale!

he probably only drives it to democrat victory celebrations

Both my cars Mercedes and Volvo have high performance, high compression engines and require premium. They will automatically adjust for a lower grade (to avoid knock) but performance and mileage suffer--so no net gain. I prefer to pay the extra and get the performance the car was designed to deliver.

Wagner

well, plus in all my cars except my '69 Shelby GT 500......it gets regular.

...now, the Ferrari gets premium of course.....

I use premium in my '98 supra twin turbo.

I find that Pinto's with a nice peice of fat back make the best gas. Although Cornbeaf and Cabbage seem to work just fine, or a nice pork roast and sour crout. Pickeled eggs and draft beer are also a great source of methane fumes.

Just use regular for my Saturn. However, when I had my 1985 Nissan 300ZX a few years ago, it was premium exclusively. That engine just purred with the higher octane.