Am I wasting my money using premium fuel? Why or why not?
Premium gas?
- Thread starter Mtnbike
- Start date
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The Lexus uses the premium stuff and claims a few extra HP as a result. IMHO, it isn't worth it. We're blessed with almost 400hp...plenty to spare for most mortals - even at 14k feet. You should have seen the Rubicon disappearing in the background through the mountains...oh wait, I digress.
- Thread starter
- #3
Lol! Don't worry, my mind wanders all the time. I was more curious if it was just better for the engine to use a higher grade fuel really. I know premium I more of a fancy name for higher octane.
Many people run mid grade and there is no noticeable difference.
- Thread starter
- #5
I found this info to be very helpful. I'm sticking with regular fuel.
The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
As long as your engine isn't knocking, you are fine. Run the lowest octane you can without experiencing any knocking.
I run 87 @ ~2400 ft above sea level. I've tried 89 and 91 and saw no difference.
- Thread starter
- #7
I'm moving to the Denver area in a few months, so hopefully the low grade stuff will be fine.
As noted above, there is no real advantage to using a higher octane gasoline in a 200, the motor does not have the compression to require a fuel with a higher resistance to detonation(unless you were maybe using a supercharger). The motor is designed for 87 octance(at sea level) and I for one believe the Toyota engineers on this.
Historically, before sophisiticated computers and knock sensors, running a fuel with too low an octance, or in an older engine with carbon build-up in the cylinders(and thus artifically raised compression), the result was detonation and potentially severe engine damage. Interstingly in newer BMW's , which reccomend 93 octane, a lower octane gas can be used, but with probale reduced power. The comptuer will simply adjust the timing to avoid detonation(as will all other newer cars), at the expense of power output. This is/was due to the variable quailty/octane gas that is still present in some parts of easten europe. (not that I am reccomending always running 87 octance in your $90,000 bmw M5, just saying that if you had to for a tank it could be done safely)
Just so you know, Denver's "regular" gas is 85 octane, and works just fine in a 200 due to the reduced air density, and ultimately reduced absolute compression in the engine. The only problem I could see would be if you filled up in denver with 85 and then towed/trailered to someplace at sea level, that could be an issue. Otherwise, save your $.
-Chris
Historically, before sophisiticated computers and knock sensors, running a fuel with too low an octance, or in an older engine with carbon build-up in the cylinders(and thus artifically raised compression), the result was detonation and potentially severe engine damage. Interstingly in newer BMW's , which reccomend 93 octane, a lower octane gas can be used, but with probale reduced power. The comptuer will simply adjust the timing to avoid detonation(as will all other newer cars), at the expense of power output. This is/was due to the variable quailty/octane gas that is still present in some parts of easten europe. (not that I am reccomending always running 87 octance in your $90,000 bmw M5, just saying that if you had to for a tank it could be done safely)
Just so you know, Denver's "regular" gas is 85 octane, and works just fine in a 200 due to the reduced air density, and ultimately reduced absolute compression in the engine. The only problem I could see would be if you filled up in denver with 85 and then towed/trailered to someplace at sea level, that could be an issue. Otherwise, save your $.
-Chris
