Gas for 200t, does it really need premium?
04-15-16 | 01:07 PM
#31
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 60
From: California
the government sets fairly stringent standards for all gasoline that is sold in the United States. When it comes to octane level and other specific gasoline characteristics, all gas is basically the same. The difference between the fuel that you buy at branded gas stations comes down to the detergents that are added to the gas.
The federal government has required since 1995 that all gasoline which is sold in the US must contain a certain amount of detergent additives. These additives are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved, and the government has specified the amount of detergent which must be added to keep vehicle engines free from deposits. Costco gasoline meets all these requirements, or it couldn’t be sold in the United States.
A number of automakers made the decision that the US government additive requirement wasn’t high enough for many cars. As a result, they developed a “Top Tier” standard. In order to meet the “Top Tier” designation, the fuel sold at the gas station had to meet additive requirements higher than is required by the US government. Costco fuel meets this top-tier standard. Costco gasoline is rated as equal to any other major brand gasoline
The federal government has required since 1995 that all gasoline which is sold in the US must contain a certain amount of detergent additives. These additives are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved, and the government has specified the amount of detergent which must be added to keep vehicle engines free from deposits. Costco gasoline meets all these requirements, or it couldn’t be sold in the United States.
A number of automakers made the decision that the US government additive requirement wasn’t high enough for many cars. As a result, they developed a “Top Tier” standard. In order to meet the “Top Tier” designation, the fuel sold at the gas station had to meet additive requirements higher than is required by the US government. Costco fuel meets this top-tier standard. Costco gasoline is rated as equal to any other major brand gasoline
04-15-16 | 01:40 PM
#33
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: IA
04-15-16 | 01:43 PM
#34
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: IA
It's close to Canada's cost. We pay about $0.20 /L more or about $0.75 more a gallon for premium fuel. At that price difference, it's easier to see why people ask the questions on the effects of using a lower octane fuel. But rule of thumb, if it says "PREMIUM FUEL REQUIRED", put that in. If it's "recommended", save the money and go with 87.
Most of the 91 here have ethanol in them so I have to make sure that the gas station that I go to does not have that added into their gas.
04-15-16 | 02:51 PM
#35
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 92
Likes: 1
From: AZ
Just so you know, if you currently have a Costco Amex card, you don't have to 'open' a Citi Costco Visa card. It will automatically arrive in the mail early May-2016. And by the way, they won't even run a credit check on your file.. It will simply replace your Amex.
And if you've not had a Costco Amex, you missed out on a ton of cash back...
Cheers
04-15-16 | 03:26 PM
#36
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 903
From: IL
Additional factor at play here. When using an octane lower than designed for
the motor generally retards the spark advance to minimize pre-ignition "Ping".
This affects both throttle response and MPG's. When justifying the economy
of using the 87 level fuel you must factor back in the xx% lower MPG.
Save 10-20% at the pump but get 5-15% fewer miles per gallon?
the motor generally retards the spark advance to minimize pre-ignition "Ping".
This affects both throttle response and MPG's. When justifying the economy
of using the 87 level fuel you must factor back in the xx% lower MPG.
Save 10-20% at the pump but get 5-15% fewer miles per gallon?
04-15-16 | 03:41 PM
#37
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 489
Likes: 21
From: CA
This nonsense has been disproved many times by empirical data - there is no measurable difference in MPG when using the lower octane (provided otherwise the fuel meets the minimum federal guidelines and 87 octane).
04-15-16 | 05:32 PM
#38
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
87 has more BTU than 91.
04-15-16 | 06:17 PM
#40
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
But I DO have an issue with 40-70 cents more per gallon on a $2 base price.
Solution: Find name brand gas stations with cheap premium compared with average regular price.
04-15-16 | 08:16 PM
#41
Driver
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 137
Likes: 3
From: Minnesota
There's a difference between cars that recommend premium fuel and those that require it. Our cars need premium. It's in the owner's manual. Use high octane for high compression engines otherwise you risk hurting the engine. . Can you get away with running regular fuel. probably, but there could be that one day when your running crappy low grade tank of gas and when you push the engine hard the fuel in the cylinder prematurely ignites. Ouch!
Here's Edmunds lists of vehicles.
Required
http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/u...red.031816.pdf
Recommended
http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/u...ded.031816.pdf
Here's Edmunds lists of vehicles.
Required
http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/u...red.031816.pdf
Recommended
http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/u...ded.031816.pdf
Last edited by gregerst; 04-15-16 at 08:23 PM.
04-15-16 | 08:34 PM
#42
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 6
From: NT
If overinflated premium is all that's available then i'll opt to do a half prem/half reg for ~90 octane and back off the throttle a touch. I absolutely will not pay over 50c (25%) above regular price.
The car I owned before my LS460 was a Sonata 2.0T.
While they claimed it'd do fine on regular (poor knock sensors!!), I knew better than that when the stock turbo was turning over one atmosphere of compression (17-18psi)
The car I owned before my LS460 was a Sonata 2.0T.
While they claimed it'd do fine on regular (poor knock sensors!!), I knew better than that when the stock turbo was turning over one atmosphere of compression (17-18psi)
Last edited by litesoarer; 04-15-16 at 08:40 PM.
04-16-16 | 06:34 AM
#43
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 565
Likes: 57
From: Florichigan
B
The VW gets much better gas mileage than my Hybrid (apples to oranges, agreed) on the highway. We got 38 MPG yesterday from Kalamazoo to Wisconsin.
Last edited by NateJG; 04-16-16 at 08:28 AM.
04-16-16 | 07:40 AM
#44
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 491
Likes: 6
From: Middle east
My advise to you is to use the recommended by the manufacturer. Changing from one type to the other without checking the spark plugs comparability will heart your engine. Additionally if you over the recommended fuel you will be wasting money on gas and the power advirtsed was obtained using the recommended fuel, so getting higher octane fuel will increase the power, but it is not worth it since you will not feel it or use it 80% of the time. However going lower than the recommended fuel will decreease power and you could blow your engine.
04-18-16 | 07:12 PM
#45
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 2
From: Ontario
Note that AKI 87 fuel = RON 91 which is what the SAE filing for most of Lexus' engine are rated at. "Premium" fuel is marketing gobbledygook as every gas company has different definition of what that is. For the engineer in you, 87 AKI (using avg(RON+MON) method) intended fuel to use.