Hey guys, I know there are a billion "what gas do you use" threads but my question is about switching between them. My max was a hand-me-down from my parents, who religiously filled it up with 87 for 9 or 10 years with no gas-related problems. I heard from someone that switching to a higher octane at this point might actually do more harm than it would do good (since the car is used to it?) Anyone have any insight on this?

 

I made "the change" three years ago after about 5 years of 87 and I haven't had any problems except I forgot to reattach the bottom hose of the fuel filter.

 

cars dont get "used" to gas. switching will cause no problems. and if your car does get indigestion, just pour some PeptoBismol in the gas tank.

 

yup. and by pepto he means chevron fuel cleaner

 

Unless, of course, the KS is bad. Then you'll never notice a differerence in performance from better gas, you won't hve a CEL and the only way to know is to pull the codes to see the Ghost code one for the KS.

 

lol, exactly. Better check for a KS code because if your KS is bad , the octane won't matter. Now, before you start asking about how to and what not. There's at least one current thread open on this topic.

 

Actually I meant Redline SI-1. but you got the idea.

 

higher octane fuel will not mess the car up in any way. older cars will run better if you put high octane fuel in them. most people neglect putting premium fuel in old vehicles thinking it isnt worth it, trust me, detonation is not worth it, premium fuel is always better.

 

Is there any difference in terms of performance with a higher octane gas?

 

the car is meant to run on 93, the sticker recommends that.. i dont care what anybody says when i got the car i ran 87 because i didnt know.. i put in 93 after and it ran MUCH better..

 

its actually meant to run on 91.

I sometimes switch, but mainly put 91 in mine. The only reason I dont sometime is because I cant afford premium.....

 

hell if you gots to go, at least go out in style

 

gas is over $3/gal. these days anyway, hard to understand how anyone even afforded gas when it went to $2.25.... LOL

 

lmao.....

 

thats tricky, higher octane fuel will allow more flexability in combustion chamber properties such that it takes a higher temperature to ignite the fuel. this helps prevent detonation because it takes more energy to ignite the fuel, so the fuel will not ignite simply to too high a compression or a heated intake stream. this helps performance in that it allows people to run engines more effectively and reducing risk of internal failure due to excessive knock. its doest help performance by making your car faster if it has no knocking problem already present, meaning the fuel is not any more powerful and it it only beneficial up to the limit of no knock.

 

you will see no performance difference. If you put in 87 and your car runs poorly, time for a serious tuneup. (or EGR system examination).

 

not mine.. it runs like garbage, same goes with all my buddies cars as well.. and is and has always been tunned up...

 

sticker says premium recommended for maximum performance.. premium here is 93.. 91 is midgrade..

plus its only like 6 or 7 dollars more per tank to use premium... dont *****

 

WELL SAID!! ---- 'NUFF SAID

 

I see a differance in performance between 91 and 93 octane gas but only when I'm trying to maximize the milage. I notice that on upgrades the transmission will stay in overdrive longer with the higher octane fuel. The engine in these cases is turning 1300 - 1600 rpm, 40-50 mph.

 

or just add a gallon of toulene and have 96 octane