What Octane Gas are you using?
New Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 3
From: SF Bay Area
I don't want to hear too much *****ing about gas prices from people outside of Northern CA - last time I filled up, I couldn't find a price lower than $2.98/ga for 91 octane (highest available unless you find independant station ) Most stations were around $3.05/gallon, and woe if you require diesel ( $3.10/ ga most places ).
Nothing like spending almost $60.00 to fill a 20 ga tank....
Nothing like spending almost $60.00 to fill a 20 ga tank....
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
I use whatever octane the vehicle I'm driving calls for. Octane is not a measure of quality, it's an indicator of the point where the fuel will ignite in relation to being compressed. Using anything less than recommended is asking for knock which is going to lead to reduced gas mileage anyway, hence cancelling out any perceived savings. Not to mention knock can lead to engine damage. If you must pinch $.10/gallon, you are driving the wrong car IMHO. 
Originally Posted by platinum350
I heard about some News study that revealed that it's not really any better.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
93, cost me 55 bucks to fill up 
20 gallon tank sucks *** , then again i cant imagin how bad it is for those h2 and escalde owners with their blinged out 22s feel. I think im gonna buy a used yamaha R6 as my daily commuter if it gets any worse
20 gallon tank sucks *** , then again i cant imagin how bad it is for those h2 and escalde owners with their blinged out 22s feel. I think im gonna buy a used yamaha R6 as my daily commuter if it gets any worse
Last edited by yiaquemini; Aug 23, 2005 at 11:02 AM.
these octance gas threads absolutely drive me crazy!!! think about it please!!! lets say you have to fill up a whole tank, 20 gallons. There's a 20 cent price difference between low grade and premium grade gas. It saves you a whole $4.00 to go with low grade!! if you cant afford four freakin dollars then you do not need to be driving a 26k+ sports car!! 
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Texas transplant
Well....Up here we have four grades readily available
at Petro-Canada which is where I buy most of my gas. 87,89,91 and 94. I was using 91, but have since switched to 94 and I do notice better gas mileage and improved performance.
94 Octane for my Z
94 Octane for my Z
Originally Posted by Camel
I use whatever octane the vehicle I'm driving calls for. Octane is not a measure of quality, it's an indicator of the point where the fuel will ignite in relation to being compressed. Using anything less than recommended is asking for knock which is going to lead to reduced gas mileage anyway, hence cancelling out any perceived savings. Not to mention knock can lead to engine damage. If you must pinch $.10/gallon, you are driving the wrong car IMHO.
And you can get back the extra $0.1/ga that you spend on expensive 93 by getting a credit card that gives you 5% off of your gasoline purchase.
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: TN
Originally Posted by FCallender
When gas prices started to rise above two bucks I went from midgrade 87 to regular 85. I could detect no change in power, no change in mileage (a steady 26, town and country) and the engine runs just as well. I do most of my driving from 7500 to 6000 ft. so octane isn't as much of an issue.
When I first got it in 03 I did a 2200 mile round trip, most of it at midwest altitudes and almost all of it at freeway speeds. Again, I was unable to detect any significant difference in mpg or power when I tried different tankfulls (tanksfull?) of all the grades.
The experts say if it runs fine on lower octane then use it. Anything more is a waste of money.
These octane arguments always seem to revolve around a quality issue which is simply not true. Higher octane gas is not more refined or "better" in any way other than it contains more of an antiknock additive for higher compression engines. Today's engine electronics, if I recall correctly, have to pass a test of running an engine on 82 octane. Up to OBD II one could get chips that would refine that programming so that mileage and performance would improve if high octane gas was used. Less true since then.
The manual, in my opinion, is kind of vague about it and they don't say it will void the warranty.
When I first got it in 03 I did a 2200 mile round trip, most of it at midwest altitudes and almost all of it at freeway speeds. Again, I was unable to detect any significant difference in mpg or power when I tried different tankfulls (tanksfull?) of all the grades.
The experts say if it runs fine on lower octane then use it. Anything more is a waste of money.
These octane arguments always seem to revolve around a quality issue which is simply not true. Higher octane gas is not more refined or "better" in any way other than it contains more of an antiknock additive for higher compression engines. Today's engine electronics, if I recall correctly, have to pass a test of running an engine on 82 octane. Up to OBD II one could get chips that would refine that programming so that mileage and performance would improve if high octane gas was used. Less true since then.
The manual, in my opinion, is kind of vague about it and they don't say it will void the warranty.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Originally Posted by Wotnot
at Petro-Canada which is where I buy most of my gas. 87,89,91 and 94. I was using 91, but have since switched to 94 and I do notice better gas mileage and improved performance.
94 Octane for my Z
94 Octane for my Z
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MAsSIVrOOM
Engine & Drivetrain
2
Oct 20, 2023 10:50 AM
liqalu04
Engine & Drivetrain
31
Jan 2, 2022 12:58 PM
Colombo
Forced Induction
35
Nov 9, 2020 10:27 AM
350Z_Al
Exterior & Interior
133
Oct 29, 2020 07:44 PM
