I recently bought my car from a private party, very honest person, however i asked about the fuel he ran in the car. He said he had been using regular 87oct.....he had put ab

 

Will need the plugs changed more often then the normal 60k miles.

Some of the idiots who don't understand OBD2 will scream eng damage and other crap. It will be perfectly fine.

 

It depends on how he drove the car. The engine has a knock sensor to protect it, but repeatedly using it won't do the engine any favors, since the engine has to knock before the sensor can detect it. If he drove like I do, the engine won't know the difference.

 

I highly doubt it did any damage. Some times I feel like running 87 on mine as well.

 

Don't worry about it. I've been putting in "less than recommended" for 11 years, and my engine is like new. --Spike

 

+1 to a minimal problem...

I typically run 91oct day-in day-out, but run 85oct when I do my annual emissions as it burns hotter/contains less btu and burns cleaner overall (all in my opinion). A higher (or lower) octane has a greater (or less)resistance to detonation...I would be more worried if the owner stayed on top of regular maintenance and/or didnt abuse the car.

 

Fun fact from past week; used 91 for the first time ever, and down 2.2mpg's in comparison to 92/93 I always run. Do the math, its worth it..always run whats recommended in cars you plan on keeping in your collection. Its worth the value; respect what you own.
If you plan on it being a brief affair, do what you would like; in my collection most run on premium and that's worth it alone to keep a premium fleet. just my .02

 

I think i'm going blind because I don't think I read this correctly. So you said you would be worried if the owner kept the car well maintained? And you'll be worried if he didn't abuse the car? Or did you mean to say you'll be worried if the owner kept it well maintained and abused the car also? Usually if someone keeps there car well maintained and is really **** about their car the less likely they'll abuse it. Keep in mind I said LESS LIKELY as I've seen plenty of old guys in their mid life crisis around here who worship and take care of their Maserati's more than their own children. Yet you'll find them flying like a bat out of hell bouncing off the rev limiter every now and again. You would swear that I am the old guy and they were the kids.

 

the last time I put in 1/4 tank of 87 octane fuel I got a
check engine light come on. didn't go away for a while after
I filled up at the regular Shell station 83 octane.
never checked the code or anything, just assumed
it was not a great thing.
yeah I know about the anti-knock
sensors triggering ignition retard to compensate,
just don't feel I have extra power to sacrifice.