ive found this topic touched on slightly in other threads but i havent found exactly what im looking for. so simply put, am I any better off using premium gas on a 06 ralliart? I know it recommends 87 octane but am i getting any performance incentives by using the premium? Im relatively inexperienced when it comes to newer cars so if someone can give some advice thatd be great. As well i do not have any mods to the engine as of yet it is all stock. i do plan on placing a CAI and doing the exhaust soon.

 

No.
http://www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDo...ctaneFacts.pdf

And welcome to the forums

 

kool, was wondering about that, thanks

 

For street driving, higher octane doesn't really help that much but for track driving where heats build up, some extra octane will help against detonation. It's always a good idea to run higher octanes at the track for that extra safety buffer.

 

oh man. Seriously? Have you increased compression somehow that makes it necessary to run higher octane?

 

I wouldn't take that as fact. If you're able, see if you can datalog your car when you're pushing it hard, and that'll tell you if you have any knock or not at higher temps. I doubt they'll let you do it at an autocross, since it usually requires a laptop, unless you have a PDA that you can put a pocketlogger on.

 

Otter....that was a sarcastic statement. I don't agree that running higher octane will help our engines at all unless it is tuned for higher octane gas (i.e. compression has been raised somehow).

Your original answer of NO is correct. It's been beat to death on this board as well as all car-related forums I have been on.

 

This subject does certainly make the rounds of every board, I come from ElantraXD.com and it came up as often as "Does the Tiburon V6 fit in an Elantra...".

Thought I'd throw my two cents in anyway, 87 octane is the most volatile and therefore makes the biggest bang when ignited in the cylinder. If an engine is made to run it, run it. I tested it at the track and while the results weren't exactly laboratory grade, my Elantra ran consistently 2/10ths slower running on premium than 87 octane which it was designed for.

The only time higher octane would be of use is if you're at a trackday or a long lapping session or something of that nature. There's no performance gains, but it would give the engine a bit of buffer zone before the knock sensor started cutting power due to the high underhood temperatures.

 

hmm, im not doubting you guys expertise on this at all. Im just curious cause my dealership told me that running premium will help clean out the engine better and will prolong the life of my engine... less ware and tear. and a friend of mine wwho owns a RA was told the same thing by a different dealership. in addition he has a CAI and swears by the increased performance in premium fuel.

 

You learn as time goes on that most dealerships are full of **** and have no idea what they're talking about.

 

so what is everyone running? 87?

 

Yup, except for those with aftermarket fuel controllers.

 

+1

Next time you hear some of this BS, get them to explain in total detail HOW the engine suffers less "wear and tear" and to your friend, HOW he gets more performance out of the engine. Neither the dealer nor your friend will be able to, since neither knows wtf they are talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question90.htm


FACT
If your engine does not knock with 87 gas, there will NO performance benefit from premium, none at all.

I'll also mention that some premium fuels have more added detergents or other things but that is certainly not a reason to use premium and it definitely does not change the wear in the engine, which has nothing to do with the fuel used. Most regular gas now has the same detergents as premium, so it doesn't matter anyway. In fact, get the dealer to explain how the gasoline you use has any effect on the wear in an engine designed for regular.

 

i tried out 92 and got less igas mileage then 87. maybe i just drove harder than my last tank but idk. on my old car ( 1990 coraola) when i used premium i seemed to get beter gas milage. watever im sticken to the 82.
ohya any one use octain booseter. i always though it worked a bit for better gasmilage purposes. my friend told me that 2 botles of that stuff only gives u like 1 octain or 2 more.
and wats the difference between octain booster and gas treatment?

 

Ethanol is now used to raise octane levels in gasoline instead of MTBE. This makes higher octane gas less fuel efficient although it burns cleaner (lower emissions).