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Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 14:50:34 +0200
From: "Richard" <rootnospamlhost>
Subject: Re: Octane ratings.....what's the truth?


"gerry" <notforgenerausenospamam.com> wrote in message news:1316l6virkhfj97nospam.supernews.com... >I know this is old stuff, but I would like some input (hopefully informed) > on current thinking, now that gas prices have skyrocketed and there is a > real financial significance that just didn't exist "in the olden days". > Here in British Columbia, Canada we are paying $1.17/litre in $Cdn or 1.17 > x > 3.785 (l. / U.S. gal) x .86/1=$3.80 U.S. / U.S. gallon.....and that's for > regular. Let's look at about $4.10+ U.S. / U.S. gallon. > The book for my car 2001 V70xc recommends a minimum octane (RON) of 91, > and > I see regulars at 87 and mid-range at 89. I listen to Radio Station KGO > (San > Francisco) at night and often hear their science Guru Bill Wattenberg (PhD > etc. etc. knows all, et al) who says, "If it will run on regular, use > regular. A modern sophisticated car engine may not run initially that > well, > but sensors will "re-tune" to the lower octane and will be fine.....no > damage.....no power loss.....no effect on warranty. The theory, as I > understand it is that "higher octane" doesn't mean more "power" in the > gas, > it means elements added to adjust combustion rate. In his opinion higher > octanes are "generally speaking" a scam on automobile users perpetrated by > the oil companies and encouraged by the auto manufacturers. > > What's the consensus? > > Gerry Ah.... the Truth. There is no truth, there is just perceiption. There also is no consensus on this I am afraid. And since when is truth determined by consensus? ;) Anyway... MY EXPERIENCE is that the higher octane fuels will cause the engine to run more efficiently, somewhere around the same percentage as the price is higher. So... if the higher octane stuff is around 10% more expensive, then I get a milage that is around 10% better. This has been "More Or Less Accurate" (= True? ;) ) since the first time I did the calculations for my Saab 99. Since this car did not have any "intelligence" built in (you had to get in the car first yourself) it didnt adjust to the fuel by itself. So.... I got fed up with tuning to a different fuel and did the calculations. In the end I stuck with the higher octane fuel. If I was/had an oil company, I would make sure my fuel was priced so that i would sell the most, OR make my profits as high as possible. If my high octane fuel did not have enough benefits, then I would have to lower the price OR improve the performance of it. So..... I suspect this has been going on in the oil-markets for a while, and the prices will have leveled out related to the performance. That is my GUESS. That is not the truth. ;) BTW: The best way to save on fuel cost is... ... not drive. It is easy to drive 10% less. Try it. It is the truth. Ehm.... oops! ;) Good luck. Richard.

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