Seriously guys, it's like $.15/gallon. Is it worth taking a chance? Especially with a $40k brand new SUV?! It's like people that drive across down to save a dime on gas, it just doesn't add up.

A while back I saw a test of 87 vs 91 octane, it was on one of the US car shows. The car in question was a 996 Porsche 911, a car that requires 91 octane. They dyno'd and test drove it on 87 octane, ran it dry, refilled with 91 octane, then reset the ECU and drove it for a while to re-adapt to the higher octane fuel. After that, they performed the same tests.

On 91 octane, the car picked up a significant amount of HP on the dyno, I think it was around 15 HP on a car rated at 320 HP stock. Enough that it was noticable. Also, it picked up enough MPG to more than cover the price difference. So are you really saving?

For my personal experience, my old 2003 4Runner V6 "recomended" 91 octane. My oblivious wife ran 87 for quite some time. Once I corrected her, we found that it picked up 4 MPG on the highway, and seemed to be more responsive. Both of these examples are on normally aspirated cars, where octane is probably a bit less important. On a turbo car, where low octane can cause detonation, it is just stupid to use less than the car is designed for.

posted by 63.87.133...

• Replacing 9000CSE???Maybe...., Wasabi, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:04:23
  • Cheap, cheap people......, onewhippedpuppy, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:47:48 <-- Viewing This Message
  • i wouldn't risk it unless you get verification..., aaron, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:19:22
    • There's a related thread on the 9-5 right now, Noel, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:30:52
      • there's this bit of info, i think this relates..., aaron, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:04:44
        • At higher altitudes doesn't, Wasabi, Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:09:46
        • more..., aaron, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:06:18
          • Makes lots of sense!, Noel, Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:54:23
  • Re: Replacing 9000CSE???Maybe...., Ari , Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:50:55
  • if this will be your wife's car,, geoguy , Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:35:41
    • Geoguy - question on your V70, Rod , Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:40:09
      • Re: Geoguy - question on your V70, Hux, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:23:25
      • V70R gets 21 mpg surburban, 25 to 27 highway, geoguy , Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:19:15
  • Re: Replacing 9000CSE???Maybe...., David Ingram, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:07:06
  • Re: Replacing 9000CSE???Maybe...., adamK, Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:05:58
    • Re: Replacing 9000CSE???Maybe...., jdlincoln , Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:31:58
      • my 2 cents on fuel octane at high altitude, Kerdika, Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:06:40

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