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Re: Lower Octane causes high fuel consumption ? Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Tue, 9 Jan 2001 09:41:05
In Reply to: Lower Octane causes high fuel consumption ?, WP9KT, Mon, 8 Jan 2001 22:04:00 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Your car should run fine on 87 octane (US measuring methods). It may have reduced performance - less boost, and a general sluggish feel. As to the bad smell, I concur with the others - probably a lower quality fuel containing more sulfur - find a different station.
The Saab engine is designed to run on 87 octane without damage. So unless your car has really wicked carbon buildup in the cylinders, or the spark plugs are really shot, you should be fine. So don't sweat damaging the engine.
As to lower fuel mileage, if you're getting reduced boost, yes, mileage can be lower. A turbo engine under boost is pretty efficient in terms of the horsepower you're getting per unit fuel. If you're trying to get the same performance as with higher octane fuel with less boost, you'll be running at larger throttle openings, higer RPM, in general thrashing the engine more. If you take an underpowered car and thrash it trying to go fast, you'll get worse mileage than a higher powered car being driven conservatively.
Every engine is different. Increase the octane of the fuel you use until you get the performance you want. Any higher octane is wasting money. Any lower octane is wasting your time - you bought the car for a reason, and if you can't enjoy the time you spend in a car, then walk. Try and keep to brand name fuel. I don't claim Exxon is better than Mobil (aren't they the same now), but at least you have a better chance of getting decent fuel. Mom & Pop quikie-gas places get fuel from whereever the tanker comes by, and can be pretty low quality. That's not to say you can't get good gas from the Slurp-And-Go down the street, and a bad tank from the nice clean Major Brand station, but the chances are better you'll get good gas at the name brand store.
Good luck!
, Tue, 9 Jan 2001 09:41:05 <-- Viewing This Message
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