zeitgeist57 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-feature/a28565486/honda-cr-v-vs-bmw-m5-ford-f-150-dodge-charger/ This article is timely, as I just took delivery of a 2.0T Lincoln MKC as a company vehicle. Strict company fuel-card policy of 87 octane only. Is there any issue with the car's performance on regular gas? Largely, no difference according to the data for new vehicles. We all know that good gas is important, and butt-dyno benefits of 93 octane feels good, especially with OLDER cars where the computer isn't super-reactive to timing changes and fuel maps. Intadesting stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 does your MKC allow for 87 fuel? or is it requiring 93? I haven't seen a turbo car that didn't require 93 octane at all times. I think this test is kinda dumb. The question isn't do you see a benefit in a car designed for 87 running on higher octane, it's - what long term damage are you doing running a car recommended for 93 by running on 87? Most modern cars will pull timing to keep the engines from pinging, but how effective is that? long term is it wearing holes in the pistons? ruining plugs? burning cats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 does your MKC allow for 87 fuel? or is it requiring 93? I haven't seen a turbo car that didn't require 93 octane at all times. I think this test is kinda dumb. The question isn't do you see a benefit in a car designed for 87 running on higher octane, it's - what long term damage are you doing running a car recommended for 93 by running on 87? Most modern cars will pull timing to keep the engines from pinging, but how effective is that? long term is it wearing holes in the pistons? ruining plugs? burning cats? At least with the Fords, they say you can run 87 in pretty much anything but the high performance stuff. Escapes, Fusions, F-150s, etc. can all be run on the lower grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excell Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) In my F150 (2.7l tt) I definitely notice a difference in 87 vs 93. The manual says I can safely run 87 but that "best performance" or some such happens with premium. I mean, duh of course -- heavy truck with a tiny boosted motor. But I definitely notice the difference, so much so, that I just run 93 all the time. Edited August 5, 2019 by excell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace1647545504 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 The wife's 5 says 93 and that's what we run..my maxima says 91 so at times,i fill it with 93 let just before 1/2 and fill it with 89 when gas is crazy. To me it seems to get better mileage with the 93 so I don't do this very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10phone2 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 my g35 I can run 89 octane any months outside June-August. During those months and it will low key ping if its not 92/93 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) GM’s little 1.5 and 1.4 turbo engines in the Malibu and Cruze (new stuff 2016 and up), claim 87 octane. I’ve also put a dozen or so sets of pistons in them. The big brother 2.0l turbo that’s basically the same engine requires premium. Can’t speak for Ford but GM runs these things lean anyway. Relying on the knock sensor to pull timing when gasoline is subpar or things get pushed is just stupid in my opinion. I suggest to people all the time to run at least 89 if they plan to keep the car. The lease returns and trade ins after the warranty runs out will likely be junk. This article is a little misleading. ECMs (at least the cars I’ve delt with, even late model GMs) have an ignition timing table and logic to pull timing when the knock sensor picks up on it, typically a low timing table is used for the ECM to interpolate between when the knock sensors are reacting. Saying that it adds timing until it sees knock then corrects is bullshit. As a car enthusiast who takes care of his personal stuff using good fuel to prevent it in the first place is ideal. Unfortunately the average person is ill informed or simply doesn’t care and in a world where mileage and emission standards are king many of these engines will not last long term. Edited August 5, 2019 by Cordell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coltboostin Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 Who cares about the gas- Did you see what the M5 Dyno'd? Lawd- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted August 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 does your MKC allow for 87 fuel? or is it requiring 93? I haven't seen a turbo car that didn't require 93 octane at all times. I think this test is kinda dumb. The question isn't do you see a benefit in a car designed for 87 running on higher octane, it's - what long term damage are you doing running a car recommended for 93 by running on 87? Most modern cars will pull timing to keep the engines from pinging, but how effective is that? long term is it wearing holes in the pistons? ruining plugs? burning cats? It’s running fine on 87. Longevity is definitely a concern, except I turn in the MKC at around 70k miles anyway so neither I nor the fleet management company ultimately give a shit about the car once it goes to auction. True - for personal cars that are designed for higher octane...you should run the recommended fuel if you want to see 150k+ miles, me thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 This FJ Cruiser says right on the fuel door to run premium. Toyota later did a release saying that was only because that was the fuel used to get the MPG numbers but 87 is fine. I still have run premium to this day. I think every new car is smart enough to compensate for octane, but the owner may not be smart enough to not give it absolute hell while running shitty fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dammit Charlie Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 Who cares about the gas- Did you see what the M5 Dyno'd? Lawd- Right? That damn thing is a rocketship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckeyeROC Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 Who cares about the gas- Did you see what the M5 Dyno'd? Lawd- http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/vqGeMsr.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC K9 Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 90% of the time I run 87 in my 2011 3.5L Ecobootht F150. Been this way since 2011. A little better performance during the hotter months with 93, but not usually enough for me to spend the extra dough. If this was 2005 when 93 was $.20/gal more than 87, sure, i'd run that every time. Not when it's $.60/gal more though. I just don't feel I see the return on investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 it's a company car..........flog the hell out of it and don't look back. it will be covered under warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirks5oh Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 bimmer is nutso. can't imagine that beast with downpipes, race tune, and a drag setup. could be looking at 9's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharris89 Posted August 6, 2019 Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 My 99 Acura TL said premium on the gas tank lid but I always used 87. It was still running fine at 200k when I got rid of it. I know cars are a lot different now. When I was looking a few years back I avoided any car that was premium only. Since my cars are boring it wasn’t a big deal. I do put premium in the Firebird but not in the Jeep or hondas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted August 7, 2019 Report Share Posted August 7, 2019 My lawn mower runs on premium ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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