Higher octane ????

[CALDWELL]

hey boys... just had a weird thought today getting gas...


what would happen to my X if i filled it with 89 or 91 octane ???

its a random thought i had and wanted to share...

 

[IZwack]

You'll get 0.0032 MPG more due to a lighter wallet.

 

[CALDWELL]

what ? lighter wallet...

confused :scratch:

 

[edgar_88]

what ? lighter wallet...

confused :scratch:

higher octane = more $$$$$

i dont know how the octane level effects a car, but i do know that Chevron burns a HELL of a lot slower than Arco! I noticed when i started working 30miles away. Never really cracked actual numbers, but on average arco lasted me 4 days, and Chevron lasted the whole 7 day week....

 

[solitary ogre]

on average i get 50 kilometers (30 miles) more from a tank of fuel using 92 octane (Chevron) over using 87 octane. no difference in power but with freezing temps. it defiantly idles nicer in the morning. 94 octane doesn't seem to make any difference over 92. the extended distance doesn't offset extra cost to operate with the higher 92 octane fuel but knowing i'm emitting less fumes by going farther on the same amount of fuel makes it seem better. ('91 ex. m5OD, 3.73, 235/75x15)
i have had similar results with my '88 bll (2.9L, 5spd, 4.10, 235/75x15), over the last 20 years, so it's not just a few tanks of fuel. i'm talking hundreds of tanks of fuel in that vehicle.

 

[shadowless127]

higher octane = more $$$$$

i dont know how the octane level effects a car, but i do know that Chevron burns a HELL of a lot slower than Arco! I noticed when i started working 30miles away. Never really cracked actual numbers, but on average arco lasted me 4 days, and Chevron lasted the whole 7 day week....

Gulf seems to burn rather fast in my Mounty.

My usual gas station switched from an Exxon to a Gulf and everytime I fill up there and at the Gulf by work my gas mileage sucks. If I fill up at Citgo, the mounty runs a tiny bit rougher, but it gets better MPG's. Best combination I've found is Mobil/Exxon; no idle change and seems to yeild the best MPG.

 

[CALDWELL]

i was just curious so i figured i could ask... i dont plan on changing my fuel, but again i was curious...

 

[zerodevil]

Unless your motor is programed for the increased Octane, it would just be waisted Octane.

 

[celly]

Unless your motor is programed for the increased Octane, it would just be waisted Octane.

What he said.

I've got mine tuned to benefit from the higher octane via an SCT flasher. Otherwise high test does nothing for you.

 

[Limited02]

I agree with zerodevil, but I will say that I run 91 sometimes and the ex does seems to run stronger and smoother when compared to 87. Gas mileage seems to be up by at least 1mpg. It could be all in my head though.

 

[Uafan]

It's pointless. Not sure about Explorers, but in my spec-v, 93 octane actually did worse for the car, because it was meant for 87

 

[unclemeat]

Gas myths are common. 95% of americans have no control of the brand of gas they buy. You buy whatever comes in the pipeline. The sign out front is meaningless.

In many major metropolitian areas, ozone nonatainment areas as designated by the USEPA, can only sell reformulated gas. It typically gets 10% less mileage and costs $0.10 per gallon more. You can tess because they have stage 2 vapor recovery systems on the pumps, (the plastic or rubber things over the nozzle).

Higher octane on a stock 87-octane vehicle will only drain your wallet and increase air pollution.

 

[Shen2187]

^^^^^ X2 I've tried them all. Albertson's 87 lasts the longest for me for whatever reason. But since it's across town I usually fill up at 76 or Pilot.

 

[JDraper]

For those that think a higher octane fuel means that the fuel has more energy in it, you're wrong. The higher the octane #, the SLOWER the fuel burns to prevent detonation. The reason high performance cars use higher octane is because it allows the timing curve to be advanced more without detonation, and it allows a motor to be built with a higher compression ratio.

As has been stated above, using a higher octane fuel in a motor that is not calibrated to use it does nothing but put a bigger hole in your wallet.

 

[DeRocha]

See the link below for common myths associated with octane.

Click here for Octane Myths & Facts

 

[86EXPLORER86]

i have used up to 108 in my ex

22 gallons costly but she ran like a champ

 

[1_v8_merc]

High octane is a complete waste.

I used to run 91 in my mustang and the car ran like CRAP....once i switched back to 87 it felt Faster and drove and held Idle so much better.

Fuel is fuel.......hell you could literally dump jack daniels or grain alcohol in the gas tank and the car would run off of that!
But it AINT gonna like it!!!(and alcohol produces way less heat than gasoline)

But you can actually use grain alcohol to clean your gas tank and fuel lines,injectors.....but i'd only recommend that on an older carburator or oldschool fuel injection car.



But i believe all explorers and mountaineer's Owners Manual STATES to use only 87 Octane or as Close as you can get to that.


Higher Octanes are ONLY needed if you're running a Supercharger or Turbo which requires the retarded timing that high octane provides.

I have a 5 gallon jug with 110 LL gas sitting outside,lol, i used to get all the free airplane gas i wanted.

 

[stiltner1972]

ok so how come my owners manual says 87 unleaded but my valves rattle and ping terriable unless i run 93?

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

ok so how come my owners manual says 87 unleaded but my valves rattle and ping terriable unless i run 93?

Because the higher octane is compensating for another issue. A cheap place to start is a can of seafoam and a tune up.

 

[HiImBrian]

Because the higher octane is compensating for another issue. A cheap place to start is a can of seafoam and a tune up.

Yeah, A cheap and FUN place.....