Another fuel question...

[BLUE89TURBO]

Hey guys,

Just got my Talon. I just filled her up with Premium but noticed that the dash and the fuel door simply say "unleaded fuel only" - there is no mention of Premium fuel.

I know that everyone says you need to run Premium, but why would the manufacturer not label that on the car then...

Can someone explain?

Thanks.

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

If you have a turbo car you need to use the highest octane unleaded fuel you can find.

 

[kicknurass4fun]

Only run premium in a turbo car. Funny, on the gas gauge in my car it says premium unleaded fuel only,and I looked at my buddies car (same year) and it says unleaded gas only.

 

[BLUE89TURBO]

Funny, on the gas gauge in my car it says premium unleaded fuel only,and I looked at my buddies car (same year) and it says unleaded gas only.

That's what I was saying, my car just says unleaded fuel too.

My Supra Turbo - doesnt mention premium either.

 

[CanadianTSi]

You live in Canada, fill up at Sunoco. That is all.

 

[kicknurass4fun]

I wish i had sunco stations by me!!! I can still get their race fuel (104 gt plus) but it is like 6 bucks a gallon.

 

[femmeDSM]

All cars, especially from the late '70s to early '90s say "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY", usually in several places in the car. This is because car manufacturers switched to unleaded in the early to mid '70s, but you were still able to buy leaded gas for many years after that. Leaded gas in an "Unleaded Only" car will ruin the catalytic converter, among other things, but people still tried to use it in Unleaded Only cars because it was cheaper.

That was a bit of pointless history for you....

To answer your question though, I personally use 93, but technically speaking, you should use the lowest octane you can without getting detonation. Using higher octane than you technically need can't hurt anything at all, but it doesn't do anything to "help" your car, contrary to what some people seem to believe.

Just try a mid-grade (89 or 91, depending on where you live), and see if you get detonation. If you do, you'll need to upgrade. If not, you're safe to continue with the mid.

 

[JDNSBR]

To answer your question though, I personally use 93, but technically speaking, you should use the lowest octane you can without getting detonation. )

Ok...We have 5 to 15 year old cars. Why would you give someone the advice to run a low octane fuel to see if they get detonation and then upgrade if they do??? WTF

Run 92 at the minimum but if you are near a Sunoco I suggest 94. Keep it well tuned with this gas and you should not have any problems.

 

[femmeDSM]

Ok...We have 5 to 15 year old cars. Why would you give someone the advice to run a low octane fuel to see if they get detonation and then upgrade if they do??? WTF

That's why I said "Technically Speaking". As in, as a general rule, this is an acceptable procedure. Obviously, if you don't know the car or its history, or if it has always used 93+ octane, I would recommend high grade.

The main point of my post was to illustrate that putting 93 octane gas in a car that doesn't require it is not beneficial in any way.

 

[Quasimondo]

...but technically speaking, you should use the lowest octane you can without getting detonation....

The lowest octane you can go without getting detonation is 91, and even that is pushing the limits. If you use 87 octane, you'll ping like crazy. If you use 89 octane, you'll ping like crazy. I've had attendants give me the wrong stuff before, and at partial throttle, pushing 9-10 psi, I was getting 20+ counts.

 

[femmeDSM]

The lowest octane you can go without getting detonation is 91, and even that is pushing the limits. If you use 87 octane, you'll ping like crazy. If you use 89 octane, you'll ping like crazy. I've had attendants give me the wrong stuff before, and at partial throttle, pushing 9-10 psi, I was getting 20+ counts.

True. Mid grade is 91 in my neck of the woods.....When I lived in Oklahoma, there was no such thing as 93, and 91 was super-premium......My old GS-T knocked like crazy with it. The only thing higher than 91 was 101 at a gas station way out of town......So my GS-T got spoiled on 101 octane. .

 

[JDNSBR]

That's why I said "Technically Speaking". As in, as a general rule, this is an acceptable procedure. Obviously, if you don't know the car or its history, or if it has always used 93+ octane, I would recommend high grade.

The main point of my post was to illustrate that putting 93 octane gas in a car that doesn't require it is not beneficial in any way.

If you do not use a high grade fuel in turbo cars you are asking for problems. Hence the reason the owners manual states to use premium fuel. As far as car history, I know of very few people who have bought their DSM brand new.

 

[femmeDSM]

If you do not use a high grade fuel in turbo cars you are asking for problems. Hence the reason the owners manual states to use premium fuel. As far as car history, I know of very few people who have bought their DSM brand new.

Likewise, very few people who have bought DSMs have an original owners manual.




You are correct, though. haha.

 

[JDNSBR]

I am sure that came off as mean and did not mean it to. I just don't want the kid to hurt his car.

 

[femmeDSM]

I am sure that came off as mean and did not mean it to. I just don't want the kid to hurt his car.