Most newer cars that require premium gas will actually run decently on regular. The engine computer can detect the change in octane level and adjust the timing and ignition settings to compensate. However, since these engines weren’t designed to run regular gas, their efficiency and performance suffers. In most cases, the few bucks that you save by skimping on premium is more than made up for by the fact that your gas mileage drops in half.
The feature is there basically for emergency situations: i.e. you’re stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and the only gas station within 100 miles is out of everything but 87.
For cars that don’t require premium, it is a complete waste of money. For a while now, Congress has been talking about passing laws that make it illegal for gas companies to market premium gas as somehow “better” than regular. The only reason it is more expensive is that the refining process for premium involves more steps.
That’s very odd, since I had (just sold) an 97 SW2 and my owners manual said 87 octane. Which engine do you have? I’ve never heard of a Saturn recommending anything but 87 octane.
There are many cars that require 91 octane. The SVT is a turbo car and thus has a high compression ratio. My Matrix and the Toyota Celica (XRS/GTS) both also require 91 as they are high compression engines. AFAIK all Turbo cars require premium.
Add to that the Volvo V70 wagon, which requires 91 octane and the VW Passat GLX (V6, not even the W8!)
Based on our recent car shopping experience. We bought the Passat, so now we have to pay a $0.10 CDN premium per liter! :mad:
In case you’re wondering why we bought it despite this, there are a number of reasons, but in short it was the 4 WD Wagon we disliked the least from those we tried…
:smack: Okay, I’m obviously a moron. The owner’s manual does say 87 octane. I don’t know why I spent nearly eight years thinking I was supposed to use 89.
Feel free to ignore me from now on.
AFAIK, all Passats require 91. I have the GLS with the 1.8T, and it requires it. Any VW car with the 1.8T engine needs it, and they use that engine in many of their models…
Another former Saturn owner checking in here. Well, actually it was my wife’s car, a 92 Saturn SL2. She noticed in the summer when she had the AC running that the car seemed more sluggish, and swears that putting mid-grade gasoline in the tank made the engine run better when the AC was on. In non-AC-intensive weather she used regular unleaded.
Also, round these parts it seems like the mid-grade gasoline is usually the 10% ethanol blend. Seems like I remember hearing somewhere (Car Talk?) that the ethanol has a tendency to dry out rubber parts like hoses and gaskets and stuff.
Some have advised listening for pinging (and knocking) as a guide for which octane you need. Hmmm, a little caution here might be a good idea. You might not be able to hear these sounds, especially in a higher end car and especially if your ears are muffled by the desire to save money.
Pinging is Bad For Your Engine, period. Pinging is pre-ignition, which blows holes in pistons if not corrected. The sound is an explosion that occurs on the upstroke of the piston. If your engine pings during normal driving, or at all in most newer cars, and you are using the reccommended octane, there’s something wrong.
I doubt that car manufacturers get a kickback from oil companies, so there’s little incentive for them to fool you into using a higher octane than your car needs.
Bottom line; know what the cost is before you buy and buy a car you can afford to drive.
Yeah, right.
