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      08-04-2015, 04:28 PM   #1
dmkdrum
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Premium gar vs. regular: What's really better for your car?

came across this. how much truth is there behind all this? this is not the first time i've heard this. does the M4 really need premium?

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      08-04-2015, 04:38 PM   #2
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Our cars have octane and knock adaptations.....our cars will lose performance if you use a lower octane but it will run fine.
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      08-04-2015, 04:43 PM   #3
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Of course it does. It's pushing close to 450 HP out of a 3 liter 6, running up to 18 psi stock. You think regular gas fits into this equation in some manner? Nope.
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      08-04-2015, 05:14 PM   #4
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Isn't this a given? Wait, is this is a thread?
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      08-04-2015, 05:17 PM   #5
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Wouldn't you want your high performance ~$70k+ vehicle running as optimally as possible? I mean sure you can put 87 octane in your M4 since the car is smart enough to sort it all out but you really shouldn't. California gasoline is bad enough as it is. Our 91 is nowhere near the quality of 91 in other states. So that means our 87 is probably even worse than that.
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      08-04-2015, 05:32 PM   #6
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I hope you're not choosing to run 87 octane based on cost savings...we're talking about a difference of $2 for 16 gallons based on a $.13 per gallon difference.
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      08-04-2015, 06:05 PM   #7
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What kind of crap is this? The answer is so obvious.

In a regular car that is designed for 87 octane, you can run 87 octane fine. Premium is not necessary.

But in a car that REQUIRES 91 octane minimum, I wouldn't run anything less. You lose performance even on 91 octane... on 87 your car will run like crap and you'll lose a lot of performance and gas mileage.


They should run the same test using 87 octane on the M3. Then see how shitty it runs and watch the engine blow up when they floor it.
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      08-04-2015, 06:12 PM   #8
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yeah it would have been nice to see this test done on a car that says it requires a minimum on 91. i would imagine they wouldn't require this is they didn't test it. interesting none-the-less. i remember hearing something about this like 15 years ago too. there was a 20/20 report on this.
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      08-04-2015, 08:04 PM   #9
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I saw a video that said vaccines cause health risks. Must be true.
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      08-04-2015, 08:11 PM   #10
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Dumbest thread ever
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      08-04-2015, 08:25 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris s View Post
Dumbest thread ever
I'm new here but I agree. Why bother with 87. I've been told from others much smarter then me that you get better overall gas mileage with premium. Who knows. just use premium and be happy you can.
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      08-05-2015, 12:48 AM   #12
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not quite sure why some of you think this is such a dumb thread? it's a legit question. especially when testing shows no difference.
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      08-05-2015, 12:49 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by USC2000 View Post
I saw a video that said vaccines cause health risks. Must be true.
you don't think the testing they did was accurate?
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      08-05-2015, 06:24 AM   #14
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Guy will be possibly owning an M4 but is worried about spending a few extra dollars on gas. Your car bro, do what you want.
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      08-05-2015, 06:31 AM   #15
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Now what do the egineers at BMW say (you know the people that built the engine and did the research)

Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
> 328i/xDrive: 87
> 335i, 335i/xDrive: 89.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rating,
the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the specified
minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differences
in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels containing
up to and including 10Ξ ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8Ξ oxygen by weight,
that is, 15Ξ MTBE or 3Ξ methanol plus an
equivalent amount of cosolvent, will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to defects in
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
drivability, starting and stalling problems
especially under certain environmental conditions
such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter drivability problems
which you suspect could be related to the fuel
you are using, we recommend that you respond
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.


So if you have a turbo charged BMW they HIGHLY suggest you don't use anything under 89 octane.

Last edited by Delta0311; 08-05-2015 at 07:29 AM..
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      08-05-2015, 07:27 AM   #16
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again with this...dumbest thing I have seen in a while...
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      08-05-2015, 07:48 AM   #17
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That low octane gas is going to love the high temperature environment of a forced induction system. Absolutely love it.

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      08-05-2015, 07:49 AM   #18
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What's next? A report on which penis enlargement pills work?
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      08-05-2015, 07:52 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
What's next? A report on which penis enlargement pills work?
This one WEIRD TRICK has mechanics and auto engineers stumped, and the gas industry is FURIOUS! Check it out!

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      08-05-2015, 07:57 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
This one WEIRD TRICK has mechanics and auto engineers stumped, and the gas industry is FURIOUS! Check it out!

I heard that peeing in your gas tank boost octane.
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      08-05-2015, 08:06 AM   #21
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It's not a legit question because you're comparing apples to oranges. The test car is a Chevy Cruze which takes regular 87 octane. They're just proving that going over the minimum of 87 doesn't make any performance difference which is true. Lots of people think that premium gasoline is better and so if they put it in a car that takes regular, it must be helping. That's obviously not true and the video proves that.

An M4 requires premium, that's what it was designed for. If you use a lower octane, you will lose power because it will knock and the engine is going to cut power to prevent damage. Going to a higher octane than premium such as 98 isn't going to give you more power unless you tune for it.

Putting regular in an M4 would be like finding 82 octane gasoline for the Cruze in the test video, it's going to cost power. But going over the recommended octane doesn't add power.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmkdrum View Post
not quite sure why some of you think this is such a dumb thread? it's a legit question. especially when testing shows no difference.
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      08-05-2015, 08:08 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Delta0311 View Post
Guy will be possibly owning an M4 but is worried about spending a few extra dollars on gas. Your car bro, do what you want.
He'll also be asking what the best cheap tire is.
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