What octane do you put in your 8?
Thread Starter
MasterBay 8 Original
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara, CA
What octane do you put in your 8?
So ive been hearing alot of things regarding fuel octane and mileage. What does everyone fill their 8 with on a regular basis?
Does it matter if im doing all highway driving on a low octane fuel?
Trying to get some ideas on whats good and whats bad for my car.
When I lived in MN we had a few stations that had 93 octane and call me crazy but i noticed i had alot more power on 93 and 92 than i do down here in cali with 91.
Whats everyones opinions
Does it matter if im doing all highway driving on a low octane fuel?
Trying to get some ideas on whats good and whats bad for my car.
When I lived in MN we had a few stations that had 93 octane and call me crazy but i noticed i had alot more power on 93 and 92 than i do down here in cali with 91.
Whats everyones opinions
the more things change
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
yes you get more power with the higher octane.
now on the other hand my car gets a steady diet of
the cheap stuff. call me cheap, but i only use the good stuff
when i feel like she needs to be cleaned out so to speak.
there are others that only use the factory recommened
93 octane. and they'll also say i'm killing my car by using
the cheap stuff. but i'm in over three years with this car
and no problems...
now on the other hand my car gets a steady diet of
the cheap stuff. call me cheap, but i only use the good stuff
when i feel like she needs to be cleaned out so to speak.
there are others that only use the factory recommened
93 octane. and they'll also say i'm killing my car by using
the cheap stuff. but i'm in over three years with this car
and no problems...
Surf Hard, Drive Hard
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 13
From: Indialantic, Florida
That's pretty good, but I will come close to that with 93. I probably average right around 230, but I never let it get very much beyond the light coming on(if that) and then fill it. Also, if your on the highway more, you'll probably get better....around town less. Just as you'd expect.
For our cars, more power lower octane, better gas millage higher octane. The higher the octane the slower the gas burns, and like I said in the other thread, if our cars aren't' tuned for anything higher 93, it won't do anything but put a hole in your wallet.
I think there is a thread in the rx8 discussion about octane. Careful the thread police might get you for creating a new thread about this.
I think there is a thread in the rx8 discussion about octane. Careful the thread police might get you for creating a new thread about this.
riding in my 04 in LA
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles Cali.
I do about 275hwy per tank with Mobil 1 91 octane
I think if you use lower octane it will give you something similar as if you were to use 91 from Arco (240hwy)
Say NO to cheap fuel
I think if you use lower octane it will give you something similar as if you were to use 91 from Arco (240hwy)
Say NO to cheap fuel
13BEAST
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Union City, CA
octane doesn't have anything to do with "power" it's just the volatiliy rating of the gasoline. the higher the number, the higher temp it requires to burn, preventing detonation. that is the reason why honda motors would experience lower performance on lower octane rating, maybe even pinging/knocking.
for the rx8, there is basically no effect on the performace or gas mileage with what octane rating we use, as previously discussed on dozens of threads. there are rx8 owners that have been using 87 since they bought the car and have encountered no performance problems.
but, the manual says to use 91 or higher so that's what i use. i've put 87 and 89 a couple of times "just to see" what the difference is and it was pretty much the same.
for the rx8, there is basically no effect on the performace or gas mileage with what octane rating we use, as previously discussed on dozens of threads. there are rx8 owners that have been using 87 since they bought the car and have encountered no performance problems.
but, the manual says to use 91 or higher so that's what i use. i've put 87 and 89 a couple of times "just to see" what the difference is and it was pretty much the same.
I don't remember
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
Partially, but bold statements only covering one aspect of many is only clouding the issue and confuses other people when octane is but a small part of the story. But I'm not going into whats been covered in many threads.
I don't remember
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
What I'm trying to get across is confusing higher octane against the ability of the fuel to burn. Premium grades of fuel often contain more energy due to it's makeup. Our wonderful ethanol blends tend to ruin this by giving higher octane ratings with a lower energy content. Also, not all fuels are created equal, just look at how many people on this forum alone swear by Shell fuel. The wife and I have both taken the 8 to Texas and after filling up with Shell 93 our highway mpg has gone from 23 mpg to 25 mpg going home "we only have 91 octane fuel here" Go Figure
⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,625
Likes: 5
From: USA
You should get better fuel economy with the lower octane fuel. You *MIGHT* have some reduced power, if your car detects knock and pulls timing. Most of us will have no issues with 87.
Last edited by mysql101; Sep 14, 2007 at 09:47 AM.
octane doesn't have anything to do with "power" it's just the volatiliy rating of the gasoline. the higher the number, the higher temp it requires to burn, preventing detonation. that is the reason why honda motors would experience lower performance on lower octane rating, maybe even pinging/knocking.
for the rx8, there is basically no effect on the performace or gas mileage with what octane rating we use, as previously discussed on dozens of threads. there are rx8 owners that have been using 87 since they bought the car and have encountered no performance problems.
but, the manual says to use 91 or higher so that's what i use. i've put 87 and 89 a couple of times "just to see" what the difference is and it was pretty much the same.
for the rx8, there is basically no effect on the performace or gas mileage with what octane rating we use, as previously discussed on dozens of threads. there are rx8 owners that have been using 87 since they bought the car and have encountered no performance problems.
but, the manual says to use 91 or higher so that's what i use. i've put 87 and 89 a couple of times "just to see" what the difference is and it was pretty much the same.
Once Again..
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, CA
the reason they do this is cause the motor takes more detonation, as they call it. using different octanes really doesent matter to me, the higher octane burns cleaner as the lower does not..have you ever seen your plugs after 3000mi. using 87? i've seen some f'ed up ones..that really blow my mind..as oposed to the 93rx7 where they only use 91 there spark plugs are alot better..i've done a few 8's and they seem to be the same as the 93's but i havent seen anything hardcore.
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