How many use premium fuel and why?

[swathdiver]

Swathdiver did the math for you right there, it costs .015 cents a mile more to run "premium" fuel.

Incorrect, this is what I wrote:

That .015 is a tenth and a half of a penny per mile folks.

 

[08grey]

Run 93. If your lucky your actually getting 93 after tank moisture n other factors, no question here. Predetonation over time can kill a motor. Don't add octane boosters ever unless you want to clog your cats.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[01SLE]

So, as for me and my house, do I think paying an extra .015 cents a mile (premium over regular) is worth the better quality fuel and all of its benefits?

How am I incorrect? There's a direct quote.

You are incorrect, sir: It is not a better quality fuel and there are ZERO benifits.

 

[CMoore711]

I think it is important to note and clarify that there are multiple responses to this thread from various owners that have vehicles with different drivetrains (specifically engine) each with their own fuel recommendations from the manufacturer.

The 5.3L Ecotec3 L83 engine typically paired with the 6-speed 6L80/90E transmission has different recommended fuel than the 6.2L Ecotec3 L86 engine that is paired with the 8L90E.

It would be more beneficial to all for those providing input/feedback to clarify their vehicle model and year and/or engine size and transmission. That is all... Carry on!

 

[swathdiver]

I think it is important to note and clarify that there are multiple responses to this thread from various owners that have vehicles with different drivetrains (specifically engine) each with their own fuel recommendations from the manufacturer.

The point of my post was to point out that after thirty years of driving near as many autos, premium fuel always allowed them all to perform better than the cheap gas irregardless of the manufacturer's recommendations.

If any of you fellas drive a pretty routine schedule between fill ups, try it out sometime. Run a tank of Top-Tier 93 octane from Exxon/Mobil or Sunoco and for the next tank go to Sam's Club or Racetrac and choose their 87 octane. Reset your computers and save the receipts and post the results. It'll take some time for many to do this.

 

[cardude2000]

If any of you fellas drive a pretty routine schedule between fill ups, try it out sometime. Run a tank of Top-Tier 93 octane from Exxon/Mobil or Sunoco and for the next tank go to Sam's Club or Racetrac and choose their 87 octane. Reset your computers and save the receipts and post the results. It'll take some time for many to do this.

Unfortunately this process introduces the human element and confirmation bias. If people want to believe they get better gas mileage with 93, guess what, they will. By driving more carefully...Even if they arent doing it consciously. The car & driver article below does some dyno testing to help compensate for the 'human element'.

Every article I've seem concludes that premium is important when called for (higher compression engines) but outside of that is a waste of money. UNLESS (as you note) you move to MUCH higher octane. Like, above 96 (as you noted). In those situations they conclude that maybe efficiency gains of 3-6% could be seen. So maybe, up to 1MPG real world increase on a Tahoe/Yukon if you use racing fuel. And on the flip side, using low grade fuel when an engine calls for high grade fuel can degrade performance materially.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/regular-or-premium-test-results-page-2

https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/...umer-Reports-takes-on-alleged-gas-saving-tips

http://www.cartalk.com/content/premium-vs-regular-0

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...gher-octane-fuel-could-add-mpg-sae-panel-says

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

 

[swathdiver]

The Car and Driver article proves my point. However, they did a one time test, not for months or years and with varying brands and octane ratings within brands.

Had a company F-150 with a 302 that we fueled at CITGO with 87 until my boss learned that it was ****** gas fueling Hugo Chavez's socialist utopian dreams. So he switched us over to Exxon/Mobil and still insisted on running 87 octane. The truck still picked up 1-2 mpg on average switching to a top tier fuel. This was a truck that I started up at 0530 and shut off a 1730 running the same route each week. It averaged 10-11mpg with Citgo and a solid 12mpg with Exxon. It would get 13 or 14 when accidently filling it up with 93. ;-)

 

[08HoeCD]

My owners manual calls for 87 octane so that's all I used to run.

Then BB Performance mentioned on thread on here that the 5.3 runs a compression that benefits from 89 octane minimum.

Then, with 89 octane in my tank, Justin from BB Performance pinging noticed during my in-person tune.

Justin knows and can measure way more than I can know/measure. I now run 93 octane all the time.

 

[Danny3737]

What octane is recommended for my flux capacitor? I have a race with Big Chief at OKC coming up soon. I plan on towing my trailer during the race to level the playing field.