High octane? Really?
05-05-2011, 04:49 AM
#11
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My friend, one day you will be on your way home with your wife, have to pull your car off the side of the road, probably raining or -30 below and 100 miles from anywhere Sunday at midnight. You are f***ed, and the wife will tell you about it for a very long time. You later find out you put a hole in your piston or a valve that got stuck from the crud buildup from the lack of using higher tier gasolines. Too lengthy to explain here but when you get a mechanics bill for about $3-$5k for being cheap the wife will NEVER ever let you forget or maybe girlfriend and your friends will laugh there buns off at your expen$e. It is not worth the risk in my opinion.
Please don't say it won't happen to me, because it does happen and it is just a matter of when.......
Please don't say it won't happen to me, because it does happen and it is just a matter of when.......
05-11-2011, 07:39 AM
#14
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By the way, watch out for the "el cheapo" gas (including costco, bj's, etc). Often they do not have a good additive package and they scrimp on detergents leading to clogged fuel injectors over time. Stick to the name brands (they have reputations for quality and want to uphold them).
05-13-2011, 06:42 AM
#15
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Most people just don't really understand how this works, so the standard forum response is to just use the recommended octane. Fact of the matter is that all car manufacturers know that there will always be some people who use the cheaper 87 octane fuel, so they have to ensure that no engine damage will occur since they have to warranty the drivetrain. Think about it...
05-13-2011, 07:54 AM
#16
AudiWorld Super User
Retarded timing = reduced efficiency = reduced fuel economy = loss of perceived savings at the pump 
05-13-2011, 07:57 AM
#17
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Good luck with the new car!
05-13-2011, 12:01 PM
#18
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Besides, the ONLY time the engine will experience retarded timing is when knock occurs. And with low octane fuel, the engine will only have the potential to knock under heavy load at wide open throttle. Considering the fact that is likely to be a very rare occurrance, I'd say that there should be zero concerns about reduced fuel economy even if what you are saying is true. Nobody drives around wide open throttle all the time...
05-14-2011, 04:52 AM
#20
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It depends on how much the ignition timing is retarded by the ECU. If it is not retarded at all, no performance is lost. If it is retarded quite a bit (to eliminate knock), then the engine can typically lose up to 8 to 10 percent of it's peak horsepower. In most cases (but not all), the engine would have to be under wide open throttle in order to cause the ignition timing to be retarded and the engine to lose power. Keep in mind that once the knock is gone, the ignition timing will return back to normal and the engine will once again be making full power.
Last edited by Beakerz; 05-14-2011 at 04:54 AM.