No surprise there . The MDX is 'rated for' - 'recommends' " premium " the Vue is rated - recommends 87 - regular .
While you share most of the same basic engine architecture as the MDX , you do not share the exact same configuration and in this case those differences matter .
The only point here is it would be inaccurate to extrapolate from the MDX to the VUE in regards to best octane to use .
I don't doubt your butt dyno observations in the least - but they are due to some other factor or combination of factors and explanations rather than your observation concerning the MDX -ie that observation is just N/A - all but useless in regards to the VUE .
That said , and arbitarily limiting the side discussion but with all the information provided here on this specific application in this specific environment and with the specific historic and recent 'observations' in mind , the best technical comment here so far is G -Mans -
"balony"
Since we are really just shooting the breeze here without any real concern for accuracy , efficiency or the use of inuenendo and really a type of indirect 'slander' - here is another unsubstantiated post thats probably at least a little more 'accurate' .
Its a very fine powertrain with a well designed and more than reasonably robust fuel system .
Chevron is a Top Tier - tier 'one' fuel 'provider' with a more than adequate to better than most record - in regards to overall fuel quality - including delivered .
Saturn Dealers rate out well enough to excellent on service provision .
Ditto the all the above on the GM fuel products described here .
So heres the unsubstianted guess that I'd be working from .
The powertrain (Honda/Saturn) , the fuel(Chevron/local station - fuel delivery system) , the Saturn Dealer and their personal , and the GM fuel products all worked as advertised - did their job and in the case of the Saturn Dealer worth noting - did it honestly .
Gee , did I leave anything out ? YEP - more than some of you think, - given how some (late correction) of you shoot from the hip - w/o even getting your piece out of the holster.
Gee Auntie Em , does the owners manual mention anything about the indiscriminate use of fuel treatment products and how they feel about that and the likely outcome ?
(Careful , there are two main aspects to this - we are concerned here with just one . )
TS ,one thing I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned here - given what you posted as your symptom list you should have had one to three lights 'come on' and definitely accumulated some codes worth talking about if possible .
If it were mine , amongst some other things , I'd start eliminating some of your operational variables .
BTW , so there is no possible confusion , if you have a legitimate as described butt dyno improvement with 93 vs 87 I'd stay with it unless and until something else changes that can then be 'verified' .
Also , have you 'trailed' anything between 87 -93 ?
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