Switching to Premium gasoline

[Al]

I was using + for my GR86. But switching to premium Is giving me around 3 mpg better (preliminary estimate) than + gasoling. I plan on switching to premium on my Forester XT (FA Turbo) to see if the same holds true there.

Any experience here?

 

[Pablo]

I was using + for my GR86. But switching to premium Is giving me around 3 mpg better (preliminary estimate) than + gasoling. I plan on switching to premium on my Forester XT (FA Turbo) to see if the same holds true there.

Any experience here?

Turbo = premium. I don't care who you are.

 

[Astro14]

My turbos all get better MPG (and noticeably better throttle response) with actual premium.

The NA V-8 doesn’t care. It gets regular. The flathead straight 8 has 6:1 compression and would run on anything.

The turbo Volvos say that premium is “recommended” but the turbo Mercedes say it is “required”.

Gasoline is not a large part of my budget. I buy premium for the turbo cars, and enjoy the benefits

 

[andrew_j]

Turbo = premium. I don't care who you are.

Modern/recent turbo for efficiency and tuned for 87 don’t waste your money. No difference noticeable in premium vs regular in our Buddack cycle 2.0T VW . For 8 months the regular tank failed at our local “Cumbies” gas station so they sold premium only at regular prices.

 

[Pablo]

Modern/recent turbo for efficiency and tuned for 87 don’t waste your money. No difference noticeable in premium vs regular in our Buddack cycle 2.0T VW . For 8 months the regular tank failed at our local “Cumbies” gas station so they sold premium only at regular prices.

Not sure about that engine in particular but most enrichen for knock and get worse MPG and fuel dilution. Premium well worth it.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I had to put a little premium in my NA Ford recently as it was laying down too much - that is highly factory tuned and 12.5:1 compression
It usually does o.k. on regular. IDK. Maybe just a bad spate of regular recently.

I would imagine a high compression then boosted turbo would want 93 (r+m)/2

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Modern/recent turbo for efficiency and tuned for 87 don’t waste your money. No difference noticeable in premium vs regular in our Buddack cycle 2.0T VW . For 8 months the regular tank failed at our local “Cumbies” gas station so they sold premium only at regular prices.

My lease Jetta 1.4t did fine after break-in on regular.

Factory Engine management on that motor is stellar

 

[#18FAN]

I was using + for my GR86. But switching to premium Is giving me around 3 mpg better (preliminary estimate) than + gasoling. I plan on switching to premium on my Forester XT (FA Turbo) to see if the same holds true there.

Any experience here?

What oil and particular grade you run In the Turbo Forester?

 

[LDB]

In a prior life I had a client who was an engineering supervisor with Texaco. I had a MK VII that didn't run as well as it should. He told me run 5 tanks of Texaco premium then go back to regular. He said Texaco and Chevron put the same level of additives in all 3 grades of fuel unlike the rest who put greater amounts as octane increased. This was in ~1998. Sure enough, the higher octane cured the running ills and the higher level of cleaner and other additives cleaned it out nicely. It ran like a champ on regular after that.

 

[oil pan 4]

I was using + for my GR86. But switching to premium Is giving me around 3 mpg better (preliminary estimate) than + gasoling. I plan on switching to premium on my Forester XT (FA Turbo) to see if the same holds true there.

Any experience here?

Ifa vehicle needed premium gas I'd sell it.

 

[Rand]

The forester XT is a pretty hot tune for a 2L early direct injected turbo.. It might benefit from 91 or 93 octane.

The later XT outback with the FA24DIT(2.4L) on 87 same power level as the forester's 2.0T
Now if you are using a tuner on it 91 or 93 definitely.

Since the newer engine has 20% more displacement but same power level obv. the 2.0L is setup more aggressively.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have often thought about running mid or premium in the Toyota. It has much higher compression and possibly could benefit. But I worry that the premium fuel is older / doesn't cycle through the tanks as fast as regular. Is this thought misguided?

The Nissan's are only 9:1 and burn lots of anything, so they get 87.

 

[wemay]

Our stable:
Palisaide recommends 87. We use 87. Used 93 a few times and didn't notice a thing.

Malibu 1.5T recommends 87. I use 93. Used 87 one tank and didn't notice a thing.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

FWIW I would run the numbers on using premium prior to switching. My son was debating running premium in his Ram 1500 with a Hemi. I told him to run a few takes of the different grades of gasoline to see what the impact on his MPG was. He noticed a slight increase with premium (~3MPG) but when crunching the numbers premium around here tends to be 25%+ more expensive than other blends. He did not get a 25% boost in MPG's so I told him it didn't make sense to run it. He agreed and has stayed with the E15 88 found here in the Midwest.

Just my $0.02

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Ours are non-turbos and both get 93 octane. It's been about three years now. Usually either Costco, Sams or BJ's.

 

[I<3oil]

Ran it a few times on my old Maxima. Netted 2-3mpg more than regular but wasn’t worth the increase in price over regular.

 

[walterjay]

My former Tucson turbo did not run well on 87, Especially noticeable when pushing up steep highway hills in my area. Used 89 and it ran great. With 93 there was no real difference from mid grade nor was there an increase in gas mileage. Stayed with 89 and the car was happy.

 

[meep]

My 2018 f150 2.7 ecoboost drives sort of like a yo-yo held by a rubber band on regular, and is much better on premium. I’ve not run a tank of regular in it since I figured that out. That’s 65000 or so miles at this point on premium. Because it’s been so long, idk if there is a mpg benefit or not. Being a lifetime best of 22.5mpg on a tank, it’s not the cheapest vehicle to fuel, but its towing capability is outstanding.

Regarding Subarus - I had a 91 and a 97. Both developed a touch more power, and back then broke were closely priced with premium. The 1.8 had enough difference to make it worthwhile. The 2.2 didn’t quite make the cut for it.

 

[Mainia]

Before I had a tune on my Hyundai Kona when it was totally bone stock, and about 3 weeks old I had a LSPI event. After that event ( it felt like car jumped 5 ft in the air and I thought within 2 seconds, there goes my motor, but it still ran ok after that) a stock Kona has 17 psi boost at 1,400 rpm and it happened right about at 2,000 rpm WOT. I drove right to gas station and added premium gas. During the stock stage I used mid tier fuel in the summer and regular fuel in the winter. After the tune, of course 93 octane exclusively. For me any turbo car that the manufacture calls out 87 octane to me that means 89 octane minimum. Not saying 89 octane would of not stopped the LSPI event but who knows, it never happened again.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I'm a fan of Shell premium gas in my M35 and TLX. It makes a difference in fuel mileage and performance for both.