on a new vehicle High octane is a waiste of $$ use the 87 octane just be sure to add a bottle of techron every now and again to the fuel tank to keep fuel system clean because in America fuel does not have a lot of cleaning detergents.

 

Yes, there are benefits. The oil companies make more profit.

Performance wise, no. I do recommend using Top Tier gas as it has the additives you need to keep the valves and injectors clean. Most major brands comply but so to a couple of discounters.

If you want, invest a few bucks and fill up twice with the higher octane and see for yourself but I never saw any difference.

TOP TIER - High-quality Fuel Performance Standard - TOP TIER™

TOP TIER is developed and enforced by some of the leading automotive manufacturers and supplied by participating fuel retailers.

www.toptiergas.com

 

Modern cars generally will take advantage of the higher octane and up the timing under high load. If you aren't a lead foot you probably won't notice.

E10 gas is a good fuel system cleaner.

 

Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate the quick answers. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a vehicle I’ve enjoyed as much as this and I want to make sure I treat it right!

 

Octane number is just a resistance knock number. Most anything will run on 87, knock sensor pick up on spark knock and adjust timing accordingly, retard timing if knock heard.

Using higher octane will help reduce knock for sensor to hear, and allow for more timing, which allows engine to feel a little more zippy / responsive

Turbo car, run minimum 89/9x, as boosting via turbo with 87 and PCM retarding timing due to knock pick up by knock sensor and PCM killing timing is waste of having turbo

 

Thank you......
Turbos on 87 is just for marketing to sell.
89 min
91 prefer.

Anyone who pays attention should notice a difference on 91. Especially in hot weather

 

Is the objective to reduce 0-60 time by .5 second? Thanks, I’ll stick with 87. This ‘24 is my third Santa Fe turbo. The ‘14 and the ‘19 were the 2.0T engine. All run/ran just fine on 87.

 

same here 2014 S.F. Turbo wifes runs 87 on original engine 205,000 Canadian K's
same with daughters 2013 elantra runs 87 on original engine 195,000 Canadian K's

 

I fail to see the benifit of buying a performance car then get tight on the fuel you feed it. It's like taking protien out of an athletes diet.

 

I have a Sonata, not a Lamborghini. What is the benefit on a trip to the supermarket? If I tracked the car, maybe I'd understand. Round trip to visit my daughter is 32 miles, highest speed limit is 45. Occasionally I may be first at the light but no one to race.

What benefits have I lost? Maybe when I was in my teens it would matter.

 

Yes.

There is a benefit to use Tier 1 high octane 92-93, pure gas without ethanol, every year or 12 month. Hyundai installed the fuel filter inside the gas tank and attached to fuel pump, difficult to service. Hyundai TSB-Technical Service Bulletin recommend putting 10 oz of Chevron Techron with every oil change or 5,000 miles.

Not all grocery store gas contain the detergent and additive of Tier 1 gas stations (Costco is Tier 1). If you put non-Tier 1, 87 octane. It is highly recommended once annually, you use a full tank of non-ethanol premium Tier 1 92-93 octane gas with 10 oz Chevron Techron. This will clean, fuel pump, fuel line, fuel pressure regulator, fuel injectors, and get rid of some carbon build up. Your engine will run smoother.

Best Wishes

 

The issue is that on lower octane fuel there may be no issues and at no point is the knock sensor required however when knock occurs there is a tollerance in the ECU program where a certain amount must be detected before action takes place. Detonation can be tollerated in small doses but my personal choice is not to be running on the limits which to the driver are not noticable but to the engine it's another story. Each knock is a hammer blow to the piston, rings and bearings. Manufacturers specify low octane fuel to help sell cars.

 

My 2 cents. I run mid tier fuel in my (ancient) J2 Lantra Sportswagon. What I notice - better overall fuel economy. I can squeeze on average 550 kms out of a full tank of fuel (when I'm not beating on it...) Engine runs smoother, especially when ambient temperatures are up. Better throttle response. Improved torque. I do a lot of hill climbing with the cargo area loaded up and there is a vast difference with regular fuel vs mid tier. I've tried premium a few times and I always get the same result - weird loss of power/torque. Like the engine is falling flat on it's face. I would recommend you do not use E10. The ethanol is a nasty solvent and I've seen it corrode fuel pump assemblies and dissolve the plastic housings. A sign that E10 has damaged the pump assembly is erratic fuel gauge readings.

 

It doesn't take high speeds to get the advantage of a higher octane. It's based on engine load. So it's air volume x rpm that really makes the difference. Especially at the peak torque range for the engine.

 

In terms of hard acceleration, that makes some sense. It was mentioned though, that the turbo had more boost. The turbo uses exhaust gasses for power. Unless you are making more waste, the turbo will be the same.

You mention engine load. Sure getting up to speed puts some load, as do steep hills. But travelling the highway or the back roads at a fairly constant speed, the load will not change. So, what is the benefit of paying 70 cents a gallon more? Maybe a half second less on the on ramps if I'm pushing it.

If I was racing, always showing off, maybe. But normal every day driving I have little opportunity to push hard on the pedal. If the horsepower doubled, I could not use it.

 

water injection.

http://www.rotorsportsracing.com/performancetuning/water_injection.htm

back in the days, i ran water injection on my mitsubishi galant vr4. 20 lbs boost, 338 hp/343 torque at the wheels. it will reduce injector duty cycle, lower egt, clean entire intake system. you will get full timing advance under boost. cleans valves, spark plugs, combustion chamber. no carbon deposits. i ran a nozzle right after the turbo, and another after the throttle body. i also had a manual switch that could activate the system from inside the car. for non believers, they would touch the intercooler pressure pipe coming off the turbo, it would be hot to the touch. i would then activate the system, and in a few seconds, the pipe would get cold. not just cool, cold. it will also effectively raise octane levels as much as 4 points. even more if methanol is mixed in. look it up

 

Amazing car.....
Loved those.

 

You should monitor absolute load value in real time. Some time abbreviated as ABS Load. The turbo can easily go over 100% when near peak torque curve which is probably around 3k rpm or so. Doesn't need to be wot at all. The load value will be clipped at 100% if looking at that parameter.

If you're lucky you can go over 200% at wot when going through the gears.

 

Some manufacturers add fuel when knock occurs as well as the timing and boost reduction. I'd love to see data on injector duration under knock conditions. Anyway if your driving style is sedate low octane is fine.

 

water injection.

http://www.rotorsportsracing.com/performancetuning/water_injection.htm

back in the days, i ran water injection on my mitsubishi galant vr4. 20 lbs boost, 338 hp/343 torque at the wheels. it will reduce injector duty cycle, lower egt, clean entire intake system. you will get full timing advance under boost. cleans valves, spark plugs, combustion chamber. no carbon deposits. i ran a nozzle right after the turbo, and another after the throttle body. i also had a manual switch that could activate the system from inside the car. for non believers, they would touch the intercooler pressure pipe coming off the turbo, it would be hot to the touch. i would then activate the system, and in a few seconds, the pipe would get cold. not just cool, cold. it will also effectively raise octane levels as much as 4 points. even more if methanol is mixed in. look it up

Amazing car.....
Loved those.

I'll let you know in a few days after a few mile with it.

Make sure it's a top tier fuel brand.
Everything else is **** and causes more problems.

 

Amazing car.....
Loved those.
Make sure it's a top tier fuel brand.
Everything else is **** and causes more problems.

Marathon.

 

Following up, I did some testing and have my own conclusions. You are free to have different ones, but this is what I found so far.
Cruising the highway at "normal" speeds to 80 mph, it makes no difference in performance.
Around town, especially in the 0-40 range, an octane boost is noticeable.

I always use top tier and the station I use most has 87, 89, 93 available. My first test was to put in 93 and yes, did not take long to see a difference. Is it real or my imagination. So, next tank was 87 as usual. The first couple of days, I was not sure but they I did notice when the light changed, it was not as responsive. Used about half the tank and topped it off with 89. No real difference with the mix that would have been close to "88" or so.

Ran the tank down again, topped it off with 93. This brought it up to about "90to91" or so. Yes, there is a difference.

So, what will I do in the future? Using 93 all the time would cost me about $230 for my travels. If going on a long trip that I do once or twice a year, 87 is good since it is all highway. For my everyday around town, I will be using at least a 50/50 mils of 87 and 93 but with a tilt toward the 93 if not sure. Pulling away on the low end, gears 1-3, it is a noticeable and good difference. Yes, I'm willing to spend $100 or a bit more a year for it. The price difference today was 80 cents a gallon.

Try some premium if you have not all ready. You may like the change.

 

Following up, I did some testing and have my own conclusions. You are free to have different ones, but this is what I found so far.
Cruising the highway at "normal" speeds to 80 mph, it makes no difference in performance.
Around town, especially in the 0-40 range, an octane boost is noticeable.

I always use top tier and the station I use most has 87, 89, 93 available. My first test was to put in 93 and yes, did not take long to see a difference. Is it real or my imagination. So, next tank was 87 as usual. The first couple of days, I was not sure but they I did notice when the light changed, it was not as responsive. Used about half the tank and topped it off with 89. No real difference with the mix that would have been close to "88" or so.

Ran the tank down again, topped it off with 93. This brought it up to about "90to91" or so. Yes, there is a difference.

So, what will I do in the future? Using 93 all the time would cost me about $230 for my travels. If going on a long trip that I do once or twice a year, 87 is good since it is all highway. For my everyday around town, I will be using at least a 50/50 mils of 87 and 93 but with a tilt toward the 93 if not sure. Pulling away on the low end, gears 1-3, it is a noticeable and good difference. Yes, I'm willing to spend $100 or a bit more a year for it. The price difference today was 80 cents a gallon.

Try some premium if you have not all ready. You may like the change.

Thanks for doing the test. Did the 87 contain ethanol? Ethanol has around 33% less energy than gasoline. 87 here has very little, but depending on location it can contain 15% where as 91+ doesn't, or shouldn't. I only put 91 in my boat and atv for this reason

 

I have a 23' Elantra. I have only ran the most premium gas I can find, I don't care about price. There are things in life where, I agree, save what you can, but when it come to my car, I change the oil at 3000 miles and run only premium gas.

 

How long will you keep it? Driving conditions matter too, of course.

I change by the book, at 8,000 miles. I'll buy a new car at about 50,000 miles and the warranty will still be in effect so I see no reason to pay for more frequent changes.

 

Only two places sell ethanol free gas in my county (12 miles to one,14 miles to the other, one is 87 octane, the other 89 octane. Next closest is 40 miles! Price is about the same as premium!😲 I have a few cans of it for my generators and small engines!😁 I had a 5 gallon can over a year old (treated with Stabil) and put it in my car to rotate it out and it ran a lot peppier and better gas mileage! 😲 Wish I could afford it all the time!😁

 

Locally, 87 octane ethanol free is 80 cents more.

 

The only car that I know officially states using super unleaded gas will increase your hp (from 225 to 250) is the Mazda CX9.