can i use a lower octane?
05-01-2006, 10:56 AM
#1
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can i use a lower octane?
considering the gas prices in the DC area and the fact that i don't have any money, would it hurt to put 89 in my car? i used to drive a bmw 323i and used medium for years. recently, though, i heard that one could damage his engine without knowing it. the computers these days are able to eliminate the "knocking" you can hear in older engines. any thoughts?
05-01-2006, 11:14 AM
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I tried it once and the car was sluggish and got less miles per gallon. To tell you the truth, you
pay more for the gas but the car performs better and goes further per tank. Pretty much a wash in the end.
05-01-2006, 11:29 AM
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IMO, it shouldn't hurt due to compensations within the engine, however...
the higher octane you use, the less likely you are to endure any engine knocking due to the higher compression ratios of direct injection (FSI) - these compression ratios are partially responsible for that diesel like sound of the 2.0T at idle.
The block-mounted sensors are designed to detect "pings" when using lower octane fuel and as a result, will make adjustments such as decreasing the ignition timing, etc. You therefore reduce power (whether it's appreciable by the driver is arguable). The overall decrease in power and performance may not be worth the 4 bucks or so you save at the pump.
This topic was previously discussed in the A3 forum with some insight provided by lavagrau_A3, April/VerdeGirl and audi_since_90:
https://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/55189.phtml
The following article was provided by lavagrau-A3 and was an interesting read. To sum up the C&D article with a quote, "burning regular in cars designed to run on premium fuel can expect to trim performance by about the same percent they save at the pump. If the car is sufficiently new and sophisticated, it may not suffer any ill effects."<ul><li><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html">http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html</a</li></ul>
The block-mounted sensors are designed to detect "pings" when using lower octane fuel and as a result, will make adjustments such as decreasing the ignition timing, etc. You therefore reduce power (whether it's appreciable by the driver is arguable). The overall decrease in power and performance may not be worth the 4 bucks or so you save at the pump.
This topic was previously discussed in the A3 forum with some insight provided by lavagrau_A3, April/VerdeGirl and audi_since_90:
https://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/55189.phtml
The following article was provided by lavagrau-A3 and was an interesting read. To sum up the C&D article with a quote, "burning regular in cars designed to run on premium fuel can expect to trim performance by about the same percent they save at the pump. If the car is sufficiently new and sophisticated, it may not suffer any ill effects."<ul><li><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html">http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html</a</li></ul>
05-01-2006, 02:08 PM
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Let's look at the numbers here...
Where I am located the gas is approx:
$3.20 87 oct
$3.30 89 oct
$3.41 91 oct
At 16.5 gallons, a fill-up will run you:
$52.80
$54.45
$56.27
The delta beween an 87 Octane and a 91 octane fill-up is only $3.47. Gas prices suck I agree, but there isn't much differnent here between Octanes 87 & 91. I think about 6.5%..
$3.20 87 oct
$3.30 89 oct
$3.41 91 oct
At 16.5 gallons, a fill-up will run you:
$52.80
$54.45
$56.27
The delta beween an 87 Octane and a 91 octane fill-up is only $3.47. Gas prices suck I agree, but there isn't much differnent here between Octanes 87 & 91. I think about 6.5%..
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05-01-2006, 04:36 PM
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Look...your car has a 16 gallon tank....
Premium is .20 cents more a gallon then Regular.
You are looking at 3 bucks a fill up. Now, I am not sure how much you drive, but if fill up once a week, which is very normal....then your talking about 12 bucks a month more out of your pocket. Hell, even if you fill up ever 3 days your looking at an extra 25 bucks a month.
I am not trying to be an *** but if you cant afford an extra 12-25 bucks a month, you bought the wrong car. And if something has come up that has put your in this position to consider doing such....I understand short term...but long term you might consider a diffrent car.
You are looking at 3 bucks a fill up. Now, I am not sure how much you drive, but if fill up once a week, which is very normal....then your talking about 12 bucks a month more out of your pocket. Hell, even if you fill up ever 3 days your looking at an extra 25 bucks a month.
I am not trying to be an *** but if you cant afford an extra 12-25 bucks a month, you bought the wrong car. And if something has come up that has put your in this position to consider doing such....I understand short term...but long term you might consider a diffrent car.