My gf bought a new Rav4 a couple months back, which needs regular gas. From day 1 she has been putting in premium gas cuz the diff is like $1 a fill between regular and premium.
Now what if one day 6mths down the road she fills regular, does her engine get "accustomed" to premium and does minor oddities? or does the engine not notice at all?
Premium gas does absolutely nothing for the Rav4 except take more money out of your wallet. She can go back to regular anytime which is what she should be using anyways.
Premium fuel contain a multitude of additives and cleaners that regular fuel does not thus will prevent premature carbon deposits, a major source of engine deterioration over time.
Premium fuel will also detonate at the right time while regular fuel is prone to detonate early hence leaving carbon deposits.
Premiu fuel will also improve your fuel mileage but give yourself time (2 tank fuls) to notice a difference.
I have used premium fuel in all my cars and a difference can be felt when regular fuel is used. There is reason why performance oriented vehiles run on premium fuel, sure the RAv4 may be in the same category but it will halp kep the engine working cleaner and better over time and that extra few dollars at each fill up may be worh rather than de-carboning your engine.
Premium fuel contain a multitude of additives and cleaners that regular fuel does not thus will prevent premature carbon deposits, a major source of engine deterioration over time.
Premium fuel will also detonate at the right time while regular fuel is prone to detonate early hence leaving carbon deposits.
Premiu fuel will also improve your fuel mileage but give yourself time (2 tank fuls) to notice a difference.
I have used premium fuel in all my cars and a difference can be felt when regular fuel is used. There is reason why performance oriented vehiles run on premium fuel, sure the RAv4 may be in the same category but it will halp kep the engine working cleaner and better over time and that extra few dollars at each fill up may be worh rather than de-carboning your engine.
That is wrong!
All grades of fuel ( from the same supplier ) basically contain the same cleaners.
Octane value is a measure for gasoline to resist engine knock and NOT an energy value.
Gasoline burns effectively when compressed properly, that's why a " performance " vehicle ( which has a higher compression engine ) uses higher grade of fuel.
In fact using a higher grade of fuel in a lower compression engine will cause some of that fuel not to burn causing deposits.
This may cause an increase of maintenance and lower fuel economy especically taking into account of the higher price of the gas. This will NOT keep the engine working cleaner and better over time.
Follow the automaker's recommendations for the type of fuel to use.
We all feel the pressure of the high gas prices so it's silly to throw more of our money to them.
I agree. All fuel from the same supplier has the same cleaners. The only difference is octane which controls how fast fuel burns. Normally older cars can't handle the difference but today's cars are full of sensors and can detect a difference in the octane of the gas and thus change it's fuel mapping and ignition cycle accordingly.
I agree. All fuel from the same supplier has the same cleaners. The only difference is octane which controls how fast fuel burns. Normally older cars can't handle the difference but today's cars are full of sensors and can detect a difference in the octane of the gas and thus change it's fuel mapping and ignition cycle accordingly.
Octane does absolutely nothing it is simply a unit of measure.
Just like ohms in electrical / electronics which is a measure of resistance to current flow.
A number of modern vehicles use " knock sensors " when the pinging ( another term for knock ) is detected the ECU will change things like timing to compensate.
When I turbo'd my Integra GSR, I couldn't run anything less than 92 on regular boost (8lbs) and no less than 102 on full boost (16lbs). But rather than take my word for it....
When I turbo'd my Integra GSR, I couldn't run anything less than 92 on regular boost (8lbs) and no less than 102 on full boost (16lbs). But rather than take my word for it....
[quote=zeoth]I think we are talking about the same thing except when you said "it is simply a unit of measure" that's not quite true.[/quote
In my original post I stated it correctly by saying " Octane value is a measure..." and the following post referring to this as being a unit of measure i see can be misleading. ( I may have had a leak in my head gasket but i think it's fixed - ha ha)
To qualify that point ; some suppliers of fuel may not have octane at all rather other chemical combinations to simulate the characteristics of octane. In which, they have to comply with the octane rating spec. to sell their fuel, this where the " unit of measure " comes into play.
Back to the general topic of changing grades of fuel;
It's widely acknowledged to use the grade of fuel the automaker recommends.
One thing to consider is that not all brands of gas are equal. Simply changing company brands ( i.e Bp - Texaco ) may result in better performance and economy.
The quality of the fuel does vary between companies .
Where by the grade ( 87 , 90 , 92, etc. ) does nothing to qualify their quality.
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Premium in a 04 RAV4
Premium fuel does help
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