Hi,
I just moved to COlorado and I found that the lowest grade gas offered here is 85.
I was wondering if I should use 85 or use 87.

Thanks

What does your Owners Manual say????????????????????

 

87

it says 87 or above

i use 87 when i was in Seattle, but i found CO provide 85

 

who know this?

 

I thought you could figure it out by reading your Owners Manual but guess not..........

 

My experience this summer was in the Black Hills. They serve up 85 octane in the regular pumps and I found my TCH pinging on uphill stretches.

I would go with the mid-grade which is probably 87 in CO.

 

85 octane is what I use

Hi,
I just moved to COlorado and I found that the lowest grade gas offered here is 85.
I was wondering if I should use 85 or use 87.

Thanks

It is ok to use lower-than-recommended octane at the altitude in Colorado. Up where we live, the air pressure is lower. That means the pressure in the cylinders is lower, too. So by going up 5,000-plus feet in elevation, you've effectively lowered the compression of your engine, and that means you can use lower-octane fuel without making the engine ping. At the altitude where we live, 85 octane is the equivalent of 87 octane at sea level. So, by all means, go ahead and use it.

 

Hi,
I just moved to COlorado and I found that the lowest grade gas offered here is 85.
I was wondering if I should use 85 or use 87.

Thanks

:lol:

CNG works great!

 

That is fantastic, and the last line is even better.

 

Regular is usually 85 octane in Utah, too. I hear pinging in any weather over 65F or so. I bought my car in mid winter, and was quite shocked to hear the pinging on my almost brand new car when the weather started warming up. After having my car checked out at my next oil change, and experimenting with different fuel grades, I have run Premium April through October.

I pay 17 cents more (on average) for 91 octane premium at Costco. I found that 87 octane is fine in 70 and under temps at sea level.

My car also gets much better mileage on premium, runs quieter and performs better. I kept track of my mileage from day one and I get aproximately 10% better mileage on premium.

 

But pay about 10% more for gas, jk.

 

windse, hope you are enjoying it there in CO. it is as usual nasty here in Seattle. cold slit. wet snain - snow/rain.

anyhow. here's food for thought:

United States: in the Rocky Mountain (high elevation) states, 85 AKI is the minimum octane, and 91 AKI is the maximum octane available in fuel. The reason for this is that in higher-elevation areas, a typical naturally-aspirated engine draws in less air mass per cycle because of the reduced density of the atmosphere. This directly translates to less fuel and reduced absolute compression in the cylinder, therefore deterring knock(!!!). It is safe to fill a carbureted car that normally takes 87 AKI fuel at sea level with 85 AKI fuel in the mountains, but at sea level the fuel may cause damage to the engine. A disadvantage to this strategy is that most turbocharged vehicles are unable to produce full power, even when using the "premium" 91 AKI fuel. In some east coast states, up to 94 AKI is available. In Colorado as well as parts of the Midwest (primarily Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri) ethanol-based E-85 fuel with 105 AKI is available. Often, filling stations near US racing tracks will offer higher octane levels such as 100 AKI[citation needed] . California fuel stations will offer 87, 89, and 91 AKI octane fuels, and at some stations, 100 AKI or higher octane, sold as racing fuel. Until summer 2001 before the phase-out of methyl tert-butyl ether aka MTBE as an octane enhancer additive, 92 AKI was offered in lieu of 91.

here's my solution for you.
1. it SHOULD NOT be pinging with 85. if it does, pull ECU fuse out overnight, then put it back in. ECU should "forget" 87 "habits" and relearn 85.
2. invest into known quality high air flow filter. K&N, eg. not only it will last forever, with occasinal cleaning, but will permit more air into your engine, along with more oxygen. not cold air intake!! just air filter. ALL of my cars run on K&N, no, i do not own their stock or work for them, yes, it does improve mpg some too.