WWYD: Cheat With Octane?
In January of this year, I finally bought a “new to me” new car. For three years I had driven my grandmother’s ’89 Buick Century, tape over all of the broken tail-lights and transmission threatening to give out.
I had meant to buy a VW TDI (Biodiesel) but I couldn’t seem to allow myself to afford one. So I got a great deal on a regular-old gasoline 2000 Jetta in pristine shape, less than 65,000 miles. What I hadn’t remembered the day I bought it, is that these V6 Engine beauties are supposed to be fed 92 Octane gasoline! I have already driven up and down the West Coast once in my black Jetta, named “Dahlia” and cried about the gas prices in California. I am about to take that trip again, to Vegas, and each time I fill up my tank at home, I contemplate cheating her when we’re on our expensive vacation.
So, today, I did some research. Of Course, I went to the NPR CarTalk website to check out what Tom and Ray have to say on the subject, hoping some frugal car-lovers would let me have a little pocket book relief.
Oh Well. Here’s the low-down from CarTalk:
“Ray: And because you’re–shall we say–frugal, you’re going to be really bent if you ruin the engine on your new car and have to pay for a new one, aren’t you? In which case it’s very important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for octane ratings–whatever they are.
Tom: Here’s why. The lower the octane, the lower the temperature at which the gasoline explodes in the cylinders. And in certain “high compression” engines like yours, 87 octane gasoline explodes too early. Those early explosions are known as “pinging” and they eventually cause engine damage.
Ray: Premium gas (probably 91 or 92 octane, whatever is specified in your owner’s manual) explodes when it’s supposed to in your engine, and that’s why the manufacturer of your car requires it.”
That’s enough scary-talk for me.
Now, half of me still wants to try 89 octane in Dahlia. But I keep thinking of two things:
1. I have this daydream where I put in the cheaper gas and then my car just stops working and I take it in and say I have no idea what’s wrong and they do some little chemical test on the gas that’s running though the system and they find out and my wonderful comprehensive 3 year warranty which I pay an extra fifty-six dollars a month for will not cover the damage!
2. It seems sort of like skimping and buying a generic chemical-laden laundry detergent instead of the natural stuff and washing your sheets in it when your girlfriend is highly sensitive. She’s going to get a bad rash and you’re going to have to take her to the doctor and it’s all your fault.
When I had my buick and before gas was so expensive, I used to hope my engine would sound better if I let Bessie drink some 89 Octane when we were on road trips. I wasn’t ever sure if it did anything. If you have a car that should run plain old ’87, should you treat your car to some high octane gas once in a while to “clean out” the engine? CarTalk says , “Using a higher-than-called for octane is a complete waste of money.” You can find out why at as you learn some car chemistry.
In two years I’ll trade Dahlia in for a hybrid or (if we’re lucky) an electric. But it looks like I’ll be paying through the nose until then because I’m too afraid to hurt my engine. Good thing I love to carpool. “That will be five dollars for the gas, thank you.” It may be actually cheaper for me to rent a little honda for my long road trips, but I won’t risk ruining my engine by cheating with Octane.
Any engine-related repair I have ever had for my car has cost me at least $1000, minimum. Fully replacing your engine – which you may have to do if the cylinders go – will make you weep at the cost. With this in mind, your continuing inclination to try 87 octane in this car makes me ask, “what part of “engine damage” did you not understand?”
As a budget car driver, I have also been told, “If you can’t afford a new German car, you can’t afford a used German car, because the maintenance and parts are so expensive.”
You are doing the right thing by educating yourself about the best way to run your car. Please continue!
Some cars can change their timing to adjust for a lower grade fuel. If you decide to try 87 start with 1/2 a tank and see if you notice any difference in the way it drives. You can buy a bottle of “octane boost” to add if the 1/2 tank of 87 starts causing problems. It will raise the octane level back up to around 92 or above.
Whoah! Our 2004 VW Passat was named “Delia”. It was that pretty “olive” green, but we sold it because of really low gas mileage, 92 octane, and high cost of repairs (wipers for $40 and you could only buy them from the dealer!)
We have a base model Chevy Malibu now, which averages 30mp, but gets up to 40mpg on the highway.
Don’t do it! I learned, the hard way. In fact, six months ago my mechanic said that the only people who should use the lowest gas are people who lease – people who want to keep their cars after they pay them off should always do at least mid-grade. Unfortunately I learned this lesson too late, because last night the same mechanic told me I need a new engine (at a cost more than the car is worth!). I don’t know what I’m going to do now, but next time I’ll treat the car right from the beginning.
Well I parked my truck after I bought a Motorcycle (actually whats termed a “SuperScooter”) and found I liked riding it better than driving.
But on to the Octane Question….Le Truck…1982 Chevrolet with a 305 averages around 15 MPG on 87 Octane but almost 18MPG on 92 Octane…pump price here in my area of Florida is about 20 cent differential between Regular and Premium….Extra 50 Odd miles per Tank I get using Premium make the cost of Premium “Equivalent” to Regular….besides the fact thet the truck runs much better on Premium is a plus.
As for the Motorcycle (Suzuki Burgman 400 for the Nosy..}:~D) its SUPPOSED to run best on 87 octane but runs awful and gets Indigestion when I put in Premium and seems to run absolutely divine on 89 Mid-Grade…..but at 62 to 65 MPG around town and the ability to do up to 95 MPH its Great!!!