Fuel Question

2000 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Zygote55, Feb 24, 2005

detour6931

Discussion Starter · Feb 22, 2005

I wasnt too sure if this would be the appropriate forum for this topic but i was wondering what kind of fuel you guys pump in your tc's? regular,plus or preminum? And also do gas stations really matter? I been pumping Safeway fuel 91 since i got the TC and was wondering if it really is worth it or not since the gas prices now days.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

lo bux racer

· #2 · Feb 22, 2005

I run the cheapest 87 I can find, and it works just fine. I get 26 mpg around town and almost 30 mpg on drives to the City (all freeway, 100 miles each way). There is no good reason to use more octane than you need, it just lightens your wallet.

The only caveat is, it is prudent to run an injector cleaner like Chevron Pro-Gard or Clean-Up, Red Line SI-1, or BG44K every 5 - 10k miles. I typically use Chevron, but have used both the Red Line and the BG products. BG is the most expensive at about $16 per dose. Chevron and Red Line are about $7 a dose and are widely available.

Ryan'stc

· #3 · Feb 22, 2005

I saw a history channel special on gas and oil transporting. They said all gas is the same, It is shiped in long pipelines to places all over the country. Form there it is pumped into holding tanks were different oil companys add there additives. Then it is put into trucks and sent to gas stations. So I just buy the cheapest 87 and once in a while add some conentrated techron.

zeromotorsports

· #4 · Feb 22, 2005

octane is just a resistance to burn....the higher the octane number the less likely it is to detonate. unless you have excessive spark advance, high compression, n20 or boost higher octane fuel does nothing for you

silverrsxjezus

· #5 · Feb 22, 2005

there is no need for running anything above the 87, which is what's required for the tC, i think. i mean, you can get a 91 or 93 or premium or whatever it's called, but it's just wasting money and really, there's a debate whether it can actually do more harm to your engine, since like Zero said, it has a higher resistance to burn. once you start modding and adjusting your spark timing and whatever you might switch over to premium

detour6931

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 23, 2005

thanks for the info everyone. atleast i can save some cash

satthu555

· #7 · Feb 23, 2005

i dont get it then. ive been hearing stuff about how 91 premium can hurt the car. i've always thought the higher octane the better because you have less chances of early detenation. yes, running higher octane fuel might not do anything for the car performance or mileage wise, but you have a lower risk of early detenation. you go to any manufacturers website and they always have the recommended fuel for the car OR higher. recommended gasoline for the tC is 87 octane OR higher. same goes for cars that are 91 premium recommended. so how will higher octane fuel be bad for the engine when the manufacturer says its ok?

Zygote55

· #8 · Feb 23, 2005

Originally posted by lo bux racer@Feb 22 2005, 12:53 PM
I run the cheapest 87 I can find, and it works just fine. I get 26 mpg around town and almost 30 mpg on drives to the City (all freeway, 100 miles each way). There is no good reason to use more octane than you need, it just lightens your wallet.

The only caveat is, it is prudent to run an injector cleaner like Chevron Pro-Gard or Clean-Up, Red Line SI-1, or BG44K every 5 - 10k miles. I typically use Chevron, but have used both the Red Line and the BG products. BG is the most expensive at about $16 per dose. Chevron and Red Line are about $7 a dose and are widely available.

Why not just use chevron 87 instead of the additives in cheap gas?

Just curious....

zeromotorsports

· #9 · Feb 23, 2005

QUOTE

i dont get it then. ive been hearing stuff about how 91 premium can hurt the car. i've always thought the higher octane the better because you have less chances of early detenation. yes, running higher octane fuel might not do anything for the car performance or mileage wise, but you have a lower risk of early detenation. you go to any manufacturers website and they always have the recommended fuel for the car OR higher. recommended gasoline for the tC is 87 octane OR higher. same goes for cars that are 91 premium recommended. so how will higher octane fuel be bad for the engine when the manufacturer says its ok?[/b]

while unnecessary, higher octane will NOT hurt your car or your performance

krzy

· #10 · Feb 23, 2005

If I'm not mistaken, these engines are not prone to early detonation. I'll stick to 87 with the occasional injector cleaner.

lo bux racer

· #11 · Feb 23, 2005

Originally posted by Zygote55@Feb 22 2005, 04:15 PM
Why not just use chevron 87 instead of the additives in cheap gas?

Just curious....

It's 8 - 11 cents a gallon more expensive. I make up the $7 for the cleaner in 2100 miles, so I get 2900 miles free. Simple economics from my perspective.

lo bux racer

· #12 · Feb 23, 2005

Originally posted by ZEROmotorsports@Feb 22 2005, 06:21 PM
while unnecessary, higher octane will NOT hurt your car or your performance

Ford says using anything greater than 87 octane in their standard trucks will void the warranty. I don't know why this is, but that's what they say. Toyco doesn't say this.

I have seen guys dyno with extremely high octane fuels when they didn't need it (117 when 105 or 107 would have been fine) and actually lose power, but I doubt there is any difference in performance between unleaded pump fuels.

Ryan'stc

· #13 · Feb 23, 2005

Is there a way for ford to check?

lo bux racer

· #14 · Feb 23, 2005

I think it would be hard to do with the tools typically available to a dealership, but there's always a way to find things out. Social engineering is a great tool for learning things you wouldn't otherwise get people to talk about.

zeromotorsports

· #15 · Feb 23, 2005

QUOTE

Ford says using anything greater than 87 octane in their standard trucks will void the warranty. I don't know why this is, but that's what they say. Toyco doesn't say this.[/b]

ive never heard that before...thats pretty messed up

QUOTE

I have seen guys dyno with extremely high octane fuels when they didn't need it (117 when 105 or 107 would have been fine) and actually lose power, but I doubt there is any difference in performance between unleaded pump fuels.[/b]

i could see how it could cause ignition problems when using extemely high octane when not needed but not with pump gas

Zygote55

· #16 · Feb 24, 2005

Originally posted by lo bux racer+Feb 22 2005, 10:03 PM-->QUOTE (lo bux racer @ Feb 22 2005, 10:03 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-Zygote55

Click to expand...

@Feb 22 2005, 04:15 PM
Why not just use chevron 87 instead of the additives in cheap gas?

Just curious....

Click to expand...

It's 8 - 11 cents a gallon more expensive. I make up the $7 for the cleaner in 2100 miles, so I get 2900 miles free. Simple economics from my perspective. [/b]

OK. I just find it easier to use my chevron card

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