in your car?
2006-09-12 04:53:38 · 8 answers · asked by skinnywayne 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
You'll get better mileage from the regular gas if your car is OK to run on it (check your manual).
The big myth about premium gas is that it produces better performance, when the truth is that high performance cars often call for premium gas. Many people get the correlation wrong and figure that higher octane gas is more combustible, but it is actually less volatile than regular. Octane actually reduces combustibility which is why it is often needed in performance cars that run high-compression motors. High compression motors can cause gas to fire before the combustion chamber is completely full, this causes a miss-fire or "knock". By adding more octane to the mix the gas becomes less likely to combust prematurely.
So, if you can run regular gas (most new cars can) you get more "bang for your buck" and better mileage from regular.
2006-09-12 05:20:18 · answer #1 · answered by morgan w 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i'm guessing that the X5 has an antiknock sensor that retards the ignition whilst it senses knock from too low an octane gas. If it does, you will merely lose the countless capability of the engine till you positioned the right octane gas contained in the motor vehicle. If it does no longer have an antiknock sensor and popular gas reasons the engine to knock or ping, then you definately will injury the engine in case you persistentlychronic on a similar time as the engine is knocking. Use the octane gas that the owner's instruction manual tells you to apply, not extra, no much less.
2016-09-30 21:12:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally no. The only time you would get better gas mileage with permium gasoline was if the car required premium gasoline. Otherwise, if the car runs properly on regular gas, you will not get better gas mileage with premium.
2006-09-12 05:00:09 · answer #3 · answered by pvreditor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really...You're taking the opposite tack from the majority of drivers though. It would be nice if BTU (energy or fuel potency) ratings were posted at the pump as well as octane.
People who say and think that octane ratings correlate to gas mileage are perpetuating a huge falsehood!
Octane ratings are strictly a fuels ability to resist knock, ping, detonation or pre-ignition...NOTHING ELSE!!!
This rating has nothing to do with the fuel BTU (energy content)!
Yes, certain gasoline is more efficient than others. Usually better name brand gas has beneficial injector cleaning additives which in the long run could give you better mileage. One tank is not enough to tell which one has the better additives. One tank IS enough to tell which one has the better BTU. If you try a "super" rated gas (slightly higher octane) lower price (lower BTU) you will get lower mpg. If you car CAN burn regular and the owners manual recommends regular (85-87 octane) then you will increase your operating expenses by putting higher octane fuel in this car!
That's what we all seem to want right? higher operating expenses? That's what premium will get you if you don't need it. Premium is strictly for vehicles with a higher compression ratio or supercharged (turbo, roots type supercharger, etc.) intake systems. If you want to waste your money and get the same mileage then burn premium...it won't hurt your engine but it won't do you any good. If you FEEL that it makes your car run better, longer, stronger, faster or any other things that you might FEEL then go ahead; your peace of mind is certainly worth the added average of $230 a year. It won't hurt your car and if it makes your heart feel good then go ahead and waste the money. The gas stations will make more money from you and with their higher profits they will be able to lower the margin for the regular gas for me.
Bottom line? Clean your injectors every 10-20k miles (regardless of which gas you use) and burn the gas with the lowest price and highest BTU that's recommended by the manufacturer (regular for low compression and premium for others)
10% alcohol blend will give you less mileage but some vehicles can claim a better cost-per-mile due to the reduced price.
Don't fall for the myth about octane means mileage; it just absolutely doesn't!
ps...as a side note...
if you're comparing to "super" grades (alcohol blends) then you're MOST LIKELY RIGHT! Alcohol contains less energy than gasoline. It make sense that diluting your fuel with anything with less energy will result in a formula with over-all less energy. Regular is not diluted..."Super" grades are. Premium is not diluted so can deliver similar mileage to Regular but at a higher cost per mile.
Source(s):
The Book "Great Gas Mileage"--Wes Shaw
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Great%20Gas%20Mileage%3A%20How%20to%20Keep%20Some%20of%20the%20Money%20You%27re%20Spending%20on%20Gas:3004648283;_ylc=X3oDMTB1c21tcDhkBF9TAzk2NjMyOTA3BHNlYwNmZWVkBHNsawNib29rcw--
2006-09-14 03:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by GreatGasMileage 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i own a repair shop,,and i have compared the two,,and honestly,,i do get better mileage from regular than i do the high test or premium gas,,for me the only difference was ,,that i was paying more for one than the other,,and on most cars i have seen it works that way,,i own a repair shop,,and i have tried about everything to get better mileage,,the one thing that works for me is keeping my car tuned good that is the best hing you can do,,keep it in good running condition,,and it will run good on regular,,good luck,,i hope this help,s.
2006-09-12 05:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. actually, most engines today are built around specs that call for regular gas.
i thought for years that i was giving my car a 'treat' by putting premium in it. turns out i was just spending more money at the pump. the regular stuff works just as well as the premium and costs a lot less.
2006-09-12 05:00:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use the fuel recommended for your vehicle. Putting in higher octane than needed only makes your wallet lighter.
2006-09-12 05:00:10 · answer #7 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-09-12 04:55:23 · answer #8 · answered by Al Bundy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋