What will happen if you put less than Octane 89 in the tank? My husband says you have to put 89 in the tank all the time and 87 would damage the engine.
People that really know something on the subject, please reply only. Thanks.
2007-09-21 01:12:07 · 17 answers · asked by Michelle 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
NO! Premium fuel is required for any engine with a power adder such as a supercharger or turbo. The octane is needed to prevent predetonation due to the higher cylinder pressures. When predetonation occurs it creates very high temperatures and hammer like forces that can damage pistons and head gaskets. The short version, 87 octane will cause expensive major engine damage, only use the best fuel.
2007-09-21 01:40:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the manufacturer. I've got a factory supercharged Grand Prix. GM's official line is that premium gas is recommended for max engine performance, but gas with an octane rating down to 87 can safely be used.
If you use 87 octane, the engine will start to ping. The knock sensor will detect it before it gets anywhere near bad enough to damage anything and will tell the computer to yank all the timing out. The engine will run safely, but you'll suffer a loss of power.
2007-09-21 02:07:37 · answer #2 · answered by czimme3 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
87 octane doesnt have the flash point that 89 or 93 octane has. running 87 octane can damage, or put a hole through a piston. It isnt like if you put 87 in the mustang it will blow up. If Ford went to the trouble to recommonding 89, do it! personally i would always use octane 93
2007-09-21 03:57:05 · answer #3 · answered by fierofreak179 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Any supercharger ot turbocharger more efficiently packs more air / fuel into the cumbustion chambers. When this happens secondary flame fronts that cause pre-ignition can happen when using low octane fuel. As you crowd or squeeze the acellerator petal you may hear the sound of empty guart milk bottles clanking together or a pinging sound.
Todays cars are equipped with knock sensors that limit or retard ignition timing when this happens. The full horsepower and torque potential is lost when this happens. Fuel economy also suffers.
When you hear a pinging sound or bottles clanking excess heat can cause valve, piston and ring damage. If your car calls for higher octane fuel be sure your using it for the overall health of your motor.
In this case please listen to your husband! I know men aren't too sharp around the house (I hear it all the time) but on some issues (cars) he's on the ball.
Good luck to you and yours!
2007-09-21 02:24:47 · answer #4 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The supercharged engine has a more advanced timing. the problem with 87 is it will "prefire" causing a ping noise as you accelerate, the higher octane fuel is more precise, so that "ping" isn't there.
Short term will do little or no damage, but over time will cause big problems. run higher octane fuel, it doesn't cost that much more.....
2007-09-21 01:18:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It will only damage the engine if you hear pinging. However, you may notice a significant loss of performance. Just FYI, the octane label states the minimum octane rating of that fuel. It is usually higher anyway.
2007-09-21 01:15:54 · answer #6 · answered by Jody D 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Today's engine has a anti-knock sensor. I use the cheapest gas there is. I will try with small amounts if see if it works for you. I would say that will not hurt it. So what is 89 vs 87? Just 2? That is if is a regular stock car engine that came like that from factory. If he installed by means of a kit, I would stick to the 89.
2007-09-21 01:48:42 · answer #7 · answered by spammer 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
run the mgr specified octane rating. if you run a lower octane a few things can happen.
-either the engine will ping (predetonation) which results in internal damage.
-the engine will see knock or ping and retard ingition or throttle and lower engine output.
run the correct octane.
2007-09-21 01:42:29 · answer #8 · answered by chevy_man_rob 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check the handbook to see what the manufacturer says.
But your husband is probably right on this due to the effective pressure supercharged cars run at.
Running on too-low an octane rating will cause overheating and pre-ignition which will wreck your pistons and big ends in not much time at all.
2007-09-21 01:17:15 · answer #9 · answered by Steve C 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Unless your using a really good addative like Torqo I would not put it in there - it will cause preignition - and pinging .
Not good for a blower motor. I run 108 Octane in my BB 8-71 blown S10
2007-09-21 01:44:48 · answer #10 · answered by cgriffin1972 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋