Which Octane to run?

[charwest]

I typically don't push mine too hard either - on occasion, but not a lot. I did do an experiment where I filled with premium (92 typically around here) and I've had very repeatable results that increased my MPG about 2 MPG using premium - with the same driving habits. It more or less pays for itself in higher MPG, so I'm a believer in running premium now. It ran fine on regular, but premium has proven itself to definitely give a bit higher MPG.

brainstorming:

another variable might be the differing effects of city driving vs highway driving. given the vast majority of my four tank experiment in 85 vs 89 was on the highway, maybe its the lower speeds or stop/go traffic that see a performance/mpg benefit.

another variable might be that 89 isnt 'premium' enough to register any benefit. maybe as far as the engine is concerned 85 is the same as 87 is the same as 89.

still, i thought i gave it a pretty well controlled trial. four tanks in a row on each octane, no change in load/passengers, no major change in terrain characteristics, and same cruise control speed (used 70mph for all highway speed limits 60-85. if speed limit was 55 or unsafe at 70mph, we lowered speed accordingly).

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[landiscarrier]

$12-13 is not a couple dollars

Your premium must be A LOT higher than it is here in Pa. Personally, I feel the truck runs better on 93 and I plan of keeping it for a long time.....to me, it’s money well spent.

 

[rltriumph]

Ive been running 93 here in VT mainly because most stations here that have 93 octane its non ethanol premium. If im out of area I run 91 octane. Id rather not run the ethanol in my truck if I can ovoid it.

 

[T Bone]

started running 91 here in new york, (highest i can find) and by God yes i see a difference in performance all the way around. the truck loves it. my mpg is up by almost 3 mpg

 

[Shadowdraxx]

I run mine on 93 being in Texas, I was recently in AZ with 89 in it and it was noticeably sluggish at higher speeds, not sure about any MPG differences as I didn’t record it.

 

[Martyd]

Just did my first tank with 87. Got 22 mpg calculated and 23.1 computer. Going to stick with 87 for now. Will see how things go when I get some miles on it. Mainly around town truck for old guy, 2 wheel drive. FYI today's prices central CT Citgo
87 $2.07
89 $ 2.38
93 $ 2.54

 

[geophb]

Your premium must be A LOT higher than it is here in Pa. Personally, I feel the truck runs better on 93 and I plan of keeping it for a long time.....to me, it’s money well spent.

Current prices are 87 for $1.89 and 91 for $2.59. There is one station in the whole town that sells 93 but its on a single handle pump, so I get a gallon and half of previous buyers selection (usually 87).

 

[landiscarrier]

Pa it's currently $2.52 for 87 and $3.10 for 93. Gotta love living in the state with the countries highest gas tax......77 cents per gallon....which is supposed to got to road maintenance....our roads suck! ha

 

[dtech]

Pa it's currently $2.52 for 87 and $3.10 for 93. Gotta love living in the state with the countries highest gas tax......77 cents per gallon....which is supposed to got to road maintenance....our roads suck! ha

gas tax could be $5 a gallon and it still wouldn't pay for the continual maintenance operations on america's 1st super highway, the illustrious PA turnpike , plus there are cops hiding behind every other bush looking for speeders. I lived in the Pittsburgh area and when I moved back to CO I "forgot" to pay my townships qtrly tax and sent me letters for over a year trying to collect it. And the annual safety inspection was something to always look forward to, when I returned from my vehicle flunking for having a nail head sized hole in the muffler and supposedly needing brakes - which it didn't, I vented at my work office and the response was " you think it's bad now , be happy you weren't here when it was 2x a year, I patched the hole and took it back and they again flunked it saying "no patching is allowed anywhere on the exhaust" took it to another garage and they said they would pass it if I bought new windshield wipers, I said ok, they called later saying they couldn't find wipers anywhere to fit it (Saab 9000) so they just passed it. not many states still have vehicle safety inspections, CO did away with them decades ago.

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