cindy42

I just got a 2004 RX-8 2 weeks ago. Before that, I've spent the last 11 years putting premium gas in my 1998 Contour SVT. When I bought that car new it used to cost me $16-18 to fill it up. Now it costs$55-60. But one thing hasn't changed about the cost. It only costs $2-3 more PER TANK to use premium. This is a High output engine with computer timing set to use hotter fuel. So, I'd say paying $2 more per fill up is worth taking your engine 155,000 miles and beyond rather than trying to be a cheap *** over a fill up that is already costing over $50. What's another $2 at that point?? It's not even a gallon of gas total. Quit whining, treat your car nice. It's about timing/ spark/ etc. They people that made it didn't just put the sticker there to be asshats.

I know it's similar to previous posts, but a more realistic example. And where is premium so much more?? Usually only 20 cents more. Today I passed a place it was only 2 cents more. They deserve a nobel peace prize.

YaXMaNGTO

^^^ spoken like a fellow GTO owner...
Here in Austin now, we never see less than 22 cents difference between premium and regular unleaded, and it's variable. A few years ago, you didn't even need to know the plus and premium prices, because they were always 10 cents more for plus, and another 10 cents for premium, every single day of the year and at every gas station.

I've seen a high of 30 cents above regular for premium now, and if fluctuates from gas station to gas station on the same day. WTF?

cindy42

I bought sports cars, I didn't buy a Corolla. Anyway, I see the GTO requires synthetic oil and premium fuel before I buy it, okay, I guess that's what a big nasty engine needs, so I sure as heck don't want to buy a big nasty engine because I didn't take care of it. Torque is fun, must keep torque happy. Premium burns hotter and burns off more than regular. Isn't that what all this carbon talk is about the 8? Anyway, I haven't made it to 155,000 trouble free miles on a Ford by skimping on services. Still runs great, doesn't use/leak oil, comes out clean between changes.

Glyphon

temperature of the burn (ie, "burns hotter") has nothing to do with anything. the A/F mix has either combusted, or it hasn't.

the higher the octane rating, the more it resists combustion, to prevent predetonation. stated another way, higher octanes are harder to combust and burn slower than lower octanes.

because the combustion "chamber" of the rotary engine is much longer than in a piston engine, a higher octane fuel is less likely to burn off completely and therefor more likely to leave carbon residue.

that is one reason why the spark plugs fire 3x for each rotor face (trailing-leading-trailing), to burn off as much of A/F mix as possible.

so, the short answer is, to use the lowest octane that won't ping because lower octanes burn more easily. the easier it is to combust, the faster it will combust, and the more completely the fuel will combust.

octane ratings has nothing to do with the detergents/cleaners put in the fuel, so a lower octane fuel will have the same additives as a higher octane fuel of the same brand.

do you own research on this by searching "octane myths" on your favorite search engine.

Deathwatch

Just use the good ****.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

I've done the math in many threads like this:

Think about it: no matter how expensive gas is, premium gas is always 20 cents higher than regular. Fill your tank up once a week at the 8's tank size and you save $135 a year if gas is one buck per gallon or ten bucks. So if you're looking for big savings in gas, or think premium is what's going to break the bank, you'd do better by skipping Starbucks twice a week.

I just think of it as $135 a year to keep my warranty.

champi0n

iTrader: (1)

for those people that don't know... buying another car to "offset" the gas price of the RX8, is MORE EXPENSIVE!!! omg what? more expensive? but another car will save u ~$10 a week in gas!!

You'll have to buy another car, register it, insure it, maintain it, etc. So now with a 2nd car you pay more then you would have with 1 car that eats gas.

Even if you had a "Free" car or already own a 2nd car.... its STILL more expensive then having one.

The next option: Selling your rx8 to get a car better on fuel economy. Still you'll be at a loss. You lose a few grand selling the rx8 to get another car instead. Unless its a beater of a piece of ****... in which case you've lost a few grand selling the rx8, but made up for it buying a car that u have to fix up in 8-12 months... Better off keeping the rx8.

Next option. converting to hydrogen hybrid.... cost is unknown but likely a few grand (3k?). Better then the first 2 options because the cost to convert is the cost you'd pay for the extra insurance/registration/car, or what you'd lose selling the rx8... but now you still own and drive the car you love. While you now get the same or better MPG then some other car, (granted less hp while on hydro, but u still look good and prob has more hp then the car you would have gotten).

All the above options will cost you money.... your best and simplest option is to invest in an empty gas can and a hose. (upgrade to a battery and universal fuel pump for speed if u can afford the extra $20-$40). And STEAL YOUR GAS!!!

Stealing gas isn't illegal because the gouging the government and fuel companies are stealing your money... so it balances out.

plus if everyone is stealing gas... its not being sold... so the price will drop.

wankelhead

I drive approx 30mi/day and have tried many premium brands. Have had the best perfromance and gas mileage from Shell v-power premuim gasoline (92 octane). In fact I get a full extra day of driving compared to any other premium or regular octane brand, don't know why. So with the extra couple gallons I am getting with the premium, I am actually saving money by not buying 87. Go figure. Plus, the 8 needs it, period.

CarAndDriver

Dino gas.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

No, it doesn't

ILoveFI

I pump premium, I figured out it only costs $1-2 more a fill up...and I never fill up since I'm broke most of the time. Always have, ever since my 93 BMW (which seriously REQUIRED PREMIUM or it would bog for some reason), to my 240sx to the RX8

RatedX8

Actually premium costs approx 22 cents more per gallon than regular here in the SF Bay Area. Times 16 gallons = $3.52 per tank. I used premium for a while and moved down to regular. Now I use regular all the time, no loss of power, no change in gas mileage and even drove in 105 degree temperature. No detonation, no problems.

wankelhead

Oh, no you didn't just stick your tongue out at me Yes, it does.

ShinkaTeen

91.

i am 18 and a soon to be college student with a now 4.80 in ca.

the xtra 20 cents doesnt really bug me.

yeah yeah yeah it adds up. whatever .


love ur 8? get premium.

dont love it ? shovel mud into it.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

Read your user manual. It doesn't say "required", but "recommended". "Required" would mean that it needs it.

wankelhead

Based on your narrow view , yes you are correct, it does not "require" premuim. However, it is "recommended" for a reason. Bottom line is if you like your 8, run it on premium. If you don't like your 8, run it on whatever the hell you want, just don't come back and ask why your car won't start later. IMO, it needs it, wait maybe it's better said that it "WANTS" it.

delhi

If saving $2-3 bux helps you feel better go for it. 8-yrs/160,000km warranty FTW.

MTLbroker

Ever notice that while the gas station offers 3 different grades of gas, there's only one truck to fill the tanks of the gas station??!!??
Just kidding.... Used 89 octane for the better part of 4 years and never had a problem...... Cheers.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

No need to get offensive, dude. I merely stated a fact, that's all - how is that a "narrow view"?
I like my car very much - that has nothing to do with what the car "wants" (if there is such a thing, seeing that it's not alive).
But whatever.

mmats69

Had my 8 for 3 years and always ran 87 with HARD DRIVING. I never shifted below 5 grand first through third gear and never ran the first drop of "premium gasoline". ZERO problems