DOes it behoove us hybrid drivers to use high octance gas? Does the higher octance impart any benefits environmental or other wise? Should we use it all? if so liberaly or keep it to a minimum? Thanks for your time lads and lassies

 

Used it once and no difference.Kevin

 

The only obvious difference is a lighter pocket.

I've heard long term that it can damage your engine.

 

I normally used high octane but I switched to the cheapest gas and I have no complaints. I even seem to get marginally better mileage. No knock or loss of performance. I also use a gas card so I get a 5% additional savings.

 

Never used premium and the car hasn't given me a reason to start yet.

 

try it for yourself- go 2 or 3 tanks on premium and make the determination. If your mpg is better, and better enough to offeset the price difference, then use it and ignore what everyone says. If not, then don't use it.

The 20cent difference now is only 7.5%, as opposed to 20cents at 1.50 a gallon- 13%. Its fairly unlikely that premium will give you a 7.5% mpg boost.

In general, if your manual states that 87 is the recommended octane, you will not get an improvement by using premium. But not always.

Premium gas only burns more slowly- (higher octane equivalent content, lower septane/hexane, which ignite at lower temp/pressure) reducing knocking/pinging in older engines that could not sense that and adjust timing automatically. That definitely improved performance and mileage in those engines. It may have more detergent in it too.

In my HAH, no difference. Thus, back to 87 for me.

 

the high octane stuff hurts the engine? or the low octance stuff? I just need to say thanks for responding I am a complete car novice I just got my license at 27 at the end of December-the first time i went to fill the tank i ask the clerk how i was supposed to remove the plastic thingy around the gas tank-i thought it was something like a safety seal on a soda bottle that needed to be removed inorder to be opened. so that should give you a sense of the depth and breadth o my ingorance

 

Oh and GONAVY-billy goat beats donkey as a mascot any day-thanks for the petite science lesson

 

neither can hurt.

just to add to the science- higher octane doesn't burn slower so much as it has a higher vapor pressure, making it harder to go BOOM. It takes more pressure/temp to detonate, which effectively delays the process, thus 'slower.'

 

Cylinder pressures are so low in ordinary driving that you really can't utilize higher octane fuels anyway. I would stick to 87. By the way, WELCOME!!