Don't use 93. It will do absolutely NOTHING for your engine, and could actually harm your engine over time. It's a waste of money in your car. The HCH was designed to run on 87, and will do its best work with 87 in the engine. My dealer specifically told me not to use higher than 87 as well.

 

I think I will stay with 93. Thanks for the advice. I dont see how a better burning fuel would harm this little motor and with all the developement. I think its going to take more that a little better fuel to make this car go BOOM. The 93 suits my driving style when feeling zippy. dont have to worry about detonation and knock sensors. I know this car is about FE BUT I've come from a background of fast cars and faster bikes. Buying this car is a poor attempt at being a conservative.

 

That's the thing, this isn't the same kind of high-performance car that you are used to. That and higher octane doesnt mean that the fuel is better burning. In fact, it is quite the opposite depending on what you mean by "better." Higher octane fuel is more difficult to ignite, and only benefits high compression engines that need them. Now, the HCH does have a high native compresion ratio but you shouldn't let that fool you. That mechanical compression ratio is offset by the partially atkinsonized intake. In other words, the piston doesn't compress everything that it initially pulls in. It is likely to have trouble burning a grade of fuel for which it wasn't designed.

That said, you are perfectly welcome to experiment with some sort of A-B-A testing to see if you do, in fact, get better mileage with higher octane fuel. All I'm saying is that it is extremely unlikely, and you should not assume that you are doing the right thing for the car.

 

I agree with Brick.
Using higher octane gas is a waste of money for a non-high-performance car. If it doesn't recommend using Premium gas, I wouldn't bother. You are very unlikely to notice a difference - in performance or in MPG.
There IS a chance that the adjustments the car makes if you use Premium could, over time, be a detriment to the engine.
This topic has been discussed (to death) in this and many other forums. I'd check some out before spending extra $$$ on gas.

Now - if you can get ahold of gas without the 10% ethanol added into it - that'll make a difference (no matter what the gas-grade)! For my area, I'm stuck with the 90/10 blend. It sucks.

 

the rest of this group are being to kind,blabla...bla bla knows didly about this car, but i guess we really can't tell bla bla bablateration anything... that we know are TRUE FACTS about 93 vs. 87 octane

 

What am I supposed to know about this car?

 

Only that it is NOT a high-performance engine, and as such, will likely not benefit from higher octane gasoline. And it could be harmful over time.
Unless that higher octane gasoline has less ethanol in it than the standard grade gasoline (which is doubtful - as this is usually a decision made area by area or state by state).

 

If anything, higher octane gasoline would have more ethanol rather than less. Ethanol has a very high octane rating by itself (over 100 I think?) and would inherently raise the octane rating of any fuel blend into which it is incorporated.

 

OK. Heres the stats so far from the car on this tank. 504 miles traveled with 3 bars of fuel left. AVG MPG currently @ 47.2 and I went around the racetrack again a couple laps. AVG on trip B which has not been reset is 44.1 over 1,532.1. Hypermilling is a few miles away.

 

Excellent!
It took me much longer to get a tank of 47 MPG.