91 or 94 octane any huge diff?
#1
07-27-2005, 01:55 PM
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#2
07-27-2005, 02:19 PM
The bigger chains do take extra steps to provide a quality product, but results may vary depending on the individual station. Given the choice of the two, I'd go for the 94 octane, especially during summer months. The differences might not be huge, but neither is the difference in cost (typically). If it was a domestic, then I'd say forget it, but with Japanese cars it's different. Generally speaking, our highest octane rating is closer to their lowest octane rating, which is why so many imports require Premium-grade fuel.
< EDIT > just noticed you're in Canada. Summer heat probably isn't much of an issue for you.
But I have no idea how your fuel qaulity compares to ours. For example, CA premium is **** compared to the premium available here in TX. If you were in CA, I'd say the 94 octane was a no-brainer. If I had it available here, I'd be using it. Our highest is usually between 91 - 93.
< EDIT > just noticed you're in Canada. Summer heat probably isn't much of an issue for you.
But I have no idea how your fuel qaulity compares to ours. For example, CA premium is **** compared to the premium available here in TX. If you were in CA, I'd say the 94 octane was a no-brainer. If I had it available here, I'd be using it. Our highest is usually between 91 - 93.
Last edited by GT-Ron; 07-27-2005 at 02:22 PM.
#3
07-27-2005, 02:52 PM
#6
07-27-2005, 03:41 PM
In a recent issue, of either Super Street or Sport Compact Car, they said that using 91 octane in a 350z vs. 93 octane resulted in a 10hp loss. Then there's the whole detonation/overall quality/engine etc etc etc also.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
#7
07-27-2005, 08:44 PM
Originally Posted by chaduma
In a recent issue, of either Super Street or Sport Compact Car, they said that using 91 octane in a 350z vs. 93 octane resulted in a 10hp loss. Then there's the whole detonation/overall quality/engine etc etc etc also.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
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#8
07-27-2005, 09:04 PM
Originally Posted by chaduma
In a recent issue, of either Super Street or Sport Compact Car, they said that using 91 octane in a 350z vs. 93 octane resulted in a 10hp loss. Then there's the whole detonation/overall quality/engine etc etc etc also.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
I can't remember the exacting details, but bascially, a 3 octane increase/decrease was particularly significant from what I got out of reading that article.
#9
07-27-2005, 09:23 PM
#12
07-27-2005, 10:29 PM
Understandible question and criticism of my information, no hard fillings, I'm the newbie. I did find one reference article from Sport Compact Car. I'll try to find the other one too, and post it.
Sport Compact Car Nismo 350z article
Here's a snippet from the link. Actually, the most important part regarding this discussion.
Sport Compact Car Nismo 350z article
Here's a snippet from the link. Actually, the most important part regarding this discussion.
The bad news? Only 10 hp on our dyno. Nissan claims 23 hp for all this work, and if you live in Texas, Michigan, or any of the other quickly dwindling Edens where they still sell gasoline, we'd advise you to believe them. That kind of power isn't going to happen on the regurgitated dinosaur excrement the California refineries like to call premium gas. Even in stock form, the 350Z lives its 91-octane life on the knock sensor, and with the ECU retarding timing almost as fast as the NISMO parts increase cylinder filling, there's no power to be had. What NISMO needs for the octane limited is an ECU with a less aggressive timing map, but it doesn't have one at this point.OK, enough crying about our gas. If you live in the land of 91, be prepared to splash in a few gallons of $6.00/gallon 100 octane at every fill-up if you want all those parts to make anything more than noise.
#13
07-28-2005, 12:16 AM
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Higher octane fuel has only one beneficial feature - it allows an engine to run at higher temperatures with more advanced ignition timing under higher levels of compression witout detonating / knocking. Higher octane fuel does NOT have more potential energy and will not make an engine perform better unless that engine is knocking. On modern engines with knock sensors, higher octane fuel may make the engine run better if the knock sensors are retarding the ignition timing, which hinders performance. High octane fuel does not burn cleaner, it does not clean your engine, it does not increase horsepower or torque (unless you are experiencing knock), it does not smell better, it does not increase fuel economy (unless you are experiencing knock) and is not better for the environment. If you buy higher octane fuels for any of the above reasons, STOP!
Never run lower octane fuel than is recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. If Infiniti recommends 91 octane gasoline, this means that the engine has been tuned to perform optimally without detonation on 91 octane fuel. Once you've done some modifications to your engine, the manufacturer's recommended gasoline may no longer suffice. Obviously, if you can hear detonation inside your engine in the form of pinging or "knocking", try a higher octane fuel. You will also need to run a higher grade fuel (93+ octane) if you have a supercharger, turbocharger, or if you have an ignition programmer that advances your ignition timing.
Never run lower octane fuel than is recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. If Infiniti recommends 91 octane gasoline, this means that the engine has been tuned to perform optimally without detonation on 91 octane fuel. Once you've done some modifications to your engine, the manufacturer's recommended gasoline may no longer suffice. Obviously, if you can hear detonation inside your engine in the form of pinging or "knocking", try a higher octane fuel. You will also need to run a higher grade fuel (93+ octane) if you have a supercharger, turbocharger, or if you have an ignition programmer that advances your ignition timing.
#14
07-28-2005, 12:22 AM
Originally Posted by Cactus
If you do a little research on the new Honda Accord V6 there is a 10 HP difference between 87 octane and 91 octane.
this is because the car will probably knock so the knock sensor needs to pull back timing a bit to stop the knock.
it's not the gas that is creating the power
#15
07-28-2005, 12:22 AM
Originally Posted by chaduma
Understandible question and criticism of my information, no hard fillings, I'm the newbie. I did find one reference article from Sport Compact Car. I'll try to find the other one too, and post it.
Sport Compact Car Nismo 350z article
Here's a snippet from the link. Actually, the most important part regarding this discussion.
Sport Compact Car Nismo 350z article
Here's a snippet from the link. Actually, the most important part regarding this discussion.
