If I am wrong in any way please correct me!
Many people here use HOBC either completely or in a 50:50 ratio. They use in in their civics, toyotas and even in cars like alto etc.
Some of the reasons I think they use HOBC are:
1. Getting more miles per tank: Not necessarily higher octane blends contain about the same amount of energy as regular fuel.(Some times even less e.g Ethanol blends have higher octane but low energy.) In any case even if you get more Km from a tank it will still be not that much and still increase your rupee per Km cost.
2. Getting more performance: Engine that need 87 RON will not perform better in most cases. On the other hand using a lower octane fuel than recommended will decrease performance and km/tank. Mostly high performance/high compression engines like in sports cars or luxury vehicles need higher Octane fuel.
3. Because the fuel quality here is bad and high octane some how increases it: The quality of gasoline and the additive package usually affect the rate of engine wear more than the octane rating. Basically what this means is that it matters more where you buy your gas than which grade you purchase.
4. Because regular fuel will kill their catalytic converter: Actually Higher octane burns slower and if your vehicle is not able to completely burn the fuel it will poison the cat and kill it. Also in my opinion using engine oils with older grades that are not safe for cats, contributes more to this failure.
5. Beacuse high octane will clean their fuel system: According to most sources on the internet they have same levels of detergents and additives as regular grade and the additives in fuel depends on the company(like caltex shell etc) that is processing the fuel.
Question: I just purchased a 2005 Buick LeSabre with 3800 engine. i live in iowa and need to know what octane gas would be best for this vehicle.Answer: High octane gas might help lower NOx if your vehicle suffers from this failure. High octane burns cooler and slower (keeping NOx low), but it also produces less power which your engine might not be ready for. This could cause other emissions such as HC and CO to increase. It is recommended to use ONLY the manufactures required octane at all times, specially during a smog test. Your vehicle's emissions computer is programmed to process information based on it's required fuel octane. The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline:
Are you tempted to buy a high octane gasoline for your vehicle because you want to improve performance? If so, the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane (87). In most cases using a higher octane gasoline than your owner?s manual recommends offers no benefit. It won?t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.
If your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel you might want to try filling a higher octane level. A small number of vehicle might experience engine knock using the recommend gas octane.
Buying higher octane gasoline when your engine is not knocking is a waste of money. Premium gas typically costs 15 to 20 cents more per gallon than regular. Studies show that vehicle owners may be spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year paying for higher octane gas than needed.
So what are octane ratings? Octane ratings are a measure a gasoline?s ability to combust; resist engine knock. Engine knock is a pinging or rattling noise that results from premature ignition of the fuel-air mixture in one or more engine cylinders. Gas stations offer three octane grades: regular (87 octane), mid-grade (89 octane - a mixture of 87 and 92/93, mixed at the gas station) and premium (usually 92 or 93). The ratings are posted on yellow stickers on each gasoline pump.
What octane should you choose for your car? Read your vehicle owner?s manual to determine the right octane level for your car. Most vehicles requires regular octane. However, some high performance cars with high compression engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, require mid-grade or premium gasoline to prevent knock.
You can tell if you're using the right octane level by listening to your car?s engine. If it is not knocking, pinging or rattling when you use the recommended octane, you?re using the right grade of gasoline.
FORUM - Fuel Octane Ratings. High octane gas might help lower NOx - SmogTips.com. Will higher octane gasoline clean my engine, remove carbon deposits or lower nox emissions. Knocking, pinging or rattling when you use the recommended octane. Regular 8
As for those who earnestly believe (and quite a few do) that filling the family Toyota with premium will somehow make it go faster or deliver more miles to the gallon, all one can say is don?t bother. As one wit noted, the only thing it will make run faster is money from your pocket.
Octane ratings: Difference Engine: Who needs premium? | The Economist
Most cars are designed to burn regular unleaded gas with an octane rating of 87. If the vehicle needs a higher octane rating this requirement is noted in the owner's manual and usually under the fuel gauge and by the gas tank.Gasoline Factors That Matter
The quality of gasoline and the additive package usually affect the rate of engine wear more than the octane rating. Basically what this means is that it matters more where you buy your gas than which grade you purchase.
Regular Unleaded Gasoline
The recommended gasoline for most cars is regular 87 octane. One common misconception is that higher octane gasoline contains more cleaning additives than lower octane gas. All octane grades of all brands of gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against engine deposit build-up. In fact, using a gasoline with too high of an octane rating may cause damage to the emissions system.
Premium Gasoline
Certain high performance engines benefit from use of high octane fuel. For other engines, using a fuel with a higher octane rating than the vehicle requires sends unburned fuel into the emissions system and catalytic converter.
Which Gasoline Should You Buy - Gasoline Chemistry
What Are Octane Ratings?Octane ratings measure a gasoline's ability to resist engine knock, a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders. Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular, usually 87 octane, mid-grade, usually 89 octane and premium, usually 92 or 93. The ratings must be posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump.
What's The Right Octane Level For Your Car?
Check your owner's manual to determine the right octane level for your car. Regular octane is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, need mid-grade or premium gasoline to prevent knock.
How Can You Tell If You're Using The Right Octane Level?
Listen to your car's engine. If it doesn't knock when you use the recommended octane, you're using the right grade of gasoline.
Will Higher Octane Gasoline Clean Your Engine Better?
As a rule, high-octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car's engine. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that all octane grades of all brands of gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against the build-up of harmful levels of engine deposits during the expected life of your car.
Should You Ever Switch To A Higher Octane Gasoline?
A few car engines may knock or ping, even if you use the recommended octane. If this happens, try switching to the next highest octane grade. In many cases, switching to the mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will eliminate the knock. If the knocking or pinging continues after one or two fill-ups, you may need a tune-up or some other repair. After that work is done, go back to the lowest octane grade at which your engine runs without knocking.
Is Knocking Harmful?
Occasional light knocking or pinging won't harm your engine, and doesn't indicate a need for higher octane. But don't ignore severe knocking. A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.
The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
Gasoline & Octane Ratings
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