Premium Gas in 2013 GDI V6?

[Mark_888]

Has there been any scientific studies that show that Premium isn't a waste of money in cars that don't require it????

• First, I personally have not recommended 100% premium in the V6. However, I personally use mid-grade in my V6 and it seems to run quieter and with a little more power, and a little more MPG. Actually I put in about 1/3 premium and 2/3 regular because it cheaper than mid-grade.
• According to Hyundai, the Genesis V8 (any variety 2009-2015) can run on regular or premium (and obviously mid-grade). With premium, Hyundai says the V8 gets about 7 more HP than regular. Presumably it gets better MPG also, since premium was used in the EPA mileage testing. This is the case because the engine electronics (such as continuous variable valve timing, etc) can enable the engine to adapt to either fuel and take advantage of the higher octane if it is used. This is a far cry from older engines that were not sophisticated enough to adapt the octane level in the gas.
• Now the question is, can the V6 do the same as the V8 (take advantage of the higher octane fuel with its computer controlled engine). I believe that it can to some degree, but not I am not 100% sure if it takes full advantage of premium since I personally have only tested it with mid-grade. However, I would not be surprised if the V6 could take full advantage of premium (like the V8).
• The advantage of specifying regular on the V6 is that it offers a lower cost of ownership to buyers, especially compared to other cars in the same class. They may have done the V6 EPA tests with both regular and premium, but maybe the results came out the same due to rounding (EPA ratings are whole numbers only).

 

[Bill K]

Wouldn't you think that Hyundai would jump at the chance of saying that with Premium gas, the V6 gets 340H.P.??? (over 333)

It's possible that the engine responds better with Premium, after the valves get carboned up.

 

[Mark_888]

Wouldn't you think that Hyundai would jump at the chance of saying that with Premium gas, the V6 gets 340H.P.??? (over 333)

It's possible that the engine responds better with Premium, after the valves get carboned up.

At one time, I did see some preliminary Hyundai literature on the 2015 V6 that said it could use regular or premium. The 7 HP was for the V8, and maybe it would be only 5 HP for the V6.

Hyundai probably figures that people who are really concerned about a little extra HP would get the V8 instead. The danger of mentioning premium for V6 is that potential buyers may think that it runs better on premium, and that adds up to additional operating expense over the life of the car, so they may have chosen not to mention it for the V6.

I have a pre-GDI V6, so I don't have the carbon problem, and I think my engine runs better with mid-grade compared to regular.

 

[AgentSmith007]

Yesterday (Sunday) morning i went to Costco gas station to put gas in my car. I had half tank left of Costco regular 87 from last Sunday. And I used regular gas since I bought my Genesis.

After reading some posts in this thread I decided to put 91 gas to fill the tank (Costco doesn't have mid-grade gas). Driving this morning (Monday) to work I could feel the difference. Throttle response was faster, engine sound was smoother at high RPMs. I got better MPG (24) while driving 18 miles to work where only 2 miles are a freeway driving.

 

[craigt]

I let my tank run down and filled with Shell 93. The tank lasted me about 2 weeks (my commute is only 8 miles). I really tried to feel a difference. Drove normally, drove aggressively, used full auto, used manual shift. Gave the car to my wife to drive (without telling her of the gas grade change). No difference.

This past weekend, I re-filled with Shell 87. Drove from MA to RI for our son's baseball playoff games. No difference.

11,500 miles on the engine. Use Shell gas 95% of the time (Mobile the other 5%). I also have the magnet removed from the flapper door.

Will continue to use the recommended top tier regular.

 

[valeron]

I've compared the MPG on a 2012 3.8GDI using Costco 87 and 91 gas (average over a few tanks). Neglectable difference.

 

[Mark_888]

I've compared the MPG on a 2012 3.8GDI using Costco 87 and 91 gas (average over a few tanks). Neglectable difference.

Try half and half (premium and regular). Also, I think you need a lot of highway driving to see any real increase in MPG. And by highway, I don't mean crawling along at 20 MPH on a California freeway.

 

[thompithak3182]

http://www.hyundainews.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/33807
the genesis has a 11.5 to 1 ratio. it can run 93 octane with no problem.

 

[craigt]

Most car engines can "run" 93 octane, though engines designed for 87 will not benefit from 93. The question being posed is whether 93 is *better* for this particular engine vs regular (87).

I saw no difference between 87 and 93. I always use top tier and feel comfortable with my decision to continue using 87.

 

[SoCalGen]

With a 50/50 mix of city and highway I'm averaging 16mpg in the Genesis :-(

Although I do have a heavy foot. I'm going to try and drive like a grandpa for a few weeks and see what that does. Also, re-installing the flapper door and stock air filter.

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[AgentSmith007]

I'm going to try and drive like a grandpa for a few weeks and see what that does.

That will do it. That's how I get 21-24mpg with my V8 in mixed (mostly city driving) when I am in "grandpa" mood. Plus I use the so-called "push-n-roll" technique.

 

[LandoAWD]

Most car engines can "run" 93 octane, though engines designed for 87 will not benefit from 93. The question being posed is whether 93 is *better* for this particular engine vs regular (87).

I saw no difference between 87 and 93. I always use top tier and feel comfortable with my decision to continue using 87.

How is it a "question" when Hyundai specifically states gains from using premium fuel? Knock threshold is not imaginary...

 

[craigt]

How is it a "question" when Hyundai specifically states gains from using premium fuel? Knock threshold is not imaginary...

The 2013 V6 manual states that 93 is preferred? Last I checked, it states 87 top tier, and if top tier is not available, to use gas additives every so often.

 

[LandoAWD]

The 2013 V6 manual states that 93 is preferred? Last I checked, it states 87 top tier, and if top tier is not available, to use gas additives every so often.

Are we just adding in words to suit our position, or...?
Hyundai, across models, advertises gains with premium fuel.

 

[craigt]

Are we just adding in words to suit our position, or...?
Hyundai, across models, advertises gains with premium fuel.

Here's the thing: I can read. The 2013 manual clearly states 87 octane for the 3.8. It does state that 91 can be used in the 5.0 for "optimum" performance.

What you state above, according to printed Hyundai documentation, is inaccurate.

 

[Mark_888]

Here's the thing: I can read. The 2013 manual clearly states 87 octane for the 3.8. It does state that 91 can be used in the 5.0 for "optimum" performance.

What you state above, according to printed Hyundai documentation, is inaccurate.

I saw some preliminary information from Hyundai on the 2015 that said the V6 could run premium for better HP. But after they got the final EPA MPG numbers, they only mentioned regular in the Owner's Manual.

In the old days, engines were "designed" for a specific octane, but newer engines with variable timing, etc can usually benefit from higher octane to some degree. The decision of what to recommend is often a marketing decision, related to the public perception of cost-of-ownership. Obviously, someone who buys a V8 is less concerned with cost-of-ownership than someone who buys a V6.

 

[craigt]

I saw some preliminary information from Hyundai on the 2015 that said the V6 could run premium for better HP. But after they got the final EPA MPG numbers, they only mentioned regular in the Owner's Manual.

That may be true, but also we need to take into account the 2015 3.8 is tuned differently than the 2013 V6. Part of that tuning could have made premium affect the HP, while the 2013 runs at max HP with regular.

This is all hearsay and rumor. Until someone spends the time (and money) to dyno the 2013 V6 to run a true comparison of 87 vs 93, this is a moot topic. In the end, the manual states what is recommended.

 

[Mark_888]

That may be true, but also we need to take into account the 2015 3.8 is tuned differently than the 2013 V6. Part of that tuning could have made premium affect the HP, while the 2013 runs at max HP with regular.

This is all hearsay and rumor. Until someone spends the time (and money) to dyno the 2013 V6 to run a true comparison of 87 vs 93, this is a moot topic. In the end, the manual states what is recommended.

I have done testing on a 2009 V6 and noticed an improvement using mid-grade gas. I know you don't accept that as evidence, but I don't really care (no offense to you).

Myths about cars die hard. The thing is that technology has revolutionized almost all aspects of automobiles, including engine technology. It is relatively easy these days to design an engine that can use different octane levels, and take advantage of higher octane gas when used.

The only thing that hasn't changed is that cars still have a rear-view mirror, and unfortunately a lot of people use it view the whole world.

 

[craigt]

I have done testing on a 2009 V6 and noticed an improvement using mid-grade gas. I know you don't accept that as evidence, but I don't really care (no offense to you).

No offense taken, but your test is pointless based on the topic of this thread. We're talking about the GDI V6.

 

[LandoAWD]

You mean the kind of engine that can benefit from the detergents in higher grade fuels? Still no benefits, since that's not in the written literature, I guess.