Is there any benefits to premium gas on Hyundai Genesis 3.8 2015/2016

[Mark_888]

hp/torque ratings...

From whom? Where? I am pretty sure that manufacturers have to use the same gas on their specs as they use in EPA tests, unless they specifically mention which grade of gas they are referring to.

For the 1G Genesis, Hyundai specifically published different HP and Torque ratings for both regular and premium gas on the 4.6 V8, but not on the 3.8L V6. However, it would not surprise me at all if the 3.8L V6 gets better HP and Torque with premium gas, it is just I have not seen that info published anywhere (not saying it doesn't exist).

 

[TroyK]

From whom? Where? I am pretty sure that manufacturers have to use the same gas on their specs as they use in EPA tests, unless they specifically mention which grade of gas they are referring to.

For the 1G Genesis, Hyundai specifically published different HP and Torque ratings for both regular and premium gas on the 4.6 V8, but not on the 3.8L V6. However, it would not surprise me at all if the 3.8L V6 gets better HP and Torque with premium gas, it is just I have not seen that info published anywhere (not saying it doesn't exist).

That info was in a Hyundai press release or brochure when the G2 Genesis came out. I'll have to see if i can find that info again...

 

[Mark_888]

That info was in a Hyundai press release or brochure when the G2 Genesis came out. I'll have to see if i can find that info again...

I think I saw that also prior to the actually availability of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, but never saw it again in any official publication once the car was available.

 

[TroyK]

I think I saw that also prior to the actually availability of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, but never saw it again in any official publication once the car was available.

For now all i could find was this 2015 brochure. If you scroll to the specs page, it says the hp/torque ratings are based on premium fuel.

 

[classyobi]

For now all i could find was this 2015 brochure. If you scroll to the specs page, it says the hp/torque ratings are based on premium fuel.

Huh well What do you, proof of premium gas...The whole Genesis 2G Owners should be shocked. So In reality premium for top performance and regular for the ones who want to save a penny.

 

[Mark_888]

For now all i could find was this 2015 brochure. If you scroll to the specs page, it says the hp/torque ratings are based on premium fuel.

I noticed that is a Hyundai Canada Brochure. I don't think Hyundai Motor America recommended premium back then, or at least by the time the car was first delivered they went back to regular.

In many cases, it is a marketing decision, as they don't want customers to think that the operating costs are too high.

 

[BlancaGenny]

OK, that makes sense to never go below what the engine was designed for even it you "can" do it.

Heck, I should go have Burger King and McDonald's for every meal since I "can" do it... Only teasing. If I'm able to give my car top-grade care, I'll be doing that. I think we all know we pay a little more for our cars than we really should but that's an enthusiast's mindset. I'll be happy to substitute a Filet Mignon with a New York Strip to save a few coin for "other" hobbies.

 

[TroyK]

I noticed that is a Hyundai Canada Brochure. I don't think Hyundai Motor America recommended premium back then, or at least by the time the car was first delivered they went back to regular.

In many cases, it is a marketing decision, as they don't want customers to think that the operating costs are too high.

Still makes me think the hp/torque ratings are based on using "premium" fuel. I know in the 2015 press release it mentioned that the 3.8L will only have a slight degradation in performance using "regular" fuel. But, HERE is another wrinkle!! In the 2018 G80 press release it shows hp/torque ratings based on "regular" for the 3.8L, but shows two ratings for hp/torque with the v8/3.3T depending upon whether you use reg/premium.

 

[1FstYota]

Still makes me think the hp/torque ratings are based on using "premium" fuel. I know in the 2015 press release it mentioned that the 3.8L will only have a slight degradation in performance using "regular" fuel. But, HERE is another wrinkle!! In the 2018 G80 press release it shows hp/torque ratings based on "regular" for the 3.8L, but shows two ratings for hp/torque with the v8/3.3T depending upon whether you use reg/premium.

That's cause NA engines are little bit less senstive than turbo'd engines, when you cram all that heated air in, you need all the octane you can get to prevent detonation. I run barely 18psi on pump gas and reduced timing for safety on pump, and upwards of 45psi on E98, so that's how much of a difference it is.

 

[Mark_888]

Still makes me think the hp/torque ratings are based on using "premium" fuel. I know in the 2015 press release it mentioned that the 3.8L will only have a slight degradation in performance using "regular" fuel. But, HERE is another wrinkle!! In the 2018 G80 press release it shows hp/torque ratings based on "regular" for the 3.8L, but shows two ratings for hp/torque with the v8/3.3T depending upon whether you use reg/premium.

Yes, the 3.3TT (like the 5.0 V8) is rated for both regular and premium. The official published stats will be for premium, since that is the gas that the EPA tests were done with.

Likewise, the 3.8L V6 EPA tests were done with regular, so the official stats for HP and Torque have to be using that regular. They can certainly publish additional HP and Torque ratings for premium, but if only one HP and Torque rating is published, it is for the regular (the gas used for EPA testing). Otherwise Hyundai or Genesis would be in huge trouble with the EPA and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), and competitors would have file complaints or lawsuits.

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[NTX]

hp/torque ratings...

https://www.genesisnewsusa.com/models/genesis-g80-2018/specifications

The 3.8L has always been rated at 311 HP since the car came out in 2014. My guess is that the car makes more than 311 HP with premium fuel in the 3.8L.

 

[Mark_888]

https://www.genesisnewsusa.com/models/genesis-g80-2018/specifications

The 3.8L has always been rated at 311 HP since the car came out in 2014. My guess is that the car makes more than 311 HP with premium fuel in the 3.8L.

The Lambda 3.8L was (along with the Tau 4.6L) one of the engines for the 2009 Genesis sedan and the V6 was rated by Hyundai at 290 HP. The 3.8L was also on the 2009 Kia Borrego/Mohave, and the Lambda V6 also existed in numerous other vehicles in lower displacement, such as 3.3L (circa 2006) on the Kia Sorrento, Hyundai Sonata, Azera, and Santa Fe.

For the 2012 Genesis Sedan they added GDI (instead of EFI) to 3.8L, and the official Hyundai rating for the engine increased to 333HP.

In 2015, with the 2nd generation of the Genesis, the 3.8L was re-tuned to deliver 311 HP. Could have been related to the gasoline mileage scandal that Hyundai had a few years ago, where they used the wrong EPA tests and had to refund money to buyers (including Genesis buyers). Or could have been done to increase reliability. The torque increased in 2015, so it may have been related to getting more torque, but less HP.

All dates above refer to model years (not calendar introduction dates), and apply to US models only (some Korean versions appeared a year earlier). Also, certain versions of the 2009-2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with 3.8L may have had different HP specs.

 

[sidewinder1]

not sure what to believe ... i was under the impression that at least in the US the 2g 3.8 doesn't need premium gas and assume hp/torque specs would be based on regular gas...has anyone put in 93 vs 87 and noticed any difference in performance?

 

[EdP]

not sure what to believe ... i was under the impression that at least in the US the 2g 3.8 doesn't need premium gas and assume hp/torque specs would be based on regular gas...has anyone put in 93 vs 87 and noticed any difference in performance?

One person said the thought there was a little difference, but that is about it. If there is, will you really be able to take advantage of it? Do you engage in street drag races? Beat everyone away from the stoplight? How often in the course of using a tank of gas do you fully floor the pedal?

The 3.8 is designed to run on 87 octane. I like a peppy car, but to spend the extra every tank to maybe shave a tenth of a second getting to 60 is not worth it for me. Rare that I can even get to 90 so adding 2 mph on the top end will never be seen. But, for only a few bucks you can try a tank or two and see for yourself.

 

[barrie380GT]

Personally I don't like the additional ethanol in the winter gas. So recently switched to 91 octane as no ethanol. Definitely have better gas mileage and performance

 

[carguy75]

My guess is that the 3.8 V6 makes 311hp on regular on the 2015+models due to some additional tuning and engine tweaks. However, I bet that the engine would make closer to 320hp-330hp on premium. The reason why Genesis does not publish that information I believe is that it would show that the 3.8 V6 only make about 30hp less than the sport 3.3TT model; as well as lowers the mpg rating if the engine produces more horsepower.

It does seems like the 3.8 stock tune is more for fuel efficiency than peak horsepower gain to attract non-sporty luxury drivers who want an efficient low-cost fuel requirement model to drive.

 

[carguy75]

One person said the thought there was a little difference, but that is about it. If there is, will you really be able to take advantage of it? Do you engage in street drag races? Beat everyone away from the stoplight? How often in the course of using a tank of gas do you fully floor the pedal?

The 3.8 is designed to run on 87 octane. I like a peppy car, but to spend the extra every tank to maybe shave a tenth of a second getting to 60 is not worth it for me. Rare that I can even get to 90 so adding 2 mph on the top end will never be seen. But, for only a few bucks you can try a tank or two and see for yourself.

Technically, both the 5.0 V8 and 3.8 V6 are designed to use regular gas with penalties to peak power. However, Hyundai for some reason only published the 5.0 differences in power depending on octane. The 3.8 V6 peak performance is a real mystery in sedan form. However, the 3.8 coup guys know this engine in and out.

But like you mentioned, most 3.8 sedan owners probably could care less about better performance; plus the 3.8 has smaller brakes not designed for aggressive driving anyway.

 

[Whitey]

One person said the thought there was a little difference, but that is about it. If there is, will you really be able to take advantage of it? Do you engage in street drag races? Beat everyone away from the stoplight? How often in the course of using a tank of gas do you fully floor the pedal?

The 3.8 is designed to run on 87 octane. I like a peppy car, but to spend the extra every tank to maybe shave a tenth of a second getting to 60 is not worth it for me. Rare that I can even get to 90 so adding 2 mph on the top end will never be seen. But, for only a few bucks you can try a tank or two and see for yourself.

I just filled her up Friday night with some Shell 93 (V-Power Nitro+ as they call it) and took her for a spin on the Interstate over the Bay into Tampa; I will say that she seemed to have just a hair more kick and felt a little smoother (hard to explain). So who knows, could just be the placebo effect of knowing I had some of the good-good in he tank lol. But I do think it added a slight increase in HP as carguy stated above. Now was it worth the extra $.50-.60/gal, I'd say prob not for daily driving. But I'd guess giving her a tank of Hi-Test or Non-Eth every so often can't hurt.

Took a 2-hr drive down the coast a few weeks ago and had her humming along at 85-90 down and as high as 105 on the run back (on Reg); next trip in two weeks and will try the 93 and see if there's a more noticeable difference.

 

[EdP]

I just filled her up Friday night with some Shell 93 (V-Power Nitro+ as they call it) and took her for a spin on the Interstate over the Bay into Tampa; I will say that she seemed to have just a hair more kick and felt a little smoother (hard to explain). So who knows, could just be the placebo effect of knowing I had some of the good-good in he tank lol. But I do think it added a slight increase in HP as carguy stated above. Now was it worth the extra $.50-.60/gal, I'd say prob not for daily driving. But I'd guess giving her a tank of Hi-Test or Non-Eth every so often can't hurt.

Took a 2-hr drive down the coast a few weeks ago and had her humming along at 85-90 down and as high as 105 on the run back (on Reg); next trip in two weeks and will try the 93 and see if there's a more noticeable difference.

Would be good to see what you think. Did you go down I75? I'm curious too about the Non-Eth to see if it is noticeable. I put some in a while back when getting gas for my generator but I still had over a half tank so could not really tell.

Placebo effect works too. I take the prescription strength!

 

[Whitey]

Would be good to see what you think. Did you go down I75? I'm curious too about the Non-Eth to see if it is noticeable. I put some in a while back when getting gas for my generator but I still had over a half tank so could not really tell.

Placebo effect works too. I take the prescription strength!

Yep, did the Ft Myers run for an overnight with the gf and I flew the plane while she napped lol. Doing it again on 11/1 and should probably give the Non-Eth a try and see how smooth she flys; stay tuned.

I fear the placebos may start costing me a pretty penny should I get addicted.