higher octane gas?

[Spanky61]

You're welcome!

 

[larrymg1]

Here in Texas, most fuels are manufactured by Valero (aka Diamond Shamrock) and differentiated via additives. I'm a Costco or QT user. Never had any issues.

There are only a handful of refinery companies in the US (Valero is the largest). What distinguishes the individual brand is the additives that are added to the shipment after it is loaded on a tanker truck and is specific to each brand's formulation. The debate is whether any given brands formula is relatively significant in relationship to performance and cleanliness. I worked for Standard Oil for many years and you would be amazed at how small the quantity is of the additive package for a tanker truckload. IMO, as long, as you use a gasoline that meets the manufacturer's minimum octane specifications and the gas pump designates that it is Top Tier and you do not require above normal performance, pick a brand.

 

[sgrenald]

Do what you want to do but the information I provided is common knowledge amongst, manufactures, racers, mechanics, automotive engineers, hotrodders and enthusiasts, around the world. Don't be ignorant of the facts, be aware there are reasons why.

Hyundai says that 87 octane is fine in both the V6 & V8.

 

[Roc 5.0]

The 5.0 R Spec can use good 87 octane with out any problems, however if you want to get the most drag performance out the car ( and there are few of us that do want this, particulariy if slightly moded), then in my area, 93 octane will make a difference. It will NOT make a difference if you do not heavily exercise your engine and transmission to get the ecu to slightly remap it's maximum parameters built into it by the manufacturer. And you can't expect a difference by just buying a few gallons with the remainder of the tank on 87 octane. This is what need 4Spd was trying to convey to all. With 93 octane the rwhp goes up even slightly more than what is advertised over 91 octane, but this octane is not normally available in most states. Ford guys have used this trick for years with their ecu's. And yes, it costs more money, but one's pleasure has it's own rewards. To each their own pleasure.

 

[verwey83]

holy wow.....just read every post on this thread because i was bored....now im not a scientist or a chemical engineer by any means but higher octane burns cleaner period. nobody driving any Hyundai (me included) will ever notice a huge difference between 87,91,93 octane fuels, however if you can afford $2 more a fill up go with the good stuff. there is less than absoutley ZERO downside to burning a higher octane even if your most demanding drive is to the local supermarket.

 

[NLJ]

holy wow.....just read every post on this thread because i was bored....now im not a scientist or a chemical engineer by any means but higher octane burns cleaner period. nobody driving any Hyundai (me included) will ever notice a huge difference between 87,91,93 octane fuels, however if you can afford $2 more a fill up go with the good stuff. there is less than absoutley ZERO downside to burning a higher octane even if your most demanding drive is to the local supermarket.

Cleaner? That's a misconception as old as time. If it did burn cleaner, a BMW or MB would outlast a Corolla!

 

[Spanky61]

There are only a handful of refinery companies in the US (Valero is the largest). What distinguishes the individual brand is the additives that are added to the shipment after it is loaded on a tanker truck and is specific to each brand's formulation. The debate is whether any given brands formula is relatively significant in relationship to performance and cleanliness. I worked for Standard Oil for many years and you would be amazed at how small the quantity is of the additive package for a tanker truckload. IMO, as long, as you use a gasoline that meets the manufacturer's minimum octane specifications and the gas pump designates that it is Top Tier and you do not require above normal performance, pick a brand.

There are 135 refineries in the US. Sorry Larry, I have to disagree and say, this is more than a handful.
U.S. Number and Capacity of Petroleum Refineries
The largest owned refinery in the US is owned by; Saudi Aramco( Used to be Motiva Enterprises) In port Arthur Texas as of 1 May 2017. Sorry, it's not Valero, ( Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard) just for the record.

Port Arthur Refinery (Saudi Aramco) ...
Baytown Refinery (ExxonMobil) ...
Ras Tanura Refinery (Saudi Aramco) ...
Garyville Refinery (Marathon Petroleum) ...
Baton Rouge Refinery (ExxonMobil) ...

The largest Oil Company in the US is; Exxon Mobile. The US has the largest number of oil refineries in the world which represents
13.4% of the world's total oil output.

TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands Pick the right brand.

 

[larrymg1]

There are 135 refineries in the US. Sorry Larry, I have to disagree and say, this is more than a handful.
U.S. Number and Capacity of Petroleum Refineries
The largest owned refinery in the US is owned by; Saudi Aramco( Used to be Motiva Enterprises) In port Arthur Texas as of 1 May 2017. Sorry, it's not Valero, ( Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard) just for the record.

Port Arthur Refinery (Saudi Aramco) ...
Baytown Refinery (ExxonMobil) ...
Ras Tanura Refinery (Saudi Aramco) ...
Garyville Refinery (Marathon Petroleum) ...
Baton Rouge Refinery (ExxonMobil) ...

The largest Oil Company in the US is; Exxon Mobile. The US has the largest number of oil refineries in the world which represents
13.4% of the world's total oil output.

TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands Pick the right brand.

Thanks for the update on the number of refineries in US. A lot of changes in the last few years.
Wikipedia facts on Valero: Valero Energy - Wikipedia.
The change in the number of refineries doesn't change the original debate that was discussed in my post above.
What distinguishes the individual brand is the additives that are added to the shipment after it is loaded on a tanker truck and is specific to each brand's formulation. The debate is whether any given brands formula is relatively significant in relationship to performance and cleanliness. You would be amazed at how small the quantity is of the additive package for a tanker truckload. IMO, as long, as you use a gasoline that meets the manufacturer's minimum octane specifications and the gas pump designates that it is Top Tier and you do not require above normal performance, pick a brand.

 

[EdP]

What distinguishes the individual brand is the additives that are added to the shipment after it is loaded on a tanker truck and is specific to each brand's formulation. The debate is whether any given brands formula is relatively significant in relationship to performance and cleanliness. You would be amazed at how small the quantity is of the additive package for a tanker truckload. IMO, as long, as you use a gasoline that meets the manufacturer's minimum octane specifications and the gas pump designates that it is Top Tier and you do not require above normal performance, pick a brand.

Direct Injections engines are a bit different with carbon buildup so I use Top Tier. In the previous 55 years I bought by price. I could never tell one brand from another.

 

[Spanky61]

This is true EdP. Even Hyundai has developed a 1.6 Multi-port fuel injection engine as of the 2019 year. This will help wash down the valves. However GDI engines have been around for quite some time without major problems. So, this in one thing we can relax about as well.

@ larrymg1. The latter part, I don't disagree in. I utilize Chevron Techron every other tank full in both the Genesis and the Hyundai as well to help keep the injectors clean. It won't do much for the valves. However, I also utilize Prolong (super micro lubricant) additive to decrease accumulation on the valves every oil change. and stick to 91 octane fuel for both also.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[larrymg1]

@ larrymg1. The latter part, I don't disagree in. I utilize Chevron Techron every other tank full in both the Genesis and the Hyundai as well to help keep the injectors clean. It won't do much for the valves. However, I also utilize Prolong (super micro lubricant) additive to decrease accumulation on the valves every oil change. and stick to 91 octane fuel for both also.

The key, IMO, is to use stations designated "Top Tier". Other than that I don't care what the sign says out front.

"Gas stations in the US and many other nations are required to supply customers with consistent and clean gasoline. This means that no matter where the tank gets filled up, gas quality or the brand of gas will not noticeably affect how the vehicle performs. Some brands offer fuels with added cleaners and other additives. These can offer some benefits, but the fact remains that cheap gas that doesn't contain these additives is not dangerous or problematic.
As automotive technology has advanced in recent decades, automakers around the world agreed that government requirements for fuel additives were not adequate since they have not changed to meet the performance demands of modern vehicles. If a fuel company can prove that their gas has additives and detergents that keep residue from building up on valves or in the combustion chamber, then they are qualified to call themselves a "top-tier" gasoline supplier. Top-tier fuel is formulated to keep engines running efficiently and reliably. Automakers claim that these requirements make gas better for modern cars.
Prominent top-tier gasoline suppliers

• BP
• Chevron
• Conoco
• Costco
• Exxon
• Holiday
• Kwik Trip
• Mobil
• Shell
• Sinclair
• Texaco

The advantages of top tier gas
While the detergents and cleaning agents found in top-tier fuels may have some added benefit, there will be no noticeable difference in performance from behind the wheel. Top-tier gas companies have simply committed themselves to selling fuel specifically formulated for the needs of modern cars, but other regulations require that all fuel companies meet certain standards that prevent them from selling subpar gas.
While some gas stations offer slightly higher quality gas, any fuel from a legitimate gas station in the US will be fine to put into your tank. There's no issue with mixing fuel from different companies, either."
Which Gas Stations Have the Best Quality Gas? | YourMechanic Advice

Additional article: https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/aaa-not-gasoline-created-equal/

 

[Spanky61]

Thanks! I have looked at them myself. Here's another that mirrors what you have provided.
TOP TIER™ Gasoline Brands

 

[TurtleBoy]

I utilize Chevron Techron every other tank full in both the Genesis and the Hyundai as well to help keep the injectors clean. It won't do much for the valves. However, I also utilize Prolong (super micro lubricant) additive to decrease accumulation on the valves every oil change. and stick to 91 octane fuel for both also.

Do you use a top tier fuel also or are these additives instead if that?

 

[Spanky61]

Yes, on both accounts. The Chevron Techron is a proven additive and so is Prolong.

I've run Prolong and Techron in every vehicle I've owned since the inception of both products. My sons Ford Fiesta ran for well over 220K with nearly the same compression as was new, until it was involved in a house fire which destroyed it. He neglected the vehicle somewhat also.

Not all fuel additives are alike. However these are two you can trust to do exactly what they claim.

Some minor reading for you as they can explain far better than I'm able;
Techron: Get the Ultimate Upgrade
Techron Complete Fuel System Cleaner | Chevron Lubricants
Prolong: Oil & Fuel Additives

 

[TurtleBoy]

Yes, on both accounts. The Chevron Techron is a proven additive and so is Prolong.

Makes sense. When I read every other tank I was thinking is was an additive rather than the name of the Chevron's fuel.

Edit: It is also an additive separate from the fuel.

 

[Spanky61]

Yes and they use it in the fuels as an additive also.

 

[need4spd]

Here are some good resources:

https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/aaa-not-gasoline-created-equal/

The Costco Connection - April 2014 - page37

For some cars, when premium is recommended (not required) it may not be worth it (shows some cars decrease in fuel economy or HP):
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2017/12/dont-fueled-premium-not-always-worth-price/

Here is a good article on octane from Costco The Costco Connection - January 2016 - page13

Octane is a stable hydrocarbon molecule that contains eight carbon atoms. Octane’s chemical characteristics make it
a reference standard for how gasoline burns in a spark-ignition engine. More octane means the fuel burns a split
second slower. High-performance and turbocharged engines run hotter, so they
need more octane to keep the fuel in sync with the spark plugs. If the fuel ignites
prematurely due to heat and pressure instead of the timed spark, you hear a
“knock” that can reduce performance and possibly damage your engine.

In the U.S., premium gasoline ranges from 91 to 93 octane depending on where in
the country it’s sold. Higher altitudes need a bit less octane because there is
lower atmospheric pressure.

Costco recommends that you always use gas with the octane rating specified in
your car’s owners manual. Although modern engines have computers that can
adjust the ignition timing to match the octane in your tank, power and
performance may decline. If you paid extra for a high-performance car, it makes sense
to buy premium gasoline to get all the power the engine can provide. If your car
specifies the lower octane grade, save your money and buy regular gas.

 

[wtgw888]

now im not a scientist or a chemical engineer by any means but higher octane burns cleaner period....there is less than absoutley ZERO downside to burning a higher octane even if your most demanding drive is to the local supermarket.

The downside is to your wallet. The upside is absolutely ZERO because it doesn't burn cleaner, so you're literally burning money away. Many, many sources online to back this up.

Direct Injections engines are a bit different with carbon buildup so I use Top Tier. In the previous 55 years I bought by price. I could never tell one brand from another.

Direct injection engines do have buildup on the valves. This area is never touched by gasoline and I haven't heard of brand making any difference outside of anecdotal stories. Ford and Toyota employ additional port injectors on their newest direct injection engines to avoid the buildup of carbon on the valves - the gas washes deposits off. In that case, the additives might make a difference, but all gas, regardless of brand, contains enough detergents that deposits shouldn't form in the first place. It took quite a few years for manufacturers to respond to this issue and I don't know if the engine on the G70 does, but it's under warranty for 10 years.

 

[TurtleBoy]

Seems like TopTier does have some positive effects, at least according to AAA's study.

Study Shows Top Tier Gasoline Worth the Extra Price

 

[wtgw888]

Seems like TopTier does have some positive effects, at least according to AAA's study.

Study Shows Top Tier Gasoline Worth the Extra Price

Maybe. I would like to read the engineer's test methods to think about how this test was conducted. Their article defines top tier as the brand, not octane, in case there is any confusion going back to the thread topic.

Also, the cleansing effect requires the gas to flow over the valves. Direct injection engines squirt the fuel directly into the combustion chamber, which means it never sees the valves. Port engines squirt it upstream of the valves. The article linked is definitely not showing a DI engine, which goes back to my point of gas brand not making any difference upon valve buildup on a DI engine.