I live in Minnesota and recently found a gas station in my town that has nonoxygenated premium (92). There is a sticker by it that says this fuel is "only for collector cars, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, etc…or must have a permit". The attendant told me that a lot of people fill there cars with it and swear by it. Of course they are running it illegally. Does anyone know about gas and performance? If I used this gas would I get better fuel economy or better performance?

 

Yes ... In Denver, we run oxygenated fuel from Nov thru Feb and it sucks! My 2000 Jeep Wrangler goes from 18 mpg to 15 mpg and runs like shit for those months. I end up having to run premium in it instead of mid grade. With summer gas (as we call it around here), I usually get mid-grade 80% of the time and regular 20% of the time depending on gas prices.

I've only had the CL for about 3 weeks but I assume it affects it the same way it affects my Jeep.

Buy the non-oxygenated fuel if you can find it. Your car will run better and get better gas mileage. The oxygenation is used specifically to reduce smog emissions.

 

So not an extra 10 hp? Haha...

 

You will get some improvement with hp. Not 10 hp but some. Do they charge more for the non-oxygenated gas?

 

I belive it was about the same if not less...

 

If it's the same or less ... use the non-oxygenated! Run a few tanks and see if you like it. It won't hurt your engine ... infact, it's the oxygenated stuff that hurts.

 

Great, I'll try it... Thanks for the info.

 

They don't change the gas for smog, it's so the fuel will keep the same evaporation rate in the cold weather. Might mess some stuff up if you use the regular where it's very cold.

 

I'm no gas expert but I don't think so ... Read the following few links I found:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr022493.htm
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2...r/102900n4.htm
http://home.att.net/~Lemon.J.Russell/poorgas.htm
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~landerso/98wa61a01.htm

Denver does it specifically to reduce carbon monoxide pollution during our winter months. We all hate it! Not every one Colorado sells it in the winter, just the frontrange (Denver area). You can still get non-oxygenated fuel in some parts of Colorado ... although, I've never gone looking for it plus it wouldn't be worth the drive.

 

I think here in MN we use nonoxygenated all year long.