Gasoline Brands
05-19-2010, 09:14 AM
#41
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
Don't care.
Kroger gas station (next to the supermarket) is the closest to me and along with QT have the cheapest prices, plus I get an extra 3 cents off per gallon with my Kroger card so I usually just go there.
...or I could go right next door to Conoco Phillips and get the same grade gas for almost 20 cents more per gallon ...
Kroger gas station (next to the supermarket) is the closest to me and along with QT have the cheapest prices, plus I get an extra 3 cents off per gallon with my Kroger card so I usually just go there.
...or I could go right next door to Conoco Phillips and get the same grade gas for almost 20 cents more per gallon ...
05-19-2010, 09:59 AM
#43
Senior Moderator
I always go to Shell as well. I get the best mileage out of the V-Power, and even the lesser grade I use in the wife's Pilot makes a difference.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station
(7% fewer miles)
357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station
(7% fewer miles)357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Last edited by neuronbob; 05-19-2010 at 10:02 AM.
05-19-2010, 01:55 PM
#45
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
I always go to Shell as well. I get the best mileage out of the V-Power, and even the lesser grade I use in the wife's Pilot makes a difference.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station (7% fewer miles)
357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station
(7% fewer miles)357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
05-19-2010, 05:02 PM
#47
I always go to Shell as well. I get the best mileage out of the V-Power, and even the lesser grade I use in the wife's Pilot makes a difference.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station (7% fewer miles)
357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station
(7% fewer miles)357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Here we only have 87/89/91.
05-19-2010, 06:27 PM
#50
Top Teir gas only for my car. Its usually 76, shell or chevron for me then.
Right now 76 is 6 cents cheaper then chevron, and chevron is 16 cents cheaper then shell, but is usually about the same or slightly more.
I pass by a 76 going to school so my last like 10 tanks have been 76 although I notice better economy with chevron though.
In reality its only a couple bucks between top tier and lesser known brands, so why not?
what caused it to die? just curious.
even my mom puts top teir in her 92 camry. and once in a while premium lol
Right now 76 is 6 cents cheaper then chevron, and chevron is 16 cents cheaper then shell, but is usually about the same or slightly more.
I pass by a 76 going to school so my last like 10 tanks have been 76 although I notice better economy with chevron though.
In reality its only a couple bucks between top tier and lesser known brands, so why not?
even my mom puts top teir in her 92 camry. and once in a while premium lol
05-19-2010, 06:52 PM
#51
Senior Moderator
I always go to Shell as well. I get the best mileage out of the V-Power, and even the lesser grade I use in the wife's Pilot makes a difference.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station (7% fewer miles)
357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
Example: I just drove 3000 miles on a trip to and from Colorado with the Pilot. Out of necessity, I had to stop at one no-brand station in BFE, and at another stop in Missouri had to use 10% ethanol.
Here's the diff:
(All tanks with me driving, similar type of highway driving, and I drove until the low gas level light came on)
375 miles on tank from Shell, 87 octane
350 miles on tank from Shell, 85 octane--87 octane not available at that station
(7% fewer miles)357 miles on tank from no-name station, 87 octane (5% fewer miles)
323 miles on tank with 10% ethanol, supposedly 87 octane (14% fewer miles)
Bottom line: AVOID ETHANOL, use a brand name, and use the right octane for your car.
05-19-2010, 06:53 PM
#52
Senior Moderator
As with you, I see close to 60 miles less per tank when i have to use 10%
05-19-2010, 08:57 PM
#54
Punk Rocker
I was going to say that the cost of name brand gas outweighs its mileage advantage but the Shell down the street from me is only $.05 more/gallon than the Racetrac I usually go to ($2.71 vs. $2.66). To do a full fill up in my car would only cost $1 more so I might start using Shell....
05-19-2010, 11:10 PM
#55
05-20-2010, 12:11 AM
#56
The Dumb One
iTrader: (1)
all 4 of the cars i have owned were taken near 200k.
im only 8k away from that mark now in the prelude... every, single one of them have received 93 octane for the lifespan of my ownership...
the next car i buy, will probably also hit 150-200k..
im only 8k away from that mark now in the prelude... every, single one of them have received 93 octane for the lifespan of my ownership...
the next car i buy, will probably also hit 150-200k..
05-20-2010, 09:40 AM
#58
Not out of 70,000+. Out of the 56 replies (as of my reply) 7 cars have been reported over 150k miles.
And that's just this topic on this forum. I also just gave my sister an old Chevy pickup which has 166k miles on it that we used as a hauler/Home Depot car. One of their cars also has 170k miles.
The warranty on my wife's car is about to expire, and I will not keep a German car out of warranty, so she'll be getting a new car by Jan 2011. Her words "I like keeping my cars for a long time, so next car I buy I want to be able to keep until it dies".
A lot of people like to run their cars towards the 200k mile mark. Many of my neighbors who have shiny new cars have a car they keep as an extra which is one they've had for years and have well over 100k miles. Just b/c they're not forum members or haven't replied to this topic doesn't mean there isn't a large number of them out there...
And that's just this topic on this forum. I also just gave my sister an old Chevy pickup which has 166k miles on it that we used as a hauler/Home Depot car. One of their cars also has 170k miles.
The warranty on my wife's car is about to expire, and I will not keep a German car out of warranty, so she'll be getting a new car by Jan 2011. Her words "I like keeping my cars for a long time, so next car I buy I want to be able to keep until it dies".
A lot of people like to run their cars towards the 200k mile mark. Many of my neighbors who have shiny new cars have a car they keep as an extra which is one they've had for years and have well over 100k miles. Just b/c they're not forum members or haven't replied to this topic doesn't mean there isn't a large number of them out there...
05-20-2010, 03:07 PM
#59
. Hey, but I shouldn't say anything, people from other states think NJ is weird cause we can't pump our own gas! Life is strange!
05-20-2010, 08:42 PM
#62
Suzuka Master
168,000 here
Although my tl requires premium it has only seen 91 a few times.
When my parents bought the car new, they filled 89 for like the first 5 years then its been 87 since. I've had the car for 3 years and I fill 87, I try to sneak in 91 once in a while but my parents don't let me. (I'm using their money for gas so its their decision).
We always fill top tier gas though. Either shell, chevron or mobil. Shell is usually my preference, then chevron then mobil.
You guys that are saying that some gas stations add 10% ethanol, where would they say that at the gas station. I might wanna start looking out for this.
Although my tl requires premium it has only seen 91 a few times.
When my parents bought the car new, they filled 89 for like the first 5 years then its been 87 since. I've had the car for 3 years and I fill 87, I try to sneak in 91 once in a while but my parents don't let me. (I'm using their money for gas so its their decision).
We always fill top tier gas though. Either shell, chevron or mobil. Shell is usually my preference, then chevron then mobil.
You guys that are saying that some gas stations add 10% ethanol, where would they say that at the gas station. I might wanna start looking out for this.
05-20-2010, 08:48 PM
#63
Senior Moderator
168,000 here
Although my tl requires premium it has only seen 91 a few times.
When my parents bought the car new, they filled 89 for like the first 5 years then its been 87 since. I've had the car for 3 years and I fill 87, I try to sneak in 91 once in a while but my parents don't let me. (I'm using their money for gas so its their decision).
We always fill top tier gas though. Either shell, chevron or mobil. Shell is usually my preference, then chevron then mobil.
You guys that are saying that some gas stations add 10% ethanol, where would they say that at the gas station. I might wanna start looking out for this.
Although my tl requires premium it has only seen 91 a few times.
When my parents bought the car new, they filled 89 for like the first 5 years then its been 87 since. I've had the car for 3 years and I fill 87, I try to sneak in 91 once in a while but my parents don't let me. (I'm using their money for gas so its their decision).
We always fill top tier gas though. Either shell, chevron or mobil. Shell is usually my preference, then chevron then mobil.
You guys that are saying that some gas stations add 10% ethanol, where would they say that at the gas station. I might wanna start looking out for this.
05-20-2010, 09:02 PM
#64
Suzuka Master
Tell my parents that. I've tried to convince them that I need to put 91 in my car but they really dont care and they get mad at me everytime they find out I put in 91, so I only do it once in a while. Its their money and I really can't argue to much. If it was my money I would be putting in 91. Ohh and just to clarify, well over here I think its 3 dollars extra per fill up haha. But yea, I try to sneak in 91 sometimes but dont do it to often just because my parents get mad.
05-20-2010, 10:13 PM
#65
Senior Moderator
Tell my parents that. I've tried to convince them that I need to put 91 in my car but they really dont care and they get mad at me everytime they find out I put in 91, so I only do it once in a while. Its their money and I really can't argue to much. If it was my money I would be putting in 91. Ohh and just to clarify, well over here I think its 3 dollars extra per fill up haha. But yea, I try to sneak in 91 sometimes but dont do it to often just because my parents get mad.
05-20-2010, 11:06 PM
#66
Intermediate
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Milwaukee, Wi
Age: 37
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05-21-2010, 10:31 AM
#67
Safety Car
I would believe that if you drive a car that requires 87, you would get no difference in gas mileage if you used 89, 91 or 93, which may be what you are saying...
If you drive a car that requires 91, but use 87, depending on the ECU to retard ignition, you should get worse gas mileage because the engine is running less efficiently than designed
If you drive any car with the minimum manufacturer required octane level, ethanol "enhanced" gas should yield lower gas mileage because the energy content in ethanol is less than that of gasoline.
05-21-2010, 10:33 AM
#68
Senior Moderator
What do you mean by grades? Is that octane level, or ethanol content or something else?
I would believe that if you drive a car that requires 87, you would get no difference in gas mileage if you used 89, 91 or 93, which may be what you are saying...
If you drive a car that requires 91, but use 87, depending on the ECU to retard ignition, you should get worse gas mileage because the engine is running less efficiently than designed
If you drive any car with the minimum manufacturer required octane level, ethanol "enhanced" gas should yield lower gas mileage because the energy content in ethanol is less than that of gasoline.
I would believe that if you drive a car that requires 87, you would get no difference in gas mileage if you used 89, 91 or 93, which may be what you are saying...
If you drive a car that requires 91, but use 87, depending on the ECU to retard ignition, you should get worse gas mileage because the engine is running less efficiently than designed
If you drive any car with the minimum manufacturer required octane level, ethanol "enhanced" gas should yield lower gas mileage because the energy content in ethanol is less than that of gasoline.
05-21-2010, 01:34 PM
#69
Suzuka Master
What do you mean by grades? Is that octane level, or ethanol content or something else?
I would believe that if you drive a car that requires 87, you would get no difference in gas mileage if you used 89, 91 or 93, which may be what you are saying...
If you drive a car that requires 91, but use 87, depending on the ECU to retard ignition, you should get worse gas mileage because the engine is running less efficiently than designed
If you drive any car with the minimum manufacturer required octane level, ethanol "enhanced" gas should yield lower gas mileage because the energy content in ethanol is less than that of gasoline.
I would believe that if you drive a car that requires 87, you would get no difference in gas mileage if you used 89, 91 or 93, which may be what you are saying...
If you drive a car that requires 91, but use 87, depending on the ECU to retard ignition, you should get worse gas mileage because the engine is running less efficiently than designed
If you drive any car with the minimum manufacturer required octane level, ethanol "enhanced" gas should yield lower gas mileage because the energy content in ethanol is less than that of gasoline.
05-21-2010, 03:32 PM
#71
Suzuka Master
IDK but the engine is definitely sensitive enough to produce knocking with lower octane. I was just curious whether there was any "real world" benefit in going with higher octanes on the track since some tracks in Cali have 100 octane pumps as well. Would there be any benefit in street driving performance going from 91 to 93?
I bet fsttyms1 knows teh answer.
I bet fsttyms1 knows teh answer.
05-23-2010, 10:06 PM
#74
Instructor
This isn't another gasoline post. it just seems like it.
I decided I was going to save money by using 89 octane gas in my car. Then I looked at my container and saw about $50.00 change. Then it dawned on me I haven't checked my air pressure in a month. I won't mention the numerous short driving trips I take. So I have decide "what the hell I'm going 91 octane". If I was 100% commited to penny pinching I wouldn't have been doing all of those money spending things.
So basically what I am saying is unless you are 100% commited to good gas saving principles just go 91
So basically what I am saying is unless you are 100% commited to good gas saving principles just go 91
05-23-2010, 10:39 PM
#76
Team Owner
I decided I was going to save money by using 89 octane gas in my car. Then I looked at my container and saw about $50.00 change. Then it dawned on me I haven't checked my air pressure in a month. I won't mention the numerous short driving trips I take. So I have decide "what the hell I'm going 91 octane". If I was 100% commited to penny pinching I wouldn't have been doing all of those money spending things.
So basically what I am saying is unless you are 100% commited to good gas saving principles just go 91
So basically what I am saying is unless you are 100% commited to good gas saving principles just go 91
In reality, the gain in mpg from running 91 more than offsets the cost and you get more power to boot.
05-23-2010, 10:56 PM
#77
Pro
Join Date: Feb 2005
Age: 50
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Running 87 or 89 costs you MORE money. The TL is designed and tuned for 91. Running less octane causes knock which retards the timing. You lose power and mpg and it's hard on the engine.
In reality, the gain in mpg from running 91 more than offsets the cost and you get more power to boot.
In reality, the gain in mpg from running 91 more than offsets the cost and you get more power to boot.
For example, 91 isn't sold in CT so I always use 93.
05-23-2010, 11:04 PM
#78
Team Owner
In theory once you get past the pinging (detonation or preignition) threshold there is no more power to be gained. In my particular car I've found it still pulls timing due to pinging on 91 octane. I slowly added 100 octane to the tank in small increments and monitored the knock with a scanner. Around 96 octane it finally stopped pulling timing.
So assuming your TL behaves like mine, there is a small amount of power and mpg to gain from going a little higher with the octane.
I should mention, this "pinging" is not audible by ear but it can be monitored using a scanner plugged into the computer.
I only have one data point which is my own TL. In the winter is barely pulls timing on 91. In the summer it pulls a ton of timing which hurts mpg by up to 30%. Many times I'll mix a little 100 or 109 unleaded that I have laying around to get some of that "winter" power back.
05-23-2010, 11:04 PM
#79
nope, any octane higher or lower than what the engine is optimized for is inefficient. I believe there's just wasted fuel left over during the combustion process if the octane is higher.
05-23-2010, 11:08 PM
#80
Team Owner
Once you have enough octane to stop detonation you're just wasting money but everything burns the way it should. Our TLs are octane hungry and there seems to be a little benefit of going higher than 93 octane. I don't suggest 109 unleaded or anything like that but if I were going to track mine hard for a day I would run a mix of 100 unleaded with 91 to get at least 96 octane.
But yes, that first part is right. The only problem is I belive the TL's engine is "optimized" for something higher than what Acura recommends unfortunately.