Using regular 87 octane on a turbo engine
- Thread starter oil_burner
- Start date
Recommended is a far cry from required.
My daughter’s 13 Acura ILX with 150 HP 2.0(CRV motor tweaked for a bit of HP) recommends 91 octane. Never seen it never will.
My old 07 MDX require premium had noticeable power loss using regular I had to put in once at rural gas station. I noticed going to mountain place with 20% grade on gravel engine could not get vehicle past 25 mph. With premium and 300 HP you could easily hit 55
My daughter’s 13 Acura ILX with 150 HP 2.0(CRV motor tweaked for a bit of HP) recommends 91 octane. Never seen it never will.
My old 07 MDX require premium had noticeable power loss using regular I had to put in once at rural gas station. I noticed going to mountain place with 20% grade on gravel engine could not get vehicle past 25 mph. With premium and 300 HP you could easily hit 55
Owner of two Hyundai vehicles with the Gamma 1.6l turbo engines. 3.5K OCI with 5w-40, and I use only 87 octane fuel with 'up to' 10% ethanol blend. Yeah, the cheap seats stuff.
147k on one engine, 75k on the other, no problems. No decarbonizations, no walnut shells, no PEA cleaners. Changed the air filters every year or so, new PCV valves at 60k and 120k.
That's it.
147k on one engine, 75k on the other, no problems. No decarbonizations, no walnut shells, no PEA cleaners. Changed the air filters every year or so, new PCV valves at 60k and 120k.
That's it.
More fodder: Top Tier fuel? Is it really 10% ethanol? What heat range for the new plugs? Can PEA help? Italian Tune Up? Decarbonization service? TSB?
I notice it on my turbo....
I've gone through fill ups in the F150 3.5TT so far, 2 tanks on 87 (including dealership fill) and 2 tanks on 93. It's been driven consistently on the same route 5 days a week (mostly highway) with cruise control to eliminate the right foot factor.
Fuel economy
1st tank (87) - 21.3 mpg
2nd tank (87) - 21.5 mpg
3rd tank (93) - 22.8 mpg
4th tank (93) - 23.6 mpg
The truck runs a lot smoother on 93.
Fuel economy
1st tank (87) - 21.3 mpg
2nd tank (87) - 21.5 mpg
3rd tank (93) - 22.8 mpg
4th tank (93) - 23.6 mpg
The truck runs a lot smoother on 93.
Last edited:
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Wut ? Regular is fresher !
2.4 Tacoma turbo. Gas mileage stays the same, or is very close to the same.
Premium is quicker to respond off the line - regular feels like it’s got a limp. I sometimes think I can actually feel the timing delay while accelerating. This is more noticeable once it’s over 70F outside. The truck has more of “one personality” on premium. That said, it’s got 87 in it right now after an interstate road trip.
I ran premium on all but 1-2 tankfuls in the 2.7L ecoboost, as it felt awkward on 87. Between turbo lag, transmission shifts and defueling between shifts, it felt like accelerating on a bouncy bungee cord. On premium, when it was behaving, it was Lexus-smooth. Notable difference.
Bottom line - try it:
- driveline feel?
- mpg difference?
- cost analysis if there’s a mpg difference?
- weather impacts?
Premium is quicker to respond off the line - regular feels like it’s got a limp. I sometimes think I can actually feel the timing delay while accelerating. This is more noticeable once it’s over 70F outside. The truck has more of “one personality” on premium. That said, it’s got 87 in it right now after an interstate road trip.
I ran premium on all but 1-2 tankfuls in the 2.7L ecoboost, as it felt awkward on 87. Between turbo lag, transmission shifts and defueling between shifts, it felt like accelerating on a bouncy bungee cord. On premium, when it was behaving, it was Lexus-smooth. Notable difference.
Bottom line - try it:
- driveline feel?
- mpg difference?
- cost analysis if there’s a mpg difference?
- weather impacts?
I've noticed during the winter 87 does just fine in the T24A, but once temps get 80°+ and the humidity rises you can feel the engine pulling power/timing. I run 93 in the summer and will cheapen out in the winter with mid grade. MPG has never really changed between grades.
Owners manual on the WRX states premium only and with the fragility that is the FA20DIT I'm not experimenting. Top tier 93 for that car only!
I think the 2.4T subi runs better on 91+
but the price the other day was eyewatering:
45% premium for 92 octane over 87.
To fully embrace paying that premium It would have to be a toy car.. not a Daily driver for me.
OTOH the wife's elantra got 45mpg@75mph the other day doing nothing special with 87.. it even has UHP tires on it.
So I guess I should park the outback
.
