Ahhhh.... lets bash premium gasoline again.
Lets not be fooled by generalizations please.
Sure modern engines will re-tune themselves to
protect against uncontrolled combustion such as detonation and/or pre-ignition.
No argument with the preceding.
However there is no free lunch.
When the engine control module detects uncontrolled combustion it retards timing until the uncontrolled combustion is eliminated.
The cost of retarded timing is reduced efficiency and performance.
The loss of performance and efficiency is usually quite small and goes unnoticed by most folks.
Truth be told the extra cost of premium is not offset by the increase in combustion efficiency in most cases.
Having a data logger reveals that even vehicles specified at 87 octane
minimum frequently have knock retard events when pulling hills, accelerating on on-ramps etc.
The vehicles that I drive are more responsive with 93 in the tank even though specified at 87 octane
minimum.
This is not just an impression, data logging 0-60 times consistently and repeatedly proves the above statement.
Bottom line is that money is saved by running 87 in vehicles specified for it.
No argument with the above.
However just because your supercharged,turbocharged,or high compression engine specified for premium
survives the abuse of 87; please don't think you can violate the laws of physics.
Detonation and pre-ignition events have a nasty habit of disassembling expensive things.
Below is just one of many examples of the above.
http://www.focusst.org/forum/attachments...hread-image.jpg
Just thought this thread needed a little "balance".
Good day.