Premium vs. regular

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:55 pm

I've seen references to gasoline grades here and there...I know there is a difference of opinion. Since I don't have mine yet, I kind of wanted an idea of what I should do.

The price difference is negligable out here...$3.89/reg and $4.09/prem. I say negligable because two gallons of either won't kill my pocketbook. It's a 40 cent difference, KWIM?

So what do y'all use?

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:00 pm

I put in 89. I've only done two tanks so far and only .93 each tank. But I figure why not go with the mid-grade? Like you said, $.40 difference.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:03 pm

I hope this thread doesnt open up pandoras box... again... BUT I use premium unless I know I am going to be doing a lot of just commuting stop and go in the heat for most of the tank. Apparently premium burns hotter, but when I am out for joy rides the 60mph winds sufficiently cool the engine, and I FEEL like my buddy is happier with the premium. If I am going to be sitting in traffic in hot weather NOT moving I will lean towards the "cheap" stuff.

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:05 pm

Oh, crap—it's this topic again!

There are a lot of arguments on both sides of this. All I can say is that I don't think (in my own experience and opinion) putting "regular" in the Buddy's tank is just fine. There are some who arguer that premium may actually be bad for the engine. Others say it improves performance.

But I think what we've really seen over the life of the Buddy so far is that it doesn't really matter all that much. No one whose performance has suffered from using regular. No one whose engine blew up from using premium.

Maybe once more people cross the 20K mark, we'll know a little better.

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:06 pm

Not wnating to start an opinion war, BTDT with other boards...

Just needed a good idea of opinions. My OH uses premium in the cruiser, so I was told I would be too, my thinking was if it didn't need it then why do it?

I like the idea of premium for cruising and regular for commuting.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:06 pm

No offense, Bunny, but this topic has been talked to death on this forum, please read the other threads and make an informed decision, there's plenty of information on this list and this topic often breaks out into arguments.

viewtopic.php?t=1015

viewtopic.php?t=38

viewtopic.php?t=4448

(among others, search for "octane")

Thanks!
Bryan

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:09 pm

so who's mileage has passed 20k?

and none taken. I know I'm still searching for topics that may be under different keywords, so I appreciate the help.

As for my question, mid-grade splits the difference in cost and octane so I guess my question has been answered.

If you'd like to close this topic, feel free. I won't be upset.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:16 pm

No offense, again, but "octane" does not equal "quality," or "power," using high-octane gas in an engine designed for low-octane is not making your engine any happier, and it could make it run worse, or even damage it.

There is some justified confusion about whether the buddy engine requires high or low octane. Just about every source I respect says the confusion is simply because of different standards in foreign markets, and American regular (87) octane is perfectly perfect for the Buddy. I've seen nothing even marginally scientific to convince me that using higher octane gas improves performance or mileage, but you'll find plenty of people that tell you their buddy "seems" "peppier." If paying that difference to have your scooter seem faster is worthwhile, and you want to go against the advice of highly-respected genuine mechanics, go ahead and use premium.

Call three authorized Genuine dealers, their advice is worth more than anything anyone on here tells you, and I bet they'll all tell you "use regular."

Bb.

Piedmont · Post by **Piedmont** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:29 pm

I'm actually ignoring my dealer's advice by using "regular".

jim_0068 · Post by **jim_0068** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:33 pm

Here are some things to clear up:

1) The higher the octane the slower it burns
2) Because of 1) above, you need a higher compression engine and/or aggressive timing curve to make sure you can create a hot enough environment in the combustion chamber to burn all that fuel
3) If you use too high an octane for your scooter you will receive lower performance in both speed and mpg due to 2) above.

--------

So the only way to really know which is best for your scoot is to try each grade and see how the scoot responds. If you don't notice an improvement in speed, acceleration, or MPG by using higher octane gasoline you should go back down a grade.

Thanks

tdaley26 · Post by **tdaley26** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:01 pm

my dealer told me to use mid grade. FWIW

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:08 am

tdaley26 wrote:my dealer told me to use mid grade. FWIW

Didn't want to pick a side, I guess!

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:56 am

Try it in your own scooter....use regular for a few hundred--then put in premium for a few hundred and see if notice any difference.

jim_0068 · Post by **jim_0068** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:55 am

ryder1 wrote:Try it in your own scooter....use regular for a few hundred--then put in premium for a few hundred and see if notice any difference.

1 full tank of each and you should know, in reality you should know right away if you switch grades if it responds different.

for instance, on my diamo tracer...when i started putting in 87 instead of 93 i IMMEDIATELY felt an increase in response and power.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:01 am

I change it up sometimes and have experienced absolutely no difference in performance or MPG's.

Regular it is, unless I'm showing off.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:42 pm

All of my scoots get the cheapest crap I can find when I need to fill up. If I'm in an unknown area it might get name brand, but that's rare. They all run great.

onemind · Post by **onemind** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:53 pm

89 or me, what doesn't go into the buddy goes into the Jet Ski.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:11 pm

If everyone starts using high test gas then maybe, just maybe premium gas price will go down;
Then, when I need to fill my car up, which requires high test gas, it won’t cost me so much.

Please oh please use premium gas!!

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:55 pm

regular since day 1

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:25 pm

The midgrade baffles me... I've never seen a vehicle that suggests mid-grade, it seems like people only use it to save money if their car requires premium, or to "splurge" when their car requires regular.

The first makes sense, if your premium-requiring car doesn't knock with midgrade, it's probably fine to use and saves money, but I don't have any idea why someone would upgrade if regular works fine.

I think it's just some sort of consumer psychology experiment, the more price points, the better you feel about your selection.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:31 pm

illnoise wrote:The midgrade baffles me... I've never seen a vehicle that suggests mid-grade, it seems like people only use it to save money if their car requires premium, or to "splurge" when their car requires regular.

The first makes sense, if your premium-requiring car doesn't knock with midgrade, it's probably fine to use and saves money, but I don't have any idea why someone would upgrade if regular works fine.

I think it's just some sort of consumer psychology experiment, the more price points, the better you feel about your selection.

Coming from a family that owned gas stations and a background that had me pumping gas when I was 11 years old, we used to have stations that sold SIX levels of octane.

These were Sunoco in the northeast. They had 86 87 89 91 93 and 94. The 86 was really 87 because 86 is too low to be allowed in Massachusetts. The 93 and 94 were negligible in their benefit.

The only reason I use 89 is because it is now the absolute middle ground of octane and will allow me to experiment in both directions. I plan to do one more tank of 89 and then deviate and see what happens.

If I go to 91 or higher and get no change, I'll go back to 89 for a tank or two and then try to drop to 87 and see what happens. Or vice versa.

I figure by the time I finish my experiment I'll be in the market for a 2011 Buddy because I'm already getting 99+MPG. w00t!

Penguinboy · Post by **Penguinboy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:30 pm

Jeff- We use Sunoco pretty much exclusively- 89 in the scoots and 93 in the turbo Passat. I'd be interested in what your research tells you, as we're using pretty much the same formula of gas here in the Northeast....

-Danny

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:39 pm

I've often wondered about that grade thing. It seems if it were that simple, we'd have ONLY mid-grade. Just for people like me who overthink these things.

Groovealufagus · Post by **Groovealufagus** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:46 pm

illnoise wrote:The midgrade baffles me... I've never seen a vehicle that suggests mid-grade, it seems like people only use it to save money if their car requires premium, or to "splurge" when their car requires regular.

My car's manual specifically recommends against using below 87 Octane because it tends to produce engine knock. Since Regular in CO is 85 (I don't recall ever seeing 85 octane in any of the other regions I've lived in... so cal, PNW, NE, Mid-Atlantic) we put "mid-grade" in our car. But, that mid-grade is regular in most of the country I've traveled to.

My Genuine dealer told me to use 91, which is "super" here (probably mid-grade in other areas, though I thought that's usually 89), so I use 91. It'll take quite a lot of driving before I've maybe or maybe not wasted $5.00 at a difference of .10/gal.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:16 pm

illnoise wrote:The midgrade baffles me... I've never seen a vehicle that suggests mid-grade, it seems like people only use it to save money if their car requires premium, or to "splurge" when their car requires regular.

I have never seen it recommended HOWEVER! (isn't there always a however?)

With my Tundra, (2003 Phantom Gray Pearl stepside TRD SPORT access cab, borla air box and filter, factory borla cat back performance dual exhaust, under rail bed liner, roll and lock bed cover (s/n 001!) skid plates, tow package, champion step boards, enkie 20" deep six rims, Fuzion ZR1 P275/45R20 low profile performance tires, TRD 3rd brake light cover, OBX sport pedals, sirius satelite radio, Custom Sports Grill, Laurence power slider, Muth signal mirrors with brake kit,Infinity 6010cs front speakers)

I do get a difference in performance with midgrade over regular. No knocks with midgrade when I put my foot into it. Premium runs the same as midgrade.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:20 pm

I think we are all forgetting about Windshield Gas... it is clearly superior, or was it 10gram dr pulley gas... i always get them confused...

Oh I remember... It is full face helmet gas which is best!

toddrw2251 · Post by **toddrw2251** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:08 am

We have a b125 and b150 in our family and I can't tell any difference between regular, mid and premium. Try regular and if you don't think it works as well then upgrade. Your not going to do damage by testing out the different octanes.

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:59 am

Groove... the compression ratio on the Rattler is only 6.8:1 that's really low. You'd probably run fine on that 85 octane gas you've got around there. Higher compression engines (like turbos) need higher octane so they won't knock. The highest octane level that any stock vehicle should ever need is 91 (thanks to CA). The Hemi in the Dodge Ram needed 89 octane for a while (aka mid-grade) and so did the Toyota Tacoma 4.0l V6.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:28 pm

*Bump

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:18 pm

MikieTaps wrote:*Bump

Can I send you some Maalox? Or maybe some Beano?

I won't even ask what's gotten in to you....

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:19 pm