Quote:
Originally Posted by iA_b4_07HB
I HAVE noticed smoother operations with midgrade or premium fuel. If your engine runs on premium in Europe, the odds are it will run better on premium over here. This is because modern ECM (engine control modules) are adaptive in terms of tuning to the fuel used. I think anything with a compression ratio over 9.5 to 1 will benefit; the knock sensor will kick in later and you'll get a little more power and a smoother driver experience. Also, most premium fuels include twice the detergents of regular.
Costco and Arco are both currently Top Tier, and are the ones I try to buy, since they are cheaper. Valero certainly isn't a budget gas, but they are Top Tier these days. Kwik Serve is no longer Top Tier IIRC.
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I thought maybe I was just crazy, but my experience has been the same. I definitely feel as if the engine runs smoother. I’m not sure that I get a noticable power increase from running high octane but I’m guaranteed to run my best. Plus, I’m getting the best detergents with the higher octane. I have to admit, it does feel nutty filling up with 91 or 93 into a Yaris, but if that keeps my engine cleaner, so be it. In the old days, you would be limited by a set timing, but now ECU’s and variable timing have changed the game up and engines less likely to benefit from a higher octane fuel can now have some benefit.