87 octane

[gjm120]

Years ago the premium to regular difference at the pumps was $0.20 to $0.30. It's now always 0.50 and up. The manufacturing costs are much less than that - it's all about what the market will bear. So those that run lower octane should be encouraged to keep on.

I usually run 93 but sometimes will put in 89 if the premium diff is obscene, especially if there is 1/4 tank or more of 93 in it.

[ejm3]

Always 93 octane.
Then every couple months I'll add a bottle on Techron.

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by Tommm

Its more like $1.00 difference at Shell stations, at 15,000 miles a year that's a "whopping" g $600 a year. How many hours does the average person who doesn't drink starbucks have to work to net a "whopping" $600.
My mamma often said a fool and his money are soon parted.

Originally Posted by NVHoo

and about the same I see when I travel to the mid-Atlantic states and Florida for top tier gas. Your mama should have taught you how to shop.

She did. Only the finest Bloomingdales, Tiffany, Target. Nothing but the finest. That's why I have a BMW. Only the finest labels. No Stinger here.

[Gweeper64]

I alternate between 93 and 89. I have a 100 mi/day commute.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by NVHoo

but folks who think they are saving big bucks need a reality check. Again, you'd save more money buying 1 less coffee a week.

I do not drink coffee, and my car somehow drives just fine.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Always 93 octane.
Then every couple months I'll add a bottle on Techron.

Why? What do you really gain from it?

[alewan888]

Never really post in here much but I like to follow along. This is something that has always been on my mind since buying my 128.

I always put 89 in it. because that is what is says in the gas cap area... will you have issues running 87 probably not. will you have issues running 91-93? probably not.

But what is the point of running a higher octane if your car cannot use the extra octane?
it is not like you will have more hp than someone running what is recommended by the manufacturer, unless your car is tuned for that.

That being said, yes your car will probably make small adjustments in order to run that particular fuel. If it would make adjustments to hp and better fuel economy there would be no point of aftermarket tuners.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by Tommm

Its more like $1.00 difference at Shell stations, at 15,000 miles a year that's a "whopping" g $600 a year. How many hours does the average person who doesn't drink starbucks have to work to net a "whopping" $600.
My mamma often said a fool and his money are soon parted.

It's $0.50-$0.60 difference here which equates to about a 20-25% increase over regular.

[b1aze]

Originally Posted by WDE82

It's $0.50-$0.60 difference here which equates to about a 20-25% increase over regular.

I am always amazed at how many people look at dollar value differences and not % differences.

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by b1aze

I am always amazed at how many people look at dollar value differences and not % differences.

When I bought every one of the more than 50 cars I've owned over the last few decades I looked at the dollar difference, and not the percentage difference. If the sport options add say 25% to the price of the car, how do you justify the purchase over the non sport using a percentage? If calculating thhe payment doesn't one say its say $400 a month or $500 a month and because I want the sport package, and can afford the extra $100 a month I am buying the sport? Or do you quantify it by saying I will enjoy the car 25% more if it has the sport package?

When I buy corn flakes and have to decide between the small and large box I look at both the dollar difference and percentage difference. The bigger box is usually some percentage cheaper per ounce. The logic of percentage with a box of cereal, and the whole concept of Costco I understand. I don't have to quantify an emotion/enjoyment (just a belly ache).

If a gallon of regular is as you say about 30% cheaper than a gallon of premium, and you have a choice between putting that 30% or $10 in the tank or putting it in your IRA how does percentage come into your logic? I don't understand. Is it an emotion? I will feel 30% better with premium?

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by b1aze

I am always amazed at how many people look at dollar value differences and not % differences.

Lots of people assume that everything is exactly the same everywhere in the world. Yeha, in CA it might be a dollar difference. In AL it's $.60, but it's still about 20% in both places.

Originally Posted by Tommm

When I bought every one of the more than 50 cars I've owned over the last few decades I looked at the dollar difference, and not the percentage difference. If the sport options add say 25% to the price of the car, how do you justify the purchase over the non sport using a percentage? If calculating thhe payment doesn't one say its say $400 a month or $500 a month and because I want the sport package, and can afford the extra $100 a month I am buying the sport? Or do you quantify it by saying I will enjoy the car 25% more if it has the sport package?

When I buy corn flakes and have to decide between the small and large box I look at both the dollar difference and percentage difference. The bigger box is usually some percentage cheaper per ounce. The logic of percentage with a box of cereal, and the whole concept of Costco I understand. I don't have to quantify an emotion/enjoyment (just a belly ache).

If a gallon of regular is as you say about 30% cheaper than a gallon of premium, and you have a choice between putting that 30% or $10 in the tank or putting it in your IRA how does percentage come into your logic? I don't understand. Is it an emotion? I will feel 30% better with premium?

Dude that's not the point at all. The point is knowing when proportional differences are more useful than absolute differences and vice versa. I can't just go out and say premium is $0.60 more than regular because that's a locally determined thing. For someone else, it may be a dollar.

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Lots of people assume that everything is exactly the same everywhere in the world. Yeha, in CA it might be a dollar difference. In AL it's $.60, but it's still about 20% in both places.



Dude that's not the point at all. The point is knowing when proportional differences are more useful than absolute differences and vice versa. I can't just go out and say premium is $0.60 more than regular because that's a locally determined thing. For someone else, it may be a dollar.

Then what was the point? The cheapest station by me was 2.59/3.39 that's 30% more. What is the point? The difference between steps is relatively static compared to the price of each grade, so the percentage fluctuates while the cost per mile is static.

At 25 mpg it is 3.2 cents a mile more. When it was a dime step each grade it was .8 cents a mile. Over 15,000miles a year that is $480 v $120.

Now it is time for the experts (aka jackasses) to say if you cant afford to throw away $480 a year you don't deserve to drive the car you purchased.

[Suprgnat]

I can't wait until we get back to arguing about motor oils.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by Tommm

Then what was the point? The cheapest station by me was 2.59/3.39 that's 30% more. What is the point? The difference between steps is relatively static compared to the price of each grade, so the percentage fluctuates while the cost per mile is static.

At 25 mpg it is 3.2 cents a mile more. When it was a dime step each grade it was .8 cents a mile. Over 15,000miles a year that is $480 v $120.

Now it is time for the experts (aka jackasses) to say if you cant afford to throw away $480 a year you don't deserve to drive the car you purchased.

Ok let me know when you get past Algebra 1.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

I can't wait until we get back to arguing about motor oils.

Ha ha! I was thinking about it.

Seriously though, what oil do you use in your Austin Healy? I have old Brit bikes and am concerned about not enough ZDDP and too much detergent.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Ha ha! I was thinking about it.

Seriously though, what oil do you use in your Austin Healy? I have old Brit bikes and am concerned about not enough ZDDP and too much detergent.

Engine's not back together yet, so it's a non-issue for now.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Engine's not back together yet, so it's a non-issue for now.

Oh. My bikes don't get many miles so I'm not too concerned. Problem is finding oil data sheets that show very much. You'll have a filter so detergent overkill shouldn't be a problem.

What about gasoline, specifically the lack of TEL? Are valve seats an issue on the car?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Oh. My bikes don't get many miles so I'm not too concerned. Problem is finding oil data sheets that show very much. You'll have a filter so detergent overkill shouldn't be a problem.

What about gasoline, specifically the lack of TEL? Are valve seats an issue on the car?

Are, but won't be. I'm getting hardened valve seats. Oh, they'll be in an AL head, too.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Are, but won't be. I'm getting hardened valve seats. Oh, they'll be in an AL head, too.

Nice. I mix 100LL av gas with pump premium. Drive so little that 5 gals last a year or so.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Oh. My bikes don't get many miles so I'm not too concerned. Problem is finding oil data sheets that show very much. You'll have a filter so detergent overkill shouldn't be a problem.

What about gasoline, specifically the lack of TEL? Are valve seats an issue on the car?

https://pqia.org/passenger-car-motor-oil/

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Ok let me know when you get past Algebra 1.

What grade do the teach algebra in? Been decades since I took that class, but even decades later, this isn't algebra, it is common sense. The fact that you cant support your argument with logic is proof it fails.

[Stubbie Blue]

Originally Posted by Tommm

When I bought every one of the more than 50 cars I've owned over the last few decades I looked at the dollar difference, and not the percentage difference. If the sport options add say 25% to the price of the car, how do you justify the purchase over the non sport using a percentage? If calculating thhe payment doesn't one say its say $400 a month or $500 a month and because I want the sport package, and can afford the extra $100 a month I am buying the sport? Or do you quantify it by saying I will enjoy the car 25% more if it has the sport package?

When I buy corn flakes and have to decide between the small and large box I look at both the dollar difference and percentage difference. The bigger box is usually some percentage cheaper per ounce. The logic of percentage with a box of cereal, and the whole concept of Costco I understand. I don't have to quantify an emotion/enjoyment (just a belly ache).

If a gallon of regular is as you say about 30% cheaper than a gallon of premium, and you have a choice between putting that 30% or $10 in the tank or putting it in your IRA how does percentage come into your logic? I don't understand. Is it an emotion? I will feel 30% better with premium?

It's a psychological marketing thing and it's in your best interests to realize this.

The salesman wants to get as much money out of you as possible so they do NOT want you to look at the percentage difference because it is not justified. In your example, the sport options do not make the car 25% better even though they cost 25% more.

Instead, they DO want you to think about it in dollar terms, and furthermore they will try to divide it up into smaller portions to make it sound like less. E.g. $6,000 in options divided up over a 60 month loan is 'only' $100 per month. They can even divide it up some more to make it seem like nothing: 'oh that's just $3 per day, less than a Starbucks'.

Thinking in percentage terms keeps things in check because it is constant and not affected by those mind games.