03-19-2015, 09:44 AM | #1 |
Second Lieutenant
71
Rep 266
Posts |
Gasoline Poll
How many of you put the following in your vehicle? Also state the car that you drive, whether it's an 228i or an m235! Do you think it honestly makes a difference?
Regular Plus Premium |
03-19-2015, 10:09 AM | #4 |
Private
25
Rep 63
Posts |
91 Octane as that is all that is available in the rocky Mountain areas. For the extra dime a gallon (or $1.40 more a fill up), I don't give it a second thought in a $50k vehicle.
M235i Convertible. |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 10:21 AM | #5 |
Brigadier General
2343
Rep 4,347
Posts |
Premium! the car was designed for premium and actually what we get here is already lower quality than the European stuff. The thing you have to remember is that if you put lower octane fuel in a high compression motor, it will retard the timing and richen the mixture to prevent detonation. This means less power and more consumption both from the richer mixture and pressing the gas more to make up for the power loss. You end up almost not saving any money on the cheaper gas. It's been a long time but I actually worked in the test department for an IMSA GTP team testing and flowing injectors. We found that Techron really did keep injectors cleaner and used it to flow test/clean injectors after every race. I still use Techron and Chevron fuel for this reason.
With our direct injection motors you no longer get the benefit of detergents cleaning the intake valves but keeping injector spray patterns consistent is still a great benefit. Many swear by Shell fuel and it's probably good, but I have not had first hand testing like I had with Techron so for now I take it with a grain of salt. |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 10:25 AM | #6 |
Major General
5036
Rep 6,341
Posts |
Costco premium. Not only a top tier fuel, but in excess of requirements. Octane rating has been discussed, but they have come up with a great detergent package.
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html http://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html
__________________
2015 228i 6MT/Track Handling/Tech/Cold/Premium/Lighting/Driver Assistance/KCDesign Strut Brace/M2 LCAs/Rogue SSK/BBS SR/PS4S/ER Chargepipe/AA Intercooler/Dinan Shockware/MPerformance Spoiler/Black Grilles/Xpel Ultimate PPF & Prime XR+ Tint/Adam's Ceramic/no CDV
2024 X3 sDrive30i/MSport/Premium/Dynamic Handling/Shadowline/Parking/Xpel Prime XR Plus/Weathertech Cargo Liner |
Appreciate
2
BodegaBay32.00 |
03-19-2015, 10:28 AM | #7 |
Major General
11346
Rep 7,091
Posts
Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Seattle, WA
|
ARCO top tier premium for my M235i.
|
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 10:30 AM | #8 | |
Old News
213
Rep 632
Posts |
Quote:
Interesting! I'm going to start using that gas now.
__________________
2019 X3 M40i KWV3/JB4/Volk TE37SL
2017 330i Touring Bagged/BBS RS (sold) 1998 740i Bagged/BBS RS (sold) 2014 228i MSport (sold) 2001 525iAT (sold) 2003 330ci (sold) 2007 335i KWV1/BBS Style 5(sold) |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2015, 10:49 AM | #10 |
Major General
3105
Rep 5,582
Posts |
Premium from stations that have new in ground tanks - and are constantly busy.
Exxon, Shell, BP A tanker driver told me the gas pumps (or tanks) do have their own filter systems. As eluded to above higher-octane fuel doesn't detonate as easily as a lesser octane. M235 |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 10:58 AM | #11 | |
Major General
1412
Rep 5,262
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 11:03 AM | #12 |
Captain
452
Rep 845
Posts |
Whether you're in the 228 or 235, you need to run at least 89, and preferably 91 (or higher). The compression ratio (without boost) is already about 10.5:1, and with boost, its closer to 15:1. The lower octane fuel will pre-detonate, causing knock, and the engine to retard its timing/lose power.
Personally, I use 91 all the time (its be best we can get in CA), and never from ARCO, but anywhere else is usually fine. |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 11:12 AM | #15 |
Captain
452
Rep 845
Posts |
Different rating system. 91=95, 93=98. Its the AKI v. RON standard for calculating octane rating. The fuel is the same though.
|
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 11:13 AM | #16 | |
Major General
1412
Rep 5,262
Posts |
Quote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating 98 RON = 93 AKI 95 RON = 91 AKI |
|
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 11:15 AM | #17 |
Colonel
9753
Rep 2,010
Posts |
Premium 91 only in my car.
As to the 95 or 98 ratings in Europe and elsewhere, I believe their rating system is a little different than here in the USA. There's RON, MON, AKI. I think Europe uses RON, while the US uses an average of two or three methods.
__________________
2014 BMW M235i
2024 Mercedes Benz GLC300 Expert ultracrepidarian |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 11:44 AM | #18 |
Second Lieutenant
90
Rep 202
Posts |
93. I consider the cost difference negligible from 91. Few bucks a week? If the evidence for benefit were even just circumstantial, I'd still do it for the cost of a sandwich.
|
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 12:04 PM | #21 |
Captain
314
Rep 863
Posts
Drives: '19 M2 '21 X5
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Calgary
|
Shell V-Power 91 exclusively ( the only place in town that will guarantee me no ethanol )
91 is basically as high as we go here ( some stations offer a 94 octane high ethanol blend) Chevron in BC offers a 94 octane 0 ethanol but none of that here. |
Appreciate
1
|
03-19-2015, 12:11 PM | #22 | |||
Captain
314
Rep 863
Posts
Drives: '19 M2 '21 X5
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Calgary
|
Quote:
right from the owners manual: Quote:
Quote:
|
|||
Appreciate
1
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|