more on Use of gasoline grades

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Joe Touch <touch () ISI EDU>
Date: August 10, 2005 4:52:19 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: Ip Ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Use of gasoline grades


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I too have seen the numerous articles, and tracked this for several
years. The common thread:

    1) premium won't help for cars rated for regular
        - this is consistent with the 2005 3.5L Nissan Maxima,
          which is rated for 87 octane (regular), not premium
    2) premium isn't strictly needed for cars rated for premium
        - when used, reduced power results
    3) miles/gallon *may* vary for cars rated for premium
        - it's fairly easy to figure out, e.g., in a few
        tanks, whether premium is worth the price difference

Joe

David Farber wrote:

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Suzanne Johnson <sjohnson () pobox com>
> Date: August 10, 2005 2:03:42 PM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] Use of gasoline grades
>
>
> Within last couple of days I read some articles that said that for   
> cars
> with electronic engine controls, using any grade gasoline will  work.
> The engines adjust to them without a glitch.  The gasoline  grades
> listed for autos are optimized to ensure top horsepower  production.
> Using a lower grade may mean less horsepower, but the  engine will
> basically be fine.  Some cars are even known and reported  to get  
> better
> gas mileage on grades not recommended by the  manufacturer.  See, for
> example,  clip below.  I will keep searching  for the other articles I
> read...
>
>
> When EPA Mileage Numbers
> Just Don't Add Up on the Road
>
> By JONATHAN WELSH
> Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
> August 10, 2005; Page D6
>
> Q: My 2005 Nissan Maxima with a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine has EPA
> ratings of 20 city and 29 highway miles per gallon, I have been   
> getting
> only 16 to 18 mpg in mixed driving. I have tried premium gas,  and do
> not have a heavy foot. There are about 2000 miles on the car.  Is  
> this a
> common problem with Nissan? What do you suggest?
> -- Jim Levinson
> Milwaukee Wis.
>
> A: Actual fuel economy often does not match EPA figures because that
> agency's ratings are based on near-ideal driving conditions  
> instead  of
> the cut-and-thrust style drivers usually encounter on the road. In   
> our
> years of test drives we have found huge variations from vehicle  to
> vehicle when it comes to meeting their EPA-rated fuel economy.  While
> some models easily deliver fuel economy within the range  suggested by
> the EPA, others need to be "babied" in order to come  close. Some  
> models
> have never even approached their EPA numbers on  the road in our  
> tests.
>
> It might be worth your time to continue experimenting with different
> fuel grades. Strangely, we have heard about cases where Nissan   
> Maximas
> like yours have performed more economically using lower- octane  
> gasoline.
>
> .............clip.................................
>
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