Quote:
Originally Posted by Soukus
I agree. Detonation control is not just octane.
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Detonation also occurs with high temperature (it's cold in IL this time of year), high altitude (you're <1000ft), high throttle position (more fuel 'trying' to be combusted), high load (heat soak and throttle position), etc
Modern cars have such sophisticated powertrain controls that higher octane numbers really just mean higher horsepower 'potential', and lower likely doesn't mean a whole lot other than a loss in peak horsepower numbers at or near full throttle. At less than full throttle, the car won't likely know the difference. How often are you at full throttle?
Furthermore, most places now blend in a bit of ethanol, esp in winter, that helps pre-detonation anyway.
Not that the extra 10 cents per gallon for premium is going to add up to a whole lot over the course of a year. But NEEDING premium fuel is largely a rated-horspower afraid-we're-gonna-get-sued manufacturer's CYA.