Simple octane question...

Kevin0323 · 02:02 PM

This will be the stupidest question from me so far...
but...

Currently I am putting 92 octane gas in my car because I assume since I'm driving a Porsche that she should be treated with only the best...
but after reading the manual and seeing that is says 87 minimum octane I am wondering if I shouldn't just be putting 87 in due to the gas prices being so high lately.
I assume that the performance is better at 92 but is it really better? How much better? Could it be worse? Heck, I know some cars out there actually perform worse with higher octane. What about Plus instead of Premium?

I'm not sure if the previous owner put a performance chip in or not but I'm assuming that they didn't since nothing else is modded.

Just trying to save a buck. ... or a few.

Thanks everyone!

ae1969 · 02-02-2006, 02:48 PM

Save a buck.

Ferrara_racing · 02-02-2006, 02:55 PM

Why not just do you're own research? Try it out, it's not going to hurt the vehicle, if you cannot discern any difference then you have the answer.

BananaClip · 02-02-2006, 03:34 PM

save a buck and your engine lmao

do you know how octane works? I'll explain if you don't but i'd rather not type a paragraph out right now. these cars run on american 87 and thats all you need to know really.

Ferrara_racing · 02-02-2006, 03:55 PM

Bananaclip,

I used to run 104+ in the 944 every now and again, it was an instant noticeable improvement ...

BananaClip · 02-02-2006, 04:26 PM

really? can't say i get that.

Dtchy · 02-02-2006, 04:29 PM

The only thing octane does, is decreasing the self combustion capabilities of gas.
So for engines with higher compression, you need higher octane.

Some people think higher octane equals more power, as if there's nitro added to the gas or something...

To get the best performance out of an engine, you want the best possible and easiest combustion, but just below that edge of self-combustion.
The 944na is developed for 87 gas. Using anything higher than that is a TOTAL waste of money and 'might' even give you less power.

There...I just typed your paragraph, Banana...

Ferrara_racing · 05:50 PM

Dude have you ever tried 104+? I read the post and I understand the point you are making. I'm telling you there is a perceptible difference with 104 in a tank of fuel.. I ran high test and I would tend to agree with you that no difference can be perceived between regular and super, however when you use 104 octane boost anyone can feel the difference who knows their car. Try it sometime, it's like car Viagra

BananaClip · 02-02-2006, 06:47 PM

do you have any hard proof or at least a good explanation? you probably know more than i do but this really doesn't make sense.

Geo31 · 02-02-2006, 07:26 PM

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part3/

Ferrara_racing · 08:08 PM

This is my last post regarding this subject. I had a 944 for 16 years. I enjoyed the car, it was all stock. I could feel a difference in acceleration and smoother pull through the powerband. You guys can throw charts and call me a liar, I don't work for them and I have no reason to lie. This is my own experience, just try a tank of the highest octane super in the neighborhood and pour a whole 104+ into the tank fill. What is it going to cost you to try it? You won't risk seven bucks to test it? Suit yourselves, I have never tried it in the Boxster, but I loved using it in the 944. I can assure you all if it did nothing, I would have pocketed the cash...

Peace...

BTW if it matters my family has been in the car business 40 years, I'm not pushing STP here, INMO this **** works. I'ts not a turbocharger but it's a noticable difference you will want to repeat again. I would have used it every tank, I was worried it would hurt the valves. It never did and the car never ran hotter as a result of using it.

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Ok, let's not use "car viagra" and hard proof on the same post!

Perhaps one explanation is the 104+ does more than boost the octane. I do on occasion run some stuff through my tank to help clean the injectors and I do believe it makes a difference in performance. I don't know if that is what it is, but it might be one explanation. I know that I can't tell the difference between grades on performance which is what the original question was.

Kevin, and you thought this was a stupid question?

GMingst · 02-03-2006, 07:30 AM

There have been a number of very factual test's (not seat of the pants)on this and the reality is that a container of 104 or any of those boosters has a very minimal increase on the octane rating of the tank. If you want to raise the octane do it by cutting in a much higher octane fuel. The math is straight and the results repeatable. That being said run the 87 octane.

Regards
Graham

Dantilla · 02-03-2006, 08:01 AM

The higher the octane, the slower the fuel burns.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Okay, the whole "higher octane is better" line of thinking is a creation of the oil companies. Octane denotes the rate at which fuel burns. Period. 93 is not higher-quality fuel than 87.

You should use 93 if you have some modifications on your car that change the timing, or if your engine knocks with lower-octane gas. If your car runs fine on 87, use 87. You're just throwing money away otherwise.

AaronM · 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ferrara_racing
Dude have you ever tried 104+? I read the post and I understand the point you are making. I'm telling you there is a perceptible difference with 104 in a tank of fuel.. I ran high test and I would tend to agree with you that no difference can be perceived between regular and super, however when you use 104 octane boost anyone can feel the difference who knows their car. Try it sometime, it's like car Viagra

104+ the Sunoco racing fuel?

Or "104+" the trade name for a fuel system cleaner that adds something like 0.02 octane points to a tank of gasoline but does do a pretty good job of removing gunk from injectors?

The latter will definitely give you an improvement if your injectors are getting a little dirty.

The former will not burn completely in an engine designed for 87 octane and will actually create excessive deposits.

EDIT: The majority of "octane boosters" also have very high detergent concentrations and the improvement that they provide does not come from the minute increase in octane rating, but rather from the cleansing ability. Running a bottle of Techron through your engine (something I like to do at least once a year, preferably twice) will give the same or better improvement.

Kevin0323 · 02-03-2006, 08:35 AM

Thanks guys. I appreciate all of your feedback. I put 87 in last night.
I could swear it has smoother acceleration now.

BananaClip · 02-03-2006, 09:13 AM

Good job

ok that whole thing about 104+ denoting injector cleaner and not race gas makes sense.

Kevin0323 · 02-03-2006, 09:37 AM

Yes,
afterwards I read this...
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question90.htm

makes sense to me now.

Ferrara_racing · 02-03-2006, 10:41 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AaronM
104+ the Sunoco racing fuel?

Or "104+" the trade name for a fuel system cleaner that adds something like 0.02 octane points to a tank of gasoline but does do a pretty good job of removing gunk from injectors?

The latter will definitely give you an improvement if your injectors are getting a little dirty.

The former will not burn completely in an engine designed for 87 octane and will actually create excessive deposits.

EDIT: The majority of "octane boosters" also have very high detergent concentrations and the improvement that they provide does not come from the minute increase in octane rating, but rather from the cleansing ability. Running a bottle of Techron through your engine (something I like to do at least once a year, preferably twice) will give the same or better improvement.

I know the difference between injector cleaner and 104+, techron is supposed to be a good cleaner and is recognized by Porsche but provides no boost in performance that I could feel. A bottle of 104+ in a 944 provides a more preceptible boost than the bosch +4 plugs I had installed and any other minor mods I had made. Again, this is my own experience, it seems everyone else thinks it's BS, I respect their opinions...the 104+ didn't do **** in my boat but you can feel it in a 944.