better performance... gas wise

neotype2001 · Mar 4th, 2003, 01:56 AM

A funny thing happened the other day. I was coming home from work and I realized that I was passed empty. The didn't even think I could make it to the nearest gas station. I grabbed our extra gas for the lawn mower and put it in my car. It sounds dumb but it was that or don't go anywhere. After I let my car run for a minute, it felt stronger. I got on the freeway and the whole car had changed. It felt more responsive when I hit the pedal and also ran smoother. I figured it was sh!t gas and asked my dad about it. The day before he went and got premium grade gas because his lexus takes it and he didn't want to pay again. So I ended up putting premium in a unleaded only car. I thought that was bad? what are the advantages/disadvantages for using a higher grade gas? I am curious...

bahearn · Mar 4th, 2003, 01:11 PM

There hasn't been tetraethyl lead in gasoline for nearly twenty years. That's what used to be bad.

As for your car running better, what brand of gas do you normally buy? Cheap gas from non-brand carriers can be highly variable in quality. Just switching to a name-brand station could make the change you noticed while staying with 87-octane.

phastphuker · Mar 5th, 2003, 08:33 PM

Premium is unleaded gas! Just a higher octane! But as bahearn said, basically you get what you pay for, or you pay the same for no name and ripped.

It all boils down to the additives, they put in the truck before it ships out. EVERYONE uses the same base gas, the additives are added in at the terminal as the fuel is loaded into the tank(er truck).

bahearn · Mar 6th, 2003, 02:22 PM

Everyone does not use the same base stock. All the big boys do, but real cheap places will source from refiners that buy recycle/waste streams from plants that may have nothing to do with gasoline production, then they refine and blend to get something that approaches good gasoline.

My brother used grocery store gas in his 4.7L Dodge Dakota and pinged like crazy when running hard. He switched to name brand gas of same octane and pinging went away.