For those considering running low octane fuel in your RHO, read this!

[Mikey Swift]

Totally irrelevant but always confused me, when I was a service manager for a motorcycle dealer, we would get bikes in with no start conditions that had been sitting for some time, like 6 months plus. What We would find was a chalky residue on injectors and fuel pump filters. When customers were asked what brand fuel they used it was almost always shell. Never saw the issue with chevron. Obviously could have been a weird coincidence but I always found it odd.

Especially Ducatis...the inside lining on some of the tanks would melt off with ethanol gas and leave that white gunk on the injectors and fuel pump.

 

[itsmekylep]

Especially Ducatis...the inside lining on some of the tanks would melt off with ethanol gas and leave that white gunk on the injectors and fuel pump.

I loved the days of plastic Ducati gas tanks! Big warranty tickets when they warped $$

 

[IKZZR1100]

My BMW S1000XR has a Plastic fuel tank, and they are re-known for expanding, making it a nightmare to put the tank trim pieces back on...Dealership told me to use 89 instead of 93 if I didn't want Issues with the tank...Now I worry about the spark plug life...Its a $2500 18K miles service, where they will change the plugs when checking the valve clearances...I have found ethanol free gas just down the road from me, which I have been using...

 

[itsmekylep]

My BMW S1000XR has a Plastic fuel tank, and they are re-known for expanding, making it a nightmare to put the tank trim pieces back on...Dealership told me to use 89 instead of 93 if I didn't want Issues with the tank...Now I worry about the spark plug life...Its a $2500 18K miles service, where they will change the plugs when checking the valve clearances...I have found ethanol free gas just down the road from me, which I have been using...

Never had any spark plug issues in AZ heat on BMW’s. And we had some crotchety old folks who ran 87 all the time. That 18k hurts a little $$$

 

[Gr3yGh0st]

We have 87, 89, and 93 where I live. I use 93 with ethanol. In my mind, it isn't a problem since I burn through it so fast with all the driving I do. I could be wrong, but I believe ethanol is only a problem when allowed to sit long-term and "gel"?

Generally, 10-15% ethanol is fine in all modern engines. They are all made to run it. Is it the best fuel option? No, ethanol has significantly less power, therefore will result in lower fuel economy. Without doing the exact tests and calcs I would guess 10% ethanol will cut your MPG by about 2mpg, give or take. Running E85 (dont do it in our trucks) in something that can run it, will see 25-30% reduction in MPG and range.

And yeah ethanol goes bad fast, and draws in moisture to boot. It was a good idea that doesnt really work like they thought it would or claim it does. Ethanol has shown in all kinds of engines to cause corrosion, degraded seals, hoses, gaskets, water accumulation, etc. You can run it fine, its just not that great of a fuel, and outside of being cheaper, (even thought the reduced mpg eats up the savings) there really isnt any benefit in it, as any of the gains in pollutions from running it are basically eaten up by producing it.

As a wise many once said "You can live on it, But it tastes like shit".

 

[Gr3yGh0st]

Totally irrelevant but always confused me, when I was a service manager for a motorcycle dealer, we would get bikes in with no start conditions that had been sitting for some time, like 6 months plus. What We would find was a chalky residue on injectors and fuel pump filters. When customers were asked what brand fuel they used it was almost always shell. Never saw the issue with chevron. Obviously could have been a weird coincidence but I always found it odd.

Almost every no start in every small engine and motorcycle I have seen is because they let ethanol sit for more than a couple months and it went bad, and at the same time gummed up, corroded, and clogged the fuel system. No eth fuel will go bad, but it wont cause all the corrosion, water, etc in the system that eth does, and it will take a lot longer to go bad as well.

 

[Irongoats]

If saving money is your goal...you cant afford the RHO....you should be buying a used, previously stolen Kia.

Chris

Don't knock my daily driver its way cheaper since I'm going 80+ miles a day.

 

[MapleRHO]

I've literally heard of a chevrolet dealer denying a engine replacement not because of not using 93 premium,but because the premium was bought from Sam's club and not a top tier gas station
(Shell,bp,mobil).

I don’t really care about fuel mileage per se. But I’m curious is it not OK to run 93 from Sam’s Club? I thought all 93 was not just 93.

 

[lapoolboy]

I don’t really care about fuel mileage per se. But I’m curious is it not OK to run 93 from Sam’s Club? I thought all 93 was not just 93.

It is ok to use whatever fuel source you want as long as it meets the minimum octane requirement. I find it very hard to believe a dealer could determine what brand fuel is in a tank.

 

[matt35hr]

It is ok to use whatever fuel source you want as long as it meets the minimum octane requirement. I find it very hard to believe a dealer could determine what brand fuel is in a tank.

This was word of mouth,directly from the person who was denied.Dealer specifically asked him what octane and were he would get gas. Apparently the guy was dumb enough to tell them he always used Sam's club/costco gas. Then shady dealer used that info to deny his claim.

 

[lapoolboy]

This was word of mouth,directly from the person who was denied.Dealer specifically asked him what octane and were he would get gas. Apparently the guy was dumb enough to tell them he always used Sam's club/costco gas. Then shady dealer used that info to deny his claim.

Dealers can be so stupid. I would have simply said "show me in the owners manual where it states you cannot use Sam's Club gas."

 

[Adub]

It is ok to use whatever fuel source you want as long as it meets the minimum octane requirement. I find it very hard to believe a dealer could determine what brand fuel is in a tank.

I stick to shell personally. In a pinch, I use chevron, Exxon, or bp. Only top tier nowadays

 

[IKZZR1100]

At the end of the day it comes all from the same refiners...Its just that the various Oil Companies like to put their own special additives that supposedly protect and make your engine burn cleaner etc...

 

[RamFan]

At the end of the day it comes all from the same refiners...Its just that the various Oil Companies like to put their own special additives that supposedly protect and make your engine burn cleaner etc...

Well, independent testing proves it’s better…so there’s that.

Chris

 

[IKZZR1100]

Costco is a Top Tier Fuel...Don't know how a Dealership can refuse warranty...It's even displayed on the Pump, "Top Tier Fuel"

 

[lapoolboy]

Don't know how a Dealership can refuse warranty

They can't, but that dude was clearly a beta if he let them get away with it.

 

[BigBo5342]

I don’t really care about fuel mileage per se. But I’m curious is it not OK to run 93 from Sam’s Club? I thought all 93 was not just 93.

Did alot of research on this and "Top Tier" fuel is better than non top tier.
The pump will actually say if it's Top Tier.
Ever since I did the research I only use Top Tier.

 

[Ctech-Review]

Neighbor brought his Ecoboost V6 (non-HO) into Ford for a recall at 29K miles. To his surprise, they said he needed all the spark plugs replaced, a $600 job. He asked why so soon & they said it was obvious he was running low octane (87) in his truck & driving hard in hot weather. Yes, he admitted to towing a large, enclosed motorcycle trailer out to CA during the Summer months, but thought the engine was designed to run on 87.

Well, here are the facts…and, the dealer was correct. If you run high boost or high ambient temps or tow or drive aggressively, 87 octane may not knock due to ignition adjustments made by the engine management system. But, you are still doing “damage”.

The bottom line: Worn spark plugs & extra carbon build-up on the intake valves due to higher ignition temps is the price you pay for saving a few bucks at the pump on 87 octane fuel.

I ran 87 octane in a Navigator with HO Ecoboost for 90k miles not one problem with the engine. Still running a friend has it now. I Changed the plugs at 77k miles just to see if I would see any improvement in fuel economy or performance. No noticeable gains. Then again the Ecoboost doesn't require Premium like the HO Hurricane. We have put over 400k of miles on 3.5l Ecoboosts in our household most of them HO versions rarely ran premium fuel (only at dunes or towing heavy) and never had an issue with spark plugs or still yet to replace an engine. 3 sets of Cam phasers (17,18, 19) no 2020 or newer, 1 manifold break on a turbo, 2 CDF drums replaced. Waste gate rattle on all of them.

 

[RHOfan]

I ran 87 octane in a Navigator with HO Ecoboost for 90k miles not one problem with the engine. Still running a friend has it now. I Changed the plugs at 77k miles just to see if I would see any improvement in fuel economy or performance. No noticeable gains. Then again the Ecoboost doesn't require Premium like the HO Hurricane. We have put over 400k of miles on 3.5l Ecoboosts in our household most of them HO versions rarely ran premium fuel (only at dunes or towing heavy) and never had an issue with spark plugs or still yet to replace an engine. 3 sets of Cam phasers (17,18, 19) no 2020 or newer, 1 manifold break on a turbo, 2 CDF drums replaced. Waste gate rattle on all of them.

Appreciate your input & thanks for sharing!

Due to AZ heat, I’m running 91 in my SO Hurricane. But based on your experience, I will switch to mid-grade during the most mild months of the year, unless I plan to run off-road.

 

[AFX]

As the saying goes, don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish”. If you need to cheap out on gas you bought too expensive of a vehicle. Running 87 is the “Top Ramen noodles” of fuel for your baby!