brokentv Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Sorry if there is a post already on this I just couldn't find it. I just got a 1997 Legacy GT non turbo and read that 87 octane gas should be used. Where I live the lowest is 86 next up is 88 then I think its 91. I am just wondering if using 86 is fine or if I should go with 88. Normally I wouldn't care but I like this car and hope to keep it around for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdog22 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 If you like it and want to keep it around just use the 88. 1 octane difference should not matter though, just listen to how the car runs and performs if you hear anything funny like knocking on the lower octanes, then go to the 88. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 why not just use the best..its probably a total difference of 2-3 dollars a fill up. Thats worth it to me..i always use 93 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosAngelesLGT Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 If you are putting a higher octane in your car that it is designed for you are not only throwing away money, you are a marketing tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNVAR Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 GT non-turbo? I thought all GTs were turbo, hrm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGT For ME Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 prior to my 05 LGT, I also has a 97 LGT, and I ran the cheap stuff for years, i think it was 85 or 86 octane, no probs ever with that car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNVAR Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 If you are putting a higher octane in your car that it is designed for you are not only throwing away money, you are a marketing tool.Or you like having a margin of safety. Mine's dialed in for 93. If I had the choice, I'd put in 94... Sunoco used to have that, not anymore though, doh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosAngelesLGT Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 GT non-turbo? I thought all GTs were turbo, hrm. NOOB:rolleyes: Or you like having a margin of safety. Mine's dialed in for 93. If I had the choice, I'd put in 94... Sunoco used to have that, not anymore though, doh. More octane that your car needs somehow gives you more safely? You don't know that previous generation GT are non-turbo and don't recognize that we are talking about N/A that are not tuned. Your opinion on octane honestly has nothing to do with this thread. (Although I sure as hell would not put 86, 87, 88 or 89 in your car. I would not run it in boost with 91 octane since you have a 93 oct specific tune but I bet it could run in closed loop just fine on 91 in an emergency situation) EDIT: Honestly OP there is probably VERY little difference in your car between 86 and 88. If you ever hear knocking under load, switch up to a higher octane but 86~88 is fine in a car designed for 87. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Marketing tool or not, i still say why not use the best available..im not that hard for for 2 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNVAR Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 My first post is me wondering and has nothing to do with me not "[recognizing] that we are talking about N/A that are not tuned." As far as my opinion on octane, more octane than my car "needs" provides a margin of safety because not all fuels will be exactly 93 octane and your engine may not run in exactly the way a 93 octane fuel can actually provide. In general, 93 should provide somewhere in the general vicinity of what 93 should provide, but you WILL get 93 that varies a bit lower. I wasn't suggesting to the OP to get more, hence why I put the . Lighten up, sheesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Using a higher octane than your car is designed to use actually will yield worse milage and less power. On a non turbo such as a pre-05 LGT, I would use the 86 unless it pings, then I would ratchet it up to 88. -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.2971 | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Using a higher octane than your car is designed to use actually will yield worse milage and less power. I would love to see any proof of that. From my expierence, using higher octane has never hurt my mpg or power. Not that i've always seen an increase, but never a decrease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosAngelesLGT Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Marketing tool or not, i still say why not use the best available..im not that hard for for 2 bucks. I've got a bridge to sell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derp Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 I tuned on a tank of 92, that way I have a 'margin of safety' in case I don't have BP 93 around when I need gas. I won't go lower than the octane I had my car tuned at. I could suck start a snow blower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggert Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 running a higher octane level than required will result in carbon buildup, too. i would run the lowest octane gas that doesn't ping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 I would love to see any proof of that. From my expierence, using higher octane has never hurt my mpg or power. Not that i've always seen an increase, but never a decrease. The amount of energy yielded from the same amount of fuel in lower octane is higher than that of the same amount of higher octane. However if your compression is higher or you have forced induction, then you need the higher octane to prevent detonation. As froggert said you will get carbon buildup and that will long term lead to lower milage in cars that don't need higher octane. -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.2971 | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokentv Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 What is ping? is it a real high pitch sound you can hear mostly when the car is idle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 What is ping? is it a real high pitch sound you can hear mostly when the car is idle. No, pinging aka detonation, sounds like marbles when under heavy acceleration and load. -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.2971 | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosAngelesLGT Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Ping does kind of sound like a bag of marbles. I tuned on a tank of 92, that way I have a 'margin of safety' in case I don't have BP 93 around when I need gas. I won't go lower than the octane I had my car tuned at. OP is talking about n/a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derp Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 OP is talking about n/a Yeah, well, I work overnights so I'm not always catching those little details, especially when already sleep deprived prior to said overnights. Cut me some slack. I could suck start a snow blower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 The amount of energy yielded from the same amount of fuel in lower octane is higher than that of the same amount of higher octane. However if your compression is higher or you have forced induction, then you need the higher octane to prevent detonation. As froggert said you will get carbon buildup and that will long term lead to lower milage in cars that don't need higher octane. -mike but does the higher octane actually prolong detonation so that it would be timed correctly for a higher compression motor, or does it simply prevent early detonation? IMO i would say it only prevents early detonation which would mean using high octane fuel in a car that doesnt call for it wouldn't affect detonation at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 but does the higher octane actually prolong detonation so that it would be timed correctly for a higher compression motor, or does it simply prevent early detonation? IMO i would say it only prevents early detonation which would mean using high octane fuel in a car that doesnt call for it wouldn't affect detonation at all. Correct, however, for each gallon of fuel, you will get less power from a higher octane fuel, if there is no detonation with the lower octane. -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.2971 | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Correct, however, for each gallon of fuel, you will get less power from a higher octane fuel, if there is no detonation with the lower octane. hmm.i think i see where your coming from, I can uderstand how it would be a waste of $$ to run higher octane than necessary, but not sure i see where you would lose power. Either way thx for the info man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosAngelesLGT Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 hmm.i think i see where your coming from, I can uderstand how it would be a waste of $$ to run higher octane than necessary, but not sure i see where you would lose power. Either way thx for the info man Please REREAD. The amount of energy yielded from the same amount of fuel in lower octane is higher than that of the same amount of higher octane...you will get carbon buildup and that will long term lead to lower milage in cars that don't need higher octane. Sometimes its like talking to yourself but we are glad you do it Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdavidson7014 Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Got it. Thanks for the info and clearing that up mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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