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Velojon

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Just bought a new 08 V6. I've read through the owners manual and think I have a handle on maintenance intervals. One question I do have is about the grade of gas recommended. It says 91 octane or higher. Most stations around me have either 87, 89, or 92/93. Recommendations?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I blend my own...half 89, half 93 to equal 91. It takes a minute longer to do, but the sense I get of "sticking it to the man" is palpable and oh so satisfying. Ifigure I have probably saved about 50 bucks in the past year with this practice. Woo hoo!

Putting in more octane is a waste and putting in less hampers performance, some would say.

I was grateful to catch one of Andy Rooney's "60 minutes" dialogues in which he too, publicly confessed to the same practice. I susepct there are other closet chiselers out there like me.

Just a suggestion. Carry on. Just don't put diesel in there and you'll be okay
 
#4 ·
Modern cars engines will adjust to different octaine levels in gas, however running a lower octaine will reduce the power output levels. I prefer to put the gas with the higher octane levels. My time is too valuable to spend time switching back and forth between the two at a single fill up.
 
#5 ·
Don’t the Germans and European car makers dyno on even higher octane (I think the equivalent premium is ~95 octane in Europe - but not sure)? I always run 93 as a minimum. Running too low a grade gas could gunk up every thing down pipe from the combustion point (exhaust system). So, IMO, the ~5% you save at the pump could lead to premature deterioration of parts and >5% increase in maintenance.

Plus I fill up at Costco which only carry's 87 or 93.

Also, FYI, 91 Octane is the highest available in some states so auto makers have to allow for that low of an octane in the US but probably wouldn't if a higher grade were available in all 50 states.
 
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#6 ·
Half N' Half

When Premium was over $4 I was not proud enough to spilt my tank filling. Now that it is $2 less I still split the filling between Mid Grade and Premium. Every dollar saved is another dollar to put toward the next Treg.
 
#7 ·
The differneces in pump "octane" numbers between Europe and North America are deceiving and aren't quite as large as they seem. The higher ratings seen in Europe are result of a different measuring procedure. In Europe the octane level that would be shown on the pump is the RON (Research Octane Number), but in the United States and Canada the number at the pump is the average of the RON and the MON (Motor Octane Number), usually called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI) ((RON+MON)/2). Shell in Germany sells their Vpower with a 100 octane rating. For example a 95 RON in Europe rating is approximately 90-91 AKI in North America. Our Mid-grade is their Regular, our premium is their Mid-grade and their Premium is our Race Fuel. And our regular is their swill... :D

Having said all that, I can't be bothered with mixing fuel at the pumps. I always fill up with Shell VPower. I figure if I can't afford $50 a year then I probably shouldn't be driving a Touareg.
 
#8 ·
MartinW said:
The differneces in pump "octane" numbers between Europe and North America are deceiving and aren't quite as large as they seem. The higher ratings seen in Europe are result of a different measuring procedure. In Europe the octane level that would be shown on the pump is the RON (Research Octane Number), but in the United States and Canada the number at the pump is the average of the RON and the MON (Motor Octane Number), usually called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI) ((RON+MON)/2). Shell in Germany sells their Vpower with a 100 octane rating. For example a 95 RON in Europe rating is approximately 90-91 AKI in North America. Our Mid-grade is their Regular, our premium is their Mid-grade and their Premium is our Race Fuel. And our regular is their swill... :D

Having said all that, I can't be bothered with mixing fuel at the pumps. I always fill up with Shell VPower. I figure if I can't afford $50 a year then I probably shouldn't be driving a Touareg.
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Wow, you know your gas. Maybe it was something you ate!

Looking at your info, isn't the reverse true with the gas. What is Europe's Premium fuel rating?

BTW I only use Chevron 94 in both my cars.
 
#9 ·
Not sure what you mean 997.

In the EU premium gas tops out at 100RON (only available in Germany afaik) which is about 95-96 AKI. Highest I've seen here in Vancouver so far is Shell's VPower 93 or the Chevron 94.
 
#10 ·
MartinW said:
Not sure what you mean 997.

In the EU premium gas tops out at 100RON (only available in Germany afaik) which is about 95-96 AKI. Highest I've seen here in Vancouver so far is Shell's VPower 93 or the Chevron 94.
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I was getting a little mixed up as to which way to convert.

From what I can tell the 100 RON is about a 95-96 AKI. Race fuel is typically 100+ AKI. So not quite race fuel, but a nice little kick.
 
#13 ·
has anyone herd of putting 105 oct in their car. my friend does it with his charger, or that is what he has told me. i live next to a private airport and that is what they put in the planes. all of this is just what he told me, i have no idea, i have never seen him do it or have never checked the oct at the airport
 
#14 ·
I haven't put it in my Touareg but I've heard of people putting that high of a rating in their tuned cars, especially ones with forced induction (Turbo or SC) running really high boost level or cars with nitrous injection.
 
#15 ·
safford1977 said:
Don’t the Germans and European car makers dyno on even higher octane (I think the equivalent premium is ~95 octane in Europe - but not sure)?
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95 is standard and 98/99 the better - but we just measure the burn cycle at a different point - MON vs RON is think it's called...

I've run mine on 91 and 89 and to be honest I can't tell the difference driving into and out of the city each day...

Sorry Martin - I missed your post!

I was so shocked when I moved to AZ from the UK until I found out about the fuel measuring methods....
 
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#16 ·
You can buy 100 oct at the race tracks, when I was at PRI in Seattle. It was selling for over $7 per Gallon.

I have not tried it in my Porsche, I think it will help turbo's more then a NA. Putting it in a Touareg doesn't make sense to me. Just my opinion.
 
#17 ·
Evan Hughes said:
has anyone herd of putting 105 oct in their car. my friend does it with his charger, or that is what he has told me. i live next to a private airport and that is what they put in the planes. all of this is just what he told me, i have no idea, i have never seen him do it or have never checked the oct at the airport
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Plane fuel has lead in - bye bye cat!
 
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#19 ·
HAHA - My friend goes on the London tunnel run in his 911 with a straight trhrough exhaust - no silencer/cat or anything - makes a lamborghini v12 sound tame!!!
 
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