In the end, doesn't all gas cost the same?
 

I have always heard that high octane fuel gives you an extra 1-2 MPG. If this is true then wouldn't the usual 10 cents difference between each grade of gasoline be offset by the increase in gas mileage? So it doesn't matter which octane you buy everything evens out in the end?

Logically speaking, sure. But i think higher octane fuels are easier on the engine, right? So the engine might last longer posibly?

A High octane fuel is going to be better on the engine and fuel system in general... I have never put anything but 93 octane or higher in mine... plus a lower octane gas increases the chance of detonation under hard driving...

As far as economy... well I dont know, I just scrounge for the extra money to put in the good stuff

i heard that the only difference in fuels is when and how long they combust. and the higher octane the longer or something like that. and for my car, a higher than standard octance would be a waste and completely inneficient because of the way the gas combusts. but i buy chevron all the time

having driven hundred of miles at a time many times I have played with all teh gas grades, higher octane does give better millage if your car can use it, my van it was identical, my old sunbird (hey it beat a few camaros) it was better by 5 mpg

eh in vegas our best mainstream gas is 91 octane

there is a big difference on race days when i put in 100 octane.

i'm too cheap. its arco 87 for me everyday. $2.15 a gallon is better than sams club and costco :D

it does burn slower for higher octane.. and give better gas mileage. it also reduces detonation. but if you dont need to reduce detonation IE no forced induction or nitrous or a car tunned way up.. with timing advances.. then you actually loose horsepower by running higher octane gas..

yes drag cars use it.. but when your putting down 5000+ horses you can sacrifice 10-20 to keep from blowing your engine..

hince why when turbo cars run race gas they can turn the boost up much higher

For 2.05 a gallon I can get 93.

yeah well out here in cali 2.15 for regular is dam good!

2.15 :eek:
Come to the Bay Area, CA and be happy to pay 2.39 for 87 octane gas.

geez, it's at 1.90 or so over here. :D

forced induction has nothing to do with it, my drag car won't run on less than 93 octane and detonates like mad, I have to run av gas but it's also got a very high compression ratio it makes more power since there is not unwanted cylinder firing going on, now in say my van it won't make less power (at least not that is noticable on anything but a dyno) if it made less power your millage would go down because it would be less efficient. One other thing to keep in mind with most premium fuels is they have better detergents than the regular line products (at most stations)

1.75 here ;) I only pay 10-15 dollars to fill up the sentra and it goes over 300 miles a tank its really good. So the 4 bangers are good for something.

Forced induction does have something to do with it- when you are forcing air into the motor aren't you makin it a higher compression motor??

Another part of higher grade gas that you people are forgetting is that it is less combustible that the lower grades. Thats one of the big reasons why you have to run it in a higher compression motor (whether built that way or force fed or nitrous even)