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Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 2:24:23 AM   
alwayssummer


Posts: 89
Joined: 9/13/2008
Status: offline 		My friend was driving my car and pulled into the gas station tonight.  I was tired and not paying attention when he put in regular gas instead of premium - that I was told to always use in this car.   He only put in about 7 gallons and the car seemed to run fine the rest of the drive (maybe 60 miles?) home.  But do you think this will cause damage?  Is there anything I should do?  Probably this is a really stupid question, but I am worried.  I totally  appreciate any information or advice.   
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 2:46:43 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		OK, octane ratings differ from brand to brand. somewhere there is a printed minimum octane rating. Older high perfomance cars were tuned for premium, and using regular would induce ping and/or after run. But this does not happen with newer cars.

Newer computer controlled cars adjust themselves to the octane of the fuel, and whatever the minimum is is because of the range to which the system can adjust. In older cars with too low octane you still had the power and even the mileage, but it could cause minor engine damage over time. This is not likely today.

However, most EC systems respond to lower octane fuel by lowering the timing advance, and that will affect performance as well as mileage. So if the system functions correctly, the car will not be quite as quick and will burn the fuel more quickly if all other things are equal. If it is turbo or super charged, you might actually need the higher octane fuel because the parameters are different. It doesn't use a MAP sensor in that case, it needs to have a MAF sensor instead. At that point it really can't tell just how efficient the fuel is, so errors may occur, and that could concievably cause some engine damage over time, which a qualified mechanic can tell by the wear pattern of the rod bearings, but that would not be discovered until and unless a full rebuild is done on the engine.

In any case, with a modern computer controlled engine the main thing usually is that all a too low octane fuel can do really is to burn up the exhaust valves prematurely, and that happens quite rarely. Usually it takes years for this damage to become a problem. One tank of shitty gas is not going to do it.

So don't sweat it.

T


(in reply to alwayssummer)
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 4:28:17 AM   
alwayssummer


Posts: 89
Joined: 9/13/2008
Status: offline 		Whew.I've been so worried I couldn't get to sleep tonight.  Came back  you to cm & found your reply.  Thank you so much for allaying my fears and sharing your knowledge, Termyn8or. I'm really grateful to you.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 4:28:22 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		If you are worried you could dump some octane booster in the tank.

-- I doubt it is necessary.

I do avoid- the bio fuels. If I see that corn shit- I move on to another gas station.

(in reply to Termyn8or)
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 5:04:46 AM   
lusciouslips19


Posts: 9792
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline 		High Octane for most cars do nothing but waste your money. Its really not necessary.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 5:25:25 AM   
ThatDaveGuy69


Posts: 978
Joined: 6/22/2007
Status: offline 		Unless you drive a hi-performace car, it shouldn't be an issue. The simplest thing you can do is (gasp!) read your owner's manual. It's chock full of info - like where Dodge hid the spare in my '05 Mommy Van and how to remove it when you really need it because that slow leak in the righ-rear finally pulled the tire off the rim and now you have no choice but to replace the crappy factory tires with less that 50,000 miles on them even though they were rated for 70.

It also mentions something about preferred octane rating and other critical details, like how to work the station pre-sets on the radio.

Speaking of gas, how is it that the price can go up 15-cents overnight? On Thu evening the station nearest my home was $2.95 - the next morning it was $3.10! I can see a couple cents here and there, but that's a pretty steep jump all at once. And it had been dropping throughout the week. Must be another one o' dem corn-spear-assies!

~Dave

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 5:59:54 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		"some octane booster "

NO, DO NOT. The only thing you put in that tank is gasoline, petrol or benzine, which are just different names. Put absolutely nothing else in that tank. The entire fuel system is designed for gasoline only, and the regular additives contained in it are all it needs. If you put anything else in there you risk a fuel pump which could run up to $500 just for the part, a pressure regulator although that is rare and you can get one from a boneyard. But the biggest thing is the injectors. I almost scrapped my car because I thought the injectors were getting clogged. The labor involved is huge, and that doesn't count the $30-60 PER INJECTOR jusr for the parts. And then there is the gasket kit. I have a vortec and labor would be astronomical. Add it up. sixty bucks per cylinder, six cylinders. A half day's labor by a qualified mechanic.

When it says "unleaded fuel only", do WTF it says, not what the snake oil salesman tells you.

T

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:05:09 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		All the more reason for a locking gas cap.

Which I have always had.

(in reply to Termyn8or)
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:20:38 AM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		It won't run as well on the highway but you shouldn't notice anything around town. You could add some fuel injector cleaner next time you fill the tank from empty but really, you shouldn't need it.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:23:05 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

"some octane booster "

NO, DO NOT. The only thing you put in that tank is gasoline, petrol or benzine, which are just different names. Put absolutely nothing else in that tank. The entire fuel system is designed for gasoline only, and the regular additives contained in it are all it needs. If you put anything else in there you risk a fuel pump which could run up to $500 just for the part, a pressure regulator although that is rare and you can get one from a boneyard. But the biggest thing is the injectors. I almost scrapped my car because I thought the injectors were getting clogged. The labor involved is huge, and that doesn't count the $30-60 PER INJECTOR jusr for the parts. And then there is the gasket kit. I have a vortec and labor would be astronomical. Add it up. sixty bucks per cylinder, six cylinders. A half day's labor by a qualified mechanic.

When it says "unleaded fuel only", do WTF it says, not what the snake oil salesman tells you.

T


When I worked at the gas station- people used that all the time.

I was pretty good at that job.  ;-0

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:25:58 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		Nope, cleaner is a joke.

UNLEADED FUEL ONLY. < that is a period and it is properly placed.

T

(in reply to DesFIP)
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:36:43 AM   
DianeB269


Posts: 1596
Joined: 10/30/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: alwayssummer

My friend was driving my car and pulled into the gas station tonight.  I was tired and not paying attention when he put in regular gas instead of premium - that I was told to always use in this car.   He only put in about 7 gallons and the car seemed to run fine the rest of the drive (maybe 60 miles?) home.  But do you think this will cause damage?  Is there anything I should do?  Probably this is a really stupid question, but I am worried.  I totally  appreciate any information or advice.   


7 gallons of regular mixed with premium won't hurt...The ECU will pull timing and you'll notice a little less preformance when you floor it...

Diane

PS Don't waste your money on octane booster...

< Message edited by DianeB269 -- 4/18/2010 6:38:45 AM >

(in reply to alwayssummer)
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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 6:37:22 AM   
DarkSteven


Posts: 28072
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: alwayssummer

he put in regular gas instead of premium - that I was told to always use in this car.  


Who told you that?  An automotive design engineer?  Your uncle?  An advertisement?


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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 7:26:20 AM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		"she needs premium dude! Premium! Dude!" - Snake, The Simpsons

Dont fret AS - I put regular and premium in my Jag and its fine either way. If its OK for a Jag I'm sure that unless you have something real special and want to do 0-60 in 3 seconds you have nothing to worry about.

E

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In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 10:14:31 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		But we 'MUST consider global warming.  To that end- carpool with your neighbor. Heck share a car even.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 10:29:04 AM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		I already car pool - a chauffeur counts doesnt it?

E

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In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 11:00:40 AM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		As it turns out- I have neighbor that likes to drive and go some of the same places as I do. So- we team up now and then.  



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Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 1:46:38 PM   
alwayssummer


Posts: 89
Joined: 9/13/2008
Status: offline 		Wow-  I woke up today to find all your wonderful, informative and even funny info and advice.  I should be clueless about stuff more often...your generous input is just awesome.

I feel as if I know so many of you already from reading your contributions everyday on these boards, so trust your wisdom.    What a great community this is - so willing to help me, reassure me(I was truly panicked & distraught last night) and even give me a friendly ribbing...about maybe a good idea to read my manual or stop listening to my uncle. Made me giggle.

So, from what you shared,  I'm getting the feeling this premium only rule they told me at the dealership might be somewhat of an unnecessary bilking?

I too do not know why gas prices are so high and unpredictable, especially when consumption is down.  I think it has more to do with the fact that the price of everything vital is now commodities futures( wall street casino) pricing based  rather than  reflective of  production/ supply and demand in reality.

But then I cannot figure out why Trader Joe's summarily raised the price of everything one dollar about a year ago or why canned dog food has gone up 33% almost overnight.  





 







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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 4:31:46 PM   
DianeB269


Posts: 1596
Joined: 10/30/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: alwayssummer

Wow-  I woke up today to find all your wonderful, informative and even funny info and advice.  I should be clueless about stuff more often...your generous input is just awesome.

I feel as if I know so many of you already from reading your contributions everyday on these boards, so trust your wisdom.    What a great community this is - so willing to help me, reassure me(I was truly panicked & distraught last night) and even give me a friendly ribbing...about maybe a good idea to read my manual or stop listening to my uncle. Made me giggle.

So, from what you shared,  I'm getting the feeling this premium only rule they told me at the dealership might be somewhat of an unnecessary bilking?

I too do not know why gas prices are so high and unpredictable, especially when consumption is down.  I think it has more to do with the fact that the price of everything vital is now commodities futures( wall street casino) pricing based  rather than  reflective of  production/ supply and demand in reality.

But then I cannot figure out why Trader Joe's summarily raised the price of everything one dollar about a year ago or why canned dog food has gone up 33% almost overnight.  





 










Just out of curiosity, what kind of car are we talking about????


Diane

< Message edited by DianeB269 -- 4/18/2010 4:32:23 PM >

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RE: Regular Gas mistaken for premium - 4/18/2010 4:56:59 PM   
alwayssummer


Posts: 89
Joined: 9/13/2008
Status: offline 		Diane-It's a 2006 BMWx3.  Is regular ok for that do you think? I don't drive much/spend much on gas, but it'd be great not to have to pay the premium.I always feel like a patsy at the premium pump. 

(in reply to DianeB269)
Profile   Post #: 20
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