Filled my 2004 N/A with it. It took it just fine and I noticed quite a difference. What do you guys think my gains were?

 

I would say at least 75 to 900whp. I would fill it up again and run another tank through so the computer will get used to it and you will see another 35 to 400whp.

You are lucky it took it just fine, a couple of crossfires on here spit it back out after the owner filled it up with 110 octane. Must have upset its tummy

 

I was under the impression that without the proper tune and significant mods, that 110 fuel in best case would hurt performance, and worst case could harm the motor.....

 

Since we're on the subject of fuel........I know of only one station in the Greater Kansas City (KS. & MO.) area that sells a premium (92 octane) that has no ETOH in it (I have seen the owner's invoices)...it's a BP station just off I-70, 78th st. exit in KCK.

Anyone know of any others in the KC area?

Anyone know how to tell by brand or octane #s?

 

I tried the same thing, according to others on this site the only benefit you will get is a lighter wallet.

 

What kind of gas was it? If it came in a 5 gallon drum, you may be suprised. The only time higher octane fuel would make more power would be if the computer advanced the timing due to the stability of the higher fuel. A race fuel would make more power due to the additives and purity of the fuel. Some race fuels are leaded (kills o2 sensors and cats) and oxygenated (contain oxygen as part of their chemical structure) and will make good power, but you usually need to tune it differently. Different fuels require different air fuel ratios too.
here's some good info on race fuel racing gas, race cart, race go kart, airplane fuel
good info on tuning with different fuels Principles of Tuning Programmable EFI

 

If you're running with the cats, you probably just killed them if you ran a whole tank through it. 110 is leaded fuel whereas 109 and lower is unleaded. As far as any performance gains, I'm guessing it was just a placebo effect and to be honest, the higher octane fuel burns a lot cooler so I'm surprised that it didn't actually degrade the performance. Our computers aren't set to advance/retard timing based on a closed loop feed from the knock sensors. The ignition maps are written with timing built in and then it adds/removes timing +/- based on IAT, ECT and load. It will pull timing based on the knock sensor inputs but not add it back in if they're not picking anything up.

Sorry to burst your bubble champ.

 

I know I'm going to engender a firestorm, but here goes anyway........

I always used 93 octane until I spoke with an automotive engineer who told me that owners are wasting their money by putting too high an octane in their tanks. Further, he explained that if the engine did not knock or diesel and if the power and mileage didn't suffer, always go with the lowest octane.

About 18 months ago, I lowered to 89 with no change in any of the parameters he described. About a year ago, I dropped again to 87 with the same result: no change.

I'm waiting for the rebuttals...........

Don

 

better make sure you have a good knock sensor & monitoring system

 

I just moved KC this weekend. i'm a freshman at umkc. The highest octane I have seen is 93 at Shell. I'm guessing there must be something wrong with their claim of 93 for you not to mention it.

Since you are from the area. I would love to know of some good self service wash bays. I live just south of the skyline. (Plaza Area)

 

Maybe on a non-SRT.

 

True, the S/C on SRT's need the 93. I've heard a lot about how we N/A owners can use 87 or 89 though, but I'm gonna stick with 91 or 93, just so Chrysler can't pull a fast one and void my warranty.

 

Well, 93 is a good number, but if they get that number by adding ETOH.(ETOH has a high octane#)...then the # of miles/gallon will suffer because ETOH only has about 65% as much energy in it as pure gas....even though it has a high octane rating. If the station is on the Mo. side of the state line, then I'm almost certain it has ETOH in it...something like a 10% blend. There is no more energy in a gallon of 93 octane pure gas than there is in a gallon of 87 octane pure gas...it's just a measure of it's resistance to "knock" (i.e., explode on it's own)...
So, a gallon of 10% ETOH 93 octane fuel will only have 96.5% as much "energy" as a gallon of pure gas (even if it's an 87 octane fuel).

I work in Mo. (Lukes on the Plaza), but live in Ks. ....way out by the NASCAR track....& usually wash them in the driveway.

 

Don,

The gentlemen who built the car are not going to profit any from you using a higher price gasoline, but they do say premium only for a reason. They base all the performance numbers off of octane ratings used in their tests, and they only use premium. My guess is that between the engine retarding timing and modifying other parameters to make the itself run smoothly, at the least, you are making less power. Also the lower octane fuels tend to leave more depoits in your motor, something I am not willing to risk. I spend roughly $125 more per year to put in 93 over 87 (based on $0.20 more per gallon at 12,000 miles per year), in my opinion for the cost of one oil change, it is a no brainer, expecially since all the brilliant engineers who designed feel so strongly about the matter....

John

 

I have to agree.

The engineers who developed our cars know a little more, I'd hope, than we do and therefore, hopefully, know what they're talking about when recommending/requiring operating fluids.

Not to be a smart @$$ but...

Based on your "automotive engineer's" way of thinking... you might as well run store brand 10w30 oil in your car and save more money. The car would run with it but just like lower grade gas, the unseen damages taking place inside your engine will cost you a lot more down the road than paying a little more as you go.

 

I know it's a different animal, and that it isn't a dyno tune but with my turbo diesel truck we can plug into the OBDII and tune/program for stock/mild/tow/race, etc. I wish we could do this with our 6's, but with our own custom tunes. So if you wanted to go to the track, you could fill up the day before and reprogram (add timing) for some better fuel; for example VP100(aka streetblaze 100). Then plug back in afterwards and go back to less expensive pump gas. I certainly don't know how it all works as you do rcompart(Rudy?) but is this possible? Having our own personal portable tuner with 2 custom tunes(specifically for the mods we happen to have) would be great. Just like it's great in our turbo diesel trucks. And they're very affordable; perhaps the millions of trucks out there makes this possible. Can you make one of these for all of us? kidding! Bob

 

I'm working with someone on making them available for our cars so just hold tight. You will be able to go from a pump gas tune to a race fuel tune with the flip of a switch and you don't even have to crack open your ECU or pull out a soldering iron! Stay tuned.

 

You just got my attention!

Les

 

I have an Audi A6 2.7T as well as the two 2005 XFs and have driven them with mid-range gas (89 octane) most of their lives. I haven't seen any improvement in gas mileage when using premium and any performance benefit is not really noticeable since I don't hammer the cars. Saving 10-15 cents a gallon may not seem much, but I used to drive 25-30,000 miles per year distributed across my three cars and it did add up. Now that I drive a lot less, I am using premium in the XFs and I usually alternate between 1/2 tanks of midrange and premium with my A6. I would never...repeat never....use regular. I also pay attention to any knocking. Note: I have found that gas mileage is worse when I have to use 10% ethanol, that is sold in some states and stations.

 

ATTA BOY..... ATTA BOY.... ATTA BOY.... Looking forward to your success; good luck and much thanks. It would/will be a dream come true for many of us. Bob