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Originally Posted by 93LT
Here is something to ponder
93 Vortec 4.3 Blazer
In town driving with 87 octane netted 14.7 MPG
Same driving only with 90 octane netted 17.0 MPG
Highway driving with 87 octane netted 15.8 MPG
Same driving with 90 octane netted 20.4 MPG
I didn't notice all that much difference in power and performance between the two grades, which sort of surprised me. However, the fuel economy stood out. With fuel prices constantly on the move, it is hard to put a cost analysis on it, but I'll try.
Around here, we have 87, 88, 89, 90, and 91 octane. Typically, there is .15 a gallon difference between 87 and 90 octane fuel.
Lets say my mileage remains true per octane used. At 15.8 MPG and fuel costing 2.15/gallon, driving 1 mile would cost me approx. .1361 cents using 87 octane. When using 90 octane and netting 20.4 MPG at a price of 2.30/gallon, driving 1 mile cost me .1127 cents. This is my highway fuel mileage expense.
In town driving yields the same results, showing 90 octane to actually cost me less per mile driven then 87 octane, but at a much narrower margin or .1353 cents per mile for 90 octane and .1463 cents per mile at 87 octane.
I bumped down to 89 octane last night and will run a tank full through, fill up again with 89 octane and see how the Blazer fairs with 89 octane fuel.
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You do make an interseting point. To tell you the truth I had or well a girl friend of mine had a 98 Chevy Monte Carlo. Only filled it with super cause her dad made her. So it was getting either some brand 93 octane or Sunoco's 94 Ultra. Got the 94 most of the time. But I totalled my car and took her car for about 6 months because she took the bus into Boston anyway. I started filling hers up with 89 octane and it ran as smooth as silk, got incredible gas mileage, and had more power. I shit you not when I was getting an extra 60-100 miles per tank, I was blown away. I bought a grand prix, same thing I satrted using 89 and got great gas mileage and more power. The I boguht a stratus and I know all it ever used was 93, I did the same for almost a year and then put 89 into it and the same thing happened, great mileage and more power. I might start putting it into the Blazer. But our trucks come set for 87, witht he timing and everything else so anything higher with out prolong use is fine and I doubt 89 will hurt anything.
PS Word of advice and you can agree or disagree, I should probably start a thread on it but I will leave it ehre for now. DO NOT USE gas that has certain additives in it, like MTBE and I believe there is another one out there too. WHat the gas companies do is they buy cheap gas and use these additives that bring the octane level up a few points. So you might be pumping 87 octane in and really only be pumping 84 or 85 but with the additives they tets higher. Problem is that not only do O2 sensors not like those chemicals but they go stale quick and only will harm your engine over time. I have found the additives I am talking about at Cumberland Farms and Gulf gas stations. SO please do yourself a favor and stay away from those gasolines where additives have been used to increase the poor quality of their cheap gas.