Using 89 Octane on an X3 2.5L
- Thread starter jstiebe
- Start date
Yeah, the engine will automatically adjust itself accordingly to the lower grade fuel. She will get a bit less fuel economy and a bit less performance, but it won't do any real damage. Although considering those two cons of using the lower grade fuel, she may just be better off using 91+ octane anyways.
This is copied from a post on another website/forum. Keep in mind that this debate went on for some time and got pretty heated so you may find this to be a little harsh. People went back and forth pretty hard about lower octanes not being a problem while others stated that it's foolish to ruin the engine just to save a few bucks. Afterall, if you spend $40K on a car, why worry about saving $2-$3 per gas tank. This, by the way, was pretty much the closing statement in the thread and no one could really argue any of his points. As a matter of fact, they thanked him for his input and everybody made up and were friends again after this post ![[drinking]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_drinking.gif "Drinking Pals [drinking]")
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![[ohcrap]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_ohcrap.gif "Oh Crap! [ohcrap]"){kind=icon}
Ok, here's some simple math in answer to the question, how much money will I save by using 89 octane instead of 93 octane? Let's assume that you're driving 20,000 miles yearly, that the price differential between 93 and 89 is 10 cents, and that you're getting 20 miles per gallon. Let's also assume that your gas mileage stays the same with the lower octane fuel, which may or may not be the case. If it decreases, as many have stated, the savings at the pump would be correspondingly lower.
20,000 divided by 20 is 1000 gallons used yearly. At 10 cents per gallon less, you are saving -- are you ready for this -- a whopping $100 per year! Even if your total miles or gas mileage are higher or lower, we're talking chump change, basically. Just to make the point ad absurdum, even if you drove 40,000 miles and only got 10 miles to the gallon, you'd be saving $400.
So if only as an insurance policy against possible engine damage or carbon build-up, isn't the extra $100 worth it?![[chair]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_chairshot.gif "Chair Shot [chair]")
20,000 divided by 20 is 1000 gallons used yearly. At 10 cents per gallon less, you are saving -- are you ready for this -- a whopping $100 per year! Even if your total miles or gas mileage are higher or lower, we're talking chump change, basically. Just to make the point ad absurdum, even if you drove 40,000 miles and only got 10 miles to the gallon, you'd be saving $400.
So if only as an insurance policy against possible engine damage or carbon build-up, isn't the extra $100 worth it?
Another good point! Running premium will keep those injectors clean and happy !!!!!!!!!!
I don't understand why people like to be so cheap on these matters. They want to drive the premium car but don't want to pay for the upkeep. Premium gas, keep it in a garage at night, etc. etc. Too many people out there who just love to "look rich".
I don't understand why people like to be so cheap on these matters. They want to drive the premium car but don't want to pay for the upkeep. Premium gas, keep it in a garage at night, etc. etc. Too many people out there who just love to "look rich".
![[rolleyes]](/images/smilies/rolleyes.png "Roll Eyes (Sarcastic) [rolleyes]")
What a waste.