Cheap Vs. Expensive Vs. Ethanol Free Fuel Gas Compare and why Octane Isn't What You Think! 

The EPA minimum additives is to just meet emission standards. OEMs found that these minimum standards contributed to severe carbon build up and poor performance, and reliability. That why OEMs and gas companies came up with Top Tier standard. I used a $35 borescope and inspected the pistons after running several tanks of gas, from cheap unbranded fuel to Top Tier Premium fuel. There was a huge difference in carbon build up with premium preventing most of it. That carbon will damage the engine in the long term.

In the early 90s I had a 1984 accord. I kept detailed record of the gas mileage. Literally between one fill up to the next, about a week between, my efficiency dropped by 3-4 mpg. I dismissed it as maybe I drove differently. Fill up after fill up the mpg stayed 3-4 lower. I finally asked a manager at the exxon where I almost always filled up, did something change with the gas. She said they were mandated to start using ethanol added fuel and LOTS of people were complaining about significantly lower mpg.

Tip: I use a$5 app and obdii adapter to monitor knock in my engine. These modern engines you won't hear the knock, but it is indeed happening. My 2012 Chevy, which requires only 87 octane, would lose power, engine would lug, and reduce ignition timing and efficiency. When I switched to Top Tier 93 Premium, engine knock reduced by 95%, better performance, smooth running, and less carbon build up. Every time the engine knocks, the engine suffers, and wear occurs, and it is accumulate. You may not see immediate affects, but will make a big difference in reliability. In the long run using premium oil and premium fuel will cost you less when you take into account all factors.

Great video, thank you boss

Mahalo! I am stoked to be an informed lady at the gas pump😊

On my 2019 F 150 Ecoboost octane does make a difference with the adaptive octane ratio in the ECM. AOR was staying between 0 and +1 fluctuating with 87/10% ethanol. Should be -1 ratio for best efficiency. The Shell 91 nitro I been running last 5 tanks tested at less than 5% ethanol . AOR solid -1, no fluctuation. Doesn't pull as much timing when romped on a little bit. Slight mileage increase over 5 tanks hand calc from avg 18.3 to 19.1 on very nearly identical driving routes and habits. Butt dyno likes it too. Wifey drove it recently and wondered what I did to it.

I’m a biker& motorcycles require higher octane & due to the smaller usually steel fuel tanks ethanol free is better, mixing ethanol free with premium unleaded will really raise octane. Oil companies love the fact that they can add ethanol with regular gas & get premium!!!

The only ethanol free station near me is like 45min away so it’s not worth the increase in cost per gallon for me so I just use regular 87 in my 21’ 4Runner. Used to use race fuel back in my 20’s when I raced my Busa, but most cars don’t require premium let alone race fuel. We would run a tank of premium back in the day to clean out the injectors once a year or so, but fuels changed a lot since the late 90’s. God bless~

I run ethanol free gas as much as possible. Gas companies use ethanol to increase octane cheaply, plus it is still subsidized. The ethanol allows companies to use lower quality fuel and additives. To produce the same octane fuel using BTEX additives, it is much more costly. Premium fuel cost more because of this. These same additives also clean the engine and fuel system better. The clean burning attributes of ethanol does not occur much at E10 levels. Only occurs at E30 or above. Downside is significant efficiency loss. Using premium non ethanol is much better for ypur engine. Ive done 10k miles of testing in my engine, data logging, and borescope images, oil analysis, fuel efficiency, and it makes a difference.

2:45 Keep in mind, if you are running 87 in your tank and you think "ohh, I'm going to tow, let me get some 91/93", are you emptying your tank? Putting 5-10 gallons of 91/93 in to a 36 gallon tank barely moves the octane needle. Just put the fuel your car/truck calls for in the tank and stop playing games. If you can't afford the proper fuel, you can't afford the car. My 2015 F150 3.5 EB and 2012 Mazdaspeed3 only get 91/93, because that is what it was designed for. I do find it funny that people can spend over 50K on a truck, then get their panties in a wad over 15 bucks more at the pump for the proper fuel.

My truck, designed for 87 Oct, gets better mpg with the 92 octane. Has more power and emissions are lower. Plus you add some octane boost to..

I run my lawnmowers and small engines on ethanol free because ethanol gas leaves a sticky residue in the fuel system and carburetor, I assume it does the same in cars too.

NOTE: petrol companies can spend more money on cleaning chemicals and perhaps other chemicals in products that are called premium. This is perhaps why it can be sparse between sandwiches that offer top tier petrol according to what is said. TOP TIER However, is nothing to do with octane but more to do with cleaning the engine, among other things to prevent carbon formation on valves. and According to AAA, cars that tank with top tier gasoline on average have significantly less carbon and Coatings on e.g. the valves

Ive ran several types of fuel system cleaners. Almost all contain large amounts of oil, which you dont want burning in the engine. It lowers the octane rating of the fuel, and impedes proper combustion when used. I have taken borescope images of the pistons when tbese additives are used. Severe carbon build occurs, rather than cleaning. Even those with PEA, will clean a small spot on top of the piston where the fuel sprays, but leaves heavy carbon on the remaining 90% of the piston. Just use Top Tier Premium fuel, it has all the correct detergents, and none of that oil. These fuel cleaners are mostly a scam, as fuel is already a very effective solvent and cleaner. These cleaners are not a solution to counter the effects of low quality, low octane fuel.

The new 2024 ranger gas cap says no less then 87 but the Manual says no less than 91 for the twin turbo so I decided to do 91 top tier fuel only now on my last truck I had before ran 87 which was recommended and not top tier which I had more issues like new fuel pump and knocks from the cheap fuel

However, there are cars that can be perceived as more lively with higher octane than what is stated in the owner's manual. Maybe especially if you raise the octane with ethanol

As ethanol does not contains as much energy by unit than gasoline, e-free gas should provide more power for the same amount, Octane must be compatible with timing advance, period. Suzuki says my SX4 must run on 87. This is false (in my case). She runs twice better on 91 or 94 (still doing tests). Boosting octane doubled the hp and low end torque, though driving pleasure. Find the gas your car needs. Don't race it with lower octane than recommended, event if you do some test, as this could damage the internals. Too much octane could reduce the power, if timing advance is small but will not damage anything. 87 with big timing could ruin the engine by causing knock.

I use Ethanol free gas on my 1995 mercedes SL and it runs like magic and more gas mileage 😇👍 love it

I keep my cars just about forever. Buying snake oil of any flavor and putting it in my car's fuel tank (or crankcase) is something that has never happened and never will. Fuel problems in my cars? Nope, not in the last 62 yrs. that I've been driving. The heads have never been off any of my engines. I do use "top tier" gas and synthetic oil, if it's on sale. I always change the oil and filter myself and avoid dealers for any sort of "service" unless it's covered by warranty.

I live Hawai’i Kai, I have a 1987 Mitsubishi mighty max with 32,000 miles on it, do you know anyone local that works on these, it’s been hit or miss. I have ticking noise when I accelerate. Mahalo 🤙

When you have a high compression V8 where premium fuel is recommended, you loose some of its horsepower when you put in cheap shit, as the engine control module compensates for that. I need my full 420hp for launches whenever a 🚦 turns green.

87, but must be Top Tier 👍🏽

higher compression can, however, reduce consumption a little. A Mazda should be able to do that because a Mazda can apparently have really high compression Even though it says you can have 91 octane for it. But there are tests that actually show that a Mazda can provide better torque with higher octane. You may have heard of sky X