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question for the car buffs

should i be using 87 or 91 octane gas in my car? it's a 2003 VW Jetta 1.8 turbo.

the gas cap says 87/91, and the opinions seemed to be pretty mixed on the VWvortex forums. some say use ONLY 91, others say it doesn't make a difference what you use. is it better for the engine/turbo to use 91? plz essplain... i didn't wanna ask on VWvortex 'cause i feel out of my element, lol.

i don't know about turbos, but for almost all modern cars 87 is fine if not better. if you car doesn't knock then you don't need it.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/octane.shtm

quote:

Originally posted by igottaknow i don't know about turbos, but for almost all modern cars 87 is fine if not better. if you car doesn't knock then you don't need it.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by igottaknow i don't know about turbos, but for almost all modern cars 87 is fine if not better. if you car doesn't knock then you don't need it. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/octane.shtm

informative article. thanks for that!

My friend has that same car & has always used 87 since new. She has had no problems at all with the engine. Plus i cant even remember the last time I put anything higher that 87 octane in a car.

with a turbo. 91

chances are it's a stock turbo right?

87 is more then enough, you move up in octane when you burn leaner due to high AF ratios.

stock turbo doesn't come with a FMIC kit, it's probably sucking out of a stock air box.

quote:

Originally posted by kid nyce chances are it's a stock turbo right? 87 is more then enough, you move up in octane when you burn leaner due to high AF ratios. stock turbo doesn't come with a FMIC kit, it's probably sucking out of a stock air box.

yeah, stock turbo.

yea 87 is fine, just make sure your air filter is clean thats all

plugs, wires, engine/tranny oil, brakes, tires, and air/gas filters should be your maintence

engine depending on oil 3k - syn 5k
tranny 30K
plugs n wires 30K
gas filter 30k
rotate tires every 12k-15k
brakes as needed
air filter as needed

not a bad idea to flush your radiator before each winter

I usually go through a winterization in the fall. Lay a heavy coat of wax on the paint, change wipers, snow tires, rubber mats, emergency snow stuff in the trunk.

If your car knocks, your knock sensor will pick it up and retard the timing, which will actually decrease your MPG and performance.

Aside from that, you're not gaining anything with the higher octane.

If the manual says 87 is fine, I'd go with that.

quote:

Originally posted by kid nyce yea 87 is fine, just make sure your air filter is clean thats all plugs, wires, engine/tranny oil, brakes, tires, and air/gas filters should be your maintence engine depending on oil 3k - syn 5k tranny 30K plugs n wires 30K gas filter 30k rotate tires every 12k-15k brakes as needed air filter as needed

normally id say 91, but since i have no clue on your driving style i cant say either is better. do you stomp on the gas? if so use 91. if you just put put around then 87 is fine since you wont be doing any heavy acceleration.

kid nyce: the octane rating has nothing to do with a/f ratios. its all for detonation aka knock.

87 is fine.
The only difference between the two is that the 91 will make your car go a teeny weeny bit faster than the 87.

As kid nyce mentioned, regular maintenance is the key to keeping your car running well! what mileage has it done ?

hey wicked i thought about trying to change my muffler myself and thought of you. The criminals at Midas wanted $260 to replace the muffler and a short intermediate pipe. The muffler is a little on the loud side, it has a small hole the diameter of a pencil on the bottom.

i could get muffler tape or try replace it myself but i'm not sure if its worth the trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by igottaknow hey wicked i thought about trying to change my muffler myself and thought of you. The criminals at Midas wanted $260 to replace the muffler and a short intermediate pipe. The muffler is a little on the loud side, it has a small hole the diameter of a pencil on the bottom. i could get muffler tape or try replace it myself but i'm not sure if its worth the trouble.

LOL do it right. go to midas.

quote:

Originally posted by igottaknow hey wicked i thought about trying to change my muffler myself and thought of you. The criminals at Midas wanted $260 to replace the muffler and a short intermediate pipe. The muffler is a little on the loud side, it has a small hole the diameter of a pencil on the bottom. i could get muffler tape or try replace it myself but i'm not sure if its worth the trouble.

i guess that would depend on emissions and noise laws where you live.

The only real difficulty in changing it out is freeing the old muffler from the rest of the system, putting a new one on is a 10 minute job

Get a new muffler, some gun gum (Exhaust paste) and a new clamp, undo the old rusty clamp and throw it in the bin, bang shit out of the old muffler with a hammer to free it from the rest of the system.
Wire brush the remaining pipe clean, smear with exhaust paste, fit new muffler, adjust it so it hangs right, put on new clamp.

i was hoping to get jenny to suck it off thx for the advice

quote:

Originally posted by igottaknow i was hoping to get jenny to suck it off thx for the advice

lol

Re: question for the car buffs

quote:

Originally posted by l�cid should i be using 87 or 91 octane gas in my car? it's a 2003 VW Jetta 1.8 turbo. the gas cap says 87/91, and the opinions seemed to be pretty mixed on the VWvortex forums. some say use ONLY 91, others say it doesn't make a difference what you use. is it better for the engine/turbo to use 91? plz essplain... i didn't wanna ask on VWvortex 'cause i feel out of my element, lol.

Can probably run 87 through winter without any problems, if you get hot summers, use 91 or higher to stop 'knock' from the fuel detonating before the spark plugs ignite it. No real danger either way as the car engine has sensors on it to retard the ignition so it won't break, just runs better on higher octanes and will rev a bit easier.

Least it's not as bad as my 'loaner' from a friends brother I'm using which needs 98... lots of 98

I just got my muffler replaced, including the intermediate pipe and tailpipe, and it was $140.

Seems like Midas is FTL.

quote:

Originally posted by UWM I just got my muffler replaced, including the intermediate pipe and tailpipe, and it was $140. Seems like Midas is FTL.

Parts are $100 so if I can get another place to do it for $140, that'll be a fair price for not getting my hands dirty.

87 is fine, but I wouldn't buy gas from the discount chains; you definitely want quality 87 gasoline (like Chevron), which is still cheaper than 91.

If you ever make the switch to 91, don't switch back to 87; your car gets used to the better stuff and will start knocking and pinging.

quote:

Originally posted by spiflicated If you ever make the switch to 91, don't switch back to 87; your car gets used to the better stuff and will start knocking and pinging.

Just reset the car's ECU, it'll remap itself usually on most modern cars.

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