|
|
07-14-2010, 10:26 PM | #1 |
sportscars only
3436
Rep 3,258
Posts |
What octane fuel should I use?
I know I should use at least 91 but when I was at the pump I saw that there was also a 94 grade...would it make any difference if I pumped 94 or even higher? Thx.
|
07-14-2010, 10:53 PM | #2 |
Criminally Insane
57
Rep 1,464
Posts
Drives: Like a Demon!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
BMWs come fitted with knock sensors.
That means you can put in fuel between 91 and 98 octane (NOTE: unless they do something silly in the states to stop people litigating for having too much power and potentially hurting themselves by spilling hot coffee while accelerating ) The higher octane you use, the slightly higher power you will get out. Top Gear did a dyno test on an Evo a few years back to show the difference in power output. Over here, they recommend 95 as a minimum, but preferably 98 with the 35is, but you can use down to 91 octane on occassions if we have to (when we cant find any of the good stuff). Its in your manual.
__________________
Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia |
Appreciate
0
|
07-14-2010, 11:02 PM | #3 | |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
Quote:
So to answer your question, it's better if you use a higher octane fuel, and as Dr Stig 2 mentioned above, BMW has sensors on the engine that modify the engines settings when you use lower octane fuel. Edit: The n54's static compression ratio is 10.2:1, which is fairly high by today's standards. The only way that can be maintained is through computer control. However, in the turbocharged engine the dynamic compression ratio will increase dramatically due to forced induction. This reaffirms the need for a higher octane fuel to allow the engine to maintain the high potential horsepower under all circumstances.
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
Last edited by teagueAMX; 07-14-2010 at 11:34 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-14-2010, 11:32 PM | #5 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
Octane booster can be beneficial, but running it all the time will be expensive.
Cooler weather in Alaska can help the engine, so I'd save it for warmer weather when you want to take it out for a good run.
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-14-2010, 11:53 PM | #6 |
Hero of the Day
15
Rep 263
Posts |
__________________
Ordered my X3 28i, High Executive, M Sport, Topview, Innovation Pack and a lot of extra's first week of June!
- delivered September 13, 2014 |
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 12:00 AM | #7 | ||
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
Last edited by teagueAMX; 07-15-2010 at 12:51 AM.. |
||
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 09:44 AM | #8 |
sportscars only
3436
Rep 3,258
Posts |
Right now I've only seen 91 and 94 as the higher grades at the pumps. So it is better to go w/ the 94 in all cases? My manual does not state much save for 89 being the absolute min and 91 being the recommended.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 10:12 AM | #9 |
Lieutenant
5
Rep 446
Posts
Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Calgary
|
In Canada (and you are) 91 is the normal "premium" but with the ethanol blends available 94 octane is available. I use Husky/Mohawk 94 octane almost always. It has less than 10% ethanol, it will give better performance but does not give better fuel economy than the normal 91 octane. That is why Husky/Mohawk dropped one grade from the pumps and charge the same for their 94 as others do for 91.
__________________
Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps
'03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine) |
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 10:40 AM | #10 |
Captain
29
Rep 676
Posts |
In North America, use 91 octane. Your engine is designed to work with 91 octane, so you will not gain any noticeable power from using a higher octane rating, but would lose power if you use a lower rating as your ECU adjusts timing to avoid knocking and save your engine from damage.
The only exception would be on very hot days (above 90F/32C) when even 91 octane would barely keep the engine from knocking and 93/94 would be preferrable. Note that 91 is about as high an octane rating as one can find on the US West Coast, while in the East 91 is hard to find so get 93 instead. Also note that: 89 (US/Canada) = 95 (Europe) 93 (US/Canada) = 98 (Europe) give or take a point.
__________________
2010 BMW Z4 s35i
2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90 |
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 10:46 AM | #11 | |
sportscars only
3436
Rep 3,258
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 11:04 AM | #12 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
They are different standards of measurement that developed independently in different parts of the world at different times. I'm sure different scientists and engineers have their favorites.
Nobody want's to say, "OK, I give up and we'll use your system."
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 11:39 AM | #13 |
sportscars only
3436
Rep 3,258
Posts |
Is there any topic you don't know something about? You are the MAN, the Lion King lol.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 11:52 AM | #14 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
As the Bicentennial Man says, "One is happy to be of service".
Thanks for the generous compliment.
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
Last edited by teagueAMX; 07-16-2010 at 02:59 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 12:04 PM | #15 | |
Captain
29
Rep 676
Posts |
Quote:
There are two ways to measure octane, that yield indices about 10 points apart. In the American we use the average of the two, in Europe the highest of the two. So for a given brand of gasoline: RON = 85 MON = 95 European rating (MON) = 95 US/Canada rating (AKI) = (85+95)/2 = 90 To confuse things further, the US and Europe use different horsepower definitions. So my Z4 makes 300 hp in the US on 93 octane, and would make 306 hp on 98 octane if I took it back to Europe!
__________________
2010 BMW Z4 s35i
2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90 |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 12:13 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant
14
Rep 530
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 12:39 PM | #17 | |
sportscars only
3436
Rep 3,258
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 12:43 PM | #18 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
Heads exploding is not good - please don't.
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 01:29 PM | #19 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
+1
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 01:45 PM | #20 |
Lieutenant
5
Rep 446
Posts
Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Calgary
|
Let's get North America to use one system of measurement for distance first....miles or Kilometers....we'll tackle the rest later....I think the US and the UK are the only places that still use miles
I still do fuel usage in MPG's .... WTF, I'm old so I'm allowed...
__________________
Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps
'03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine) |
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 04:37 PM | #21 |
Colonel
65
Rep 2,087
Posts |
I'm ready for full on metric change over. Fought it back in the '70s and '80s when the US started talking about converting, but then had to learn it anyway. Now, I look back and don't know why I didn't want to migrate to metric because it's so easy. Just haven't memorized all the conversion factors.
__________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end".-- Unknown
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-15-2010, 04:48 PM | #22 | |
Criminally Insane
57
Rep 1,464
Posts
Drives: Like a Demon!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
Quote:
King: We are going metric, under pain of death Rodney (to crowd): Anyone who doesn't go metric will be beaten within an inch of their lives... Silent frame: (Rodney upside down in chains in dungeon)
__________________
Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia |
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|