[zircular]

87 octane is the minimum according to the manual on these cars because the ECU will retard timing-- IE the spark will happen sooner to prevent detonation. That alone hurts gas mileage. Every engine fires the spark plug before the piston reaches the top of its travel, but the closer to the top it can fire, the better for efficiency. When timing is retarded, energy is wasted fighting the expanding gases in the cylinder. The manual recommends 91 octane so that's what you should use for best performance and efficiency, rather than depending on the ECU and knock sensor to compensate for the *wrong* octane.

Your understanding of timing retardation and its impact on cylinder pressure / efficiency / knock is backwards. Timing is retarded to prevent knock but that means delaying ignition. The efficiency impact is due to sub-optimal timing of peak cylinder pressure relative to crank position more than anything else.

 

[12_Ice_white_S60]

My S60 has been given nothing but Shell V Power since the first fill up after purchase.

I ran a few tanks of Shell regular and then a few mid-grade in my XC90 and while I'm sure someone will tell me it was my imagination, I did notice a big difference. Nothing but premium for her since then.

 

[Stormin Norman]

I have the same experience.

 

[jackalope]

Your understanding of timing retardation and its impact on cylinder pressure / efficiency / knock is backwards. Timing is retarded to prevent knock but that means delaying ignition. The efficiency impact is due to sub-optimal timing of peak cylinder pressure relative to crank position more than anything else.

Wow, I've had it backward all these years. Thanks

Now I don't understand why an engine is more efficient with 91 octane if tuned for it...

 

[jackalope]

My S60 has been given nothing but Shell V Power since the first fill up after purchase.

I ran a few tanks of Shell regular and then a few mid-grade in my XC90 and while I'm sure someone will tell me it was my imagination, I did notice a big difference. Nothing but premium for her since then.

Volvo is the only brand of car where people who know better will "try" a lower octane than what the car requires!! Go on a BMW forum and talk about using a lower octane fuel and you'll probably get banned

 

[reward2]

Volvo is the only brand of car where people who know better will "try" a lower octane than what the car requires!! Go on a BMW forum and talk about using a lower octane fuel and you'll probably get banned

+1 Traveling 15000 miles per year, using 24 mpg, with $.50 difference between grades the cost of using premium is about $300+ per year. That is $6 per week. if one cannot afford that Volvo is NOT the car for them.

 

[Magic Marker]

I run 93.

 

[zircular]

Volvo is the only brand of car where people who know better will "try" a lower octane than what the car requires!! Go on a BMW forum and talk about using a lower octane fuel and you'll probably get banned

All the more reason not to drive a BMW, I guess. Thing is, most current Volvos don't actually require high octane fuel. (IIRC the T6 Drive-E and Polestar-tuned cars are the exceptions.) The owners manual specifically states that 91 is recommended for the best performance and FE but 87 is perfectly fine. I use 91 or 93 but I don't see the point in looking down my nose at people who don't.

 

[AeroDan]

Regular 87 octane in our S60, 5-cylinder for the past year and a half. We've run regular 87 octane in our two Saab 9-5s (2.3L, turbo, 4-cylinder) since new in 2003 and 2004. In the summer we will run mid-grade, 89 octane, to alleviate some knocking in extremely hot weather.

 

[jo_nathan]

The salesman told me to put regular on my 2015.5 T6

 

[reward2]

The salesman told me to put regular on my 2015.5 T6

Well, it is not his car.

 

[GregK]

I have using regular since the car was purchased. I may try a tank of premium just to see if there is any perceptible difference in performance....

 

[breatlevo]

93 Only the best for my S-60...And as far as salesman go, ive never ever met one yet that really new the nuts and bolts of any car they sell. All they can do is crunch numbers, to push your loan thru. Your better off talking to one of the mechanics , who work on Volvos.

 

[dhorvath]

I have using regular since the car was purchased. I may try a tank of premium just to see if there is any perceptible difference in performance....

You may need several tanks.
1) tank isn't really empty so premium is diluted.
2) computer takes time to relearn

 

[Stormin Norman]

The average consumer is 'afraid' of a car that requires premium, so every sales person will tell you to use regular. They don't want to create doubt in the consumer's mind. Doubt frequently = buy something else.

If you care, the motor will run noticeably better on premium. I notice the difference imediately, my wife couldn't tell at all.

For some, a car is just an appliance. For others, it is whole lot more involved.

Good luck.

 

[Bigslick]

The average consumer is 'afraid' of a car that requires premium, so every sales person will tell you to use regular. They don't want to create doubt in the consumer's mind. Doubt frequently = buy something else.

If you care, the motor will run noticeably better on premium. I notice the difference imediately, my wife couldn't tell at all.

For some, a car is just an appliance. For others, it is whole lot more involved.

Good luck.

I tested 3 tanks of regular then noted my thoughts + MPG and then 3 tanks of Premium and on the final of the 3 tanks noted the same.

Regular 24.2 MPG (Mixed FWY and City)

Premium 26.5 MPG same commute. I also noticed it felt more peppy, but this could be in my head.

So MPG's wise it helped somewhat.. enough I think to offset the increase in price.

 

[sylva143]

I use Top Tier 93 Octane, usually Shell VPower. I realize there is a lot of controversy surrounding this topic, but the higher concentrations of fuel additives provides some piece of mind. Also, the price differential is sometimes as low as .30 cents a gallon. When I'm buying from Top Tier providers (Shell, BP and Exxon in my area), I know I am getting a better product for my engine.

 

[batchelor22]

My car has the Polestar tune with the sticker on the gas lid to use Premium fuel. With that tune, I have never thought of using anything else. My question is has anyone noticed a discernible difference between 91 and 94 octane? I feel that the 94 does better, but it could be all psychological.

Also the 94 comes from Chevron, when I use 91 it is from Costco, because it is discernibly cheaper.

Thanks to anyone who chooses to respond.

 

[Almaz]

I personally use 93. I used 87 for a few tanks and felt the engine was not as responsive. Whether real or in my head is a different story.

The real question is this: Has it been proven that using 87 damages the engine?
If the answer is "No" then all this talk and endless debate is nothing more than shooting the breeze. In which case don't listen to anyone and do what you feel is right for you.

 

[ROTH]

I also only use 93. And I also only ever buy Shell. Regardless of whether or not the car "needs" it, the higher octane is recommended, so that's what I go with. I should probably mention that I LOVE my car and feel it deserves the best.