[Fmfosnacht]

Poll: Premium or Unleaded?

Since the XC90 is designed to run on 87 Octane, but offers enhanced performance on Premium, I am wondering gas others are using, and what "real world" difference anyone has noticed in mileage or performance on premium?

 

[timtong]

On the gas door, it says please use 91 or above


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[Mothetgoo]

So I have been wondering about this too. In the manual it says 87. What is the verdict?

 

[RYJS60]

93.. it burns cleaner than the lower octane fuel.

 

[citivas]

On the gas door, it says please use 91 or above

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Exactly. The gas door says 91 or above so that's what I use. I use regular for every other car I have owned, so I am not someone who goes for premium. But the car says to use it, so I use it.

 

[Fmfosnacht]

93.. it burns cleaner than the lower octane fuel.

"Burning Cleaner" is not a function of octane. Any gasoline that is rated a "top tier" detergent gasoline has the detergent additives for ensuring a clean b urning engine. The Octane boost allows greater compression. My question is what real world benefits, if any, as anyone observed. IN most engines, burning a higher octane gas in an engine that does not call for it is a waste. In a supercharged and turbocharged engine like the XC90, the difference may be significant and noticeable. Thus the question. Thanks!~

 

[my_volvo_sucks]

Oh man, I was editing my post and accidentally deleted it.

What I was saying is similar to Fmfosnacht. Higher octane allows for more timing advance. Lower octane promotes pre-detonation. You really don't need to worry about octane at elevations over 5,000ft due to the lower atmospheric pressure.

In one sense, lower octane fuels do burn dirtier. Since most modern vehicles retard timing with the use of lower octanes to prevent ping/knock, you get more unburnt fuel mixture in the exhaust. Thus more HC emissions.

The "sucks" part of my username came actually from my 1996 VW GTI, which did in fact suck. I'm my_bmw_sucks, my_vw_sucks, etc, etc depending on the car site.

 

[Fmfosnacht]

Oh man, I was editing my post and accidentally deleted it.

What I was saying is similar to Fmfosnacht. Higher octane allows for more timing advance. Lower octane promotes pre-detonation. You really don't need to worry about octane at elevations over 5,000ft due to the lower atmospheric pressure.

In one sense, lower octane fuels do burn dirtier. Since most modern vehicles retard timing with the use of lower octanes to prevent ping/knock, you get more unburnt fuel mixture in the exhaust. Thus more HC emissions.

The "sucks" part of my username came actually from my 1996 VW GTI, which did in fact suck. I'm my_bmw_sucks, my_vw_sucks, etc, etc depending on the car site.

I was going to ask! It really sucks if you had an xc90 that sucked. I guess we have all been there. My_bonnevile_sucks.

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[goVolvo]

Use #91 or #93. It has better mileage that offsets the cost at pump to some degree, and is good for the engine, if you are owning it not just on lease.

 

[hfwilkesjr]

Premium, sorry but I never remember the number. I think it's 93.

 

[drool6]

Premium as well.... We are paying a "premium" for this car, so whats a few extra dollars at the pump?

 

[Adrian-C30R]

Premium. Because more HP/torque and MPG (which helps offset slight initial cost anyways). If I wanted to save pennies at the pump, I'd buy a Prius C....

 

[detourdog]

My question is what real world benefits, if any, as anyone observed. .... Thus the question. Thanks!~

I find that I get 1-3 mpg with the more expensive gas. I have come to the conclusion that the lower cost gas is for people that want a full tank of gas but don't want to feel the extra range is worth the cost.

Over the past 5 years a couple of times a week I drive about 100 miles roundtrip on the same route. I play with the trip computer and have varied the levels of gasoline I buy to come to this conclusion.

I'm currently doing the drive in 2011 C30 which is a manual transmission T5.

YMMV

 

[NoMoreA3TDI]

Premium. Because more HP/torque and MPG (which helps offset slight initial cost anyways). If I wanted to save pennies at the pump, I'd buy a Prius C....

OR, you could have done like I did and bought a car that boasted about having lower emissions than a Prius! The Audi A3 was the Green Car of the year in 2010!! And it was Green Car of the Year.....until a few weeks ago. Anyway....went off topic a bit.

Even though it says 87 Octane on our 2012 S80, simply because it is a turbo'd engine, we typically use 91 or 93 because of what what my_volvo_sucks was mentioning. So, if my XC90 ever gets here, we will be doing the same.

 

[RYJS60]

I would also suggest a name brand gasoline. I prefer Sunoco or Shell. Just a personal preference. I don't like the greed that comes from Exxon/Mobil.

 

[skybolt]

awwww... not this debate again.
Gas Door says minimum of 91.
The extra $2-3 per fill up over regular is not worth the drop in fuel economy and harm to engine.
If you cant afford this than go drive something else.

 

[IIHS]

^ To be fair, you could say the same thing about buying cars in cash or not buying them at all, and I doubt there are more than 5 people on this subforum who'd have XC90s if that were a prerequisite.

 

[timtong]

Btw, anyone use Costco or Arco because usually they're the most cheap gas stations?


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[goVolvo]

Btw, anyone use Costco or Arco because usually they're the most cheap gas stations?

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I don't use Arco unless it is the only choice. I use Costco now and then but there is only 87 and 89, no 91 or 93 there.
Chevron is the smoothest, Shell is a little noisy and expensive but has the best mpg.

 

[Paradox]

I
I use Costco now and then but there is only 87 and 89, no 91 or 93 there.

Costco sells regular and premium, not regular and mid-grade (which is 89 octane). Maybe it is just in your state/area they have 87/89? The following is from their FAQ (and personal experience purchasing gas from Costco when I'm near one):

Q: What products do you sell?
A: Regular Unleaded (typically 87 octane) and Premium Unleaded (typically 91 octane). Octane requirements can vary by state.

http://www.costco.com/gasoline-q-and-a.html