I use 93 every chance I get. At times when I'm visiting my parents in the rural country, the highest I can get my hands is 91. I've noticed that my car ('11 T6) hates cheap gas, even if it 93oct. The best gas(and it is noticeable)for me would be Chevron. I mainly fill up on Shell or SamsClub(college student finances :/ ) My advice, try your best to run a decent quality higher octane.

 

the highest octane rating available; Shell and Sunoco depending on availability, if not available, then I just try to make sure it's a recognized brand.

Dealers will say that (and the manual says that too, iirc) but the reality is that general public hates to pay for premium gasoline, so they have to go along.

 

I only use 93 Octane (91 if Sunoco is out of 93, very rarely though) in my S60 T6 AWD R-Design, but then again if you have the Polestar tune it is recommended that you use Premium fuel grade. I had to put regular fuel in my S60RD for like 2 weeks back during Hurricane Sandy and boy oh boy did my car hate it and the performance/MPGs were terrible. We also only put 93 in our '13 T5 AWD as well, because the car didn't run as smoothly with regular.

 

I only use 87 on my T5. Runs smooth, no issues with power or MPG. Using premium in a car that does not require it is a waste of money IMHO.

 

I only use 87 on my T5. Runs smooth, no issues with power or MPG. Using premium in a car that does not require it is a waste of money IMHO.

Actually flip to the page in the owners manual, it says that for best results in performance of the motor use 91 or higher octane.

 

I've had a P2 T5, 2.5T, R and now a 13 T5 AWD, and all of them I have run the bulk of the time with 87. No problems of any kind. Got 30+ mph wit the R many times, same with T5AWD. Switched back and forth between 91 and 87 and could never notice any difference no matter how hard I try. Same with my current T5 AWD. Sure, I probably loose 10 hp by not running premium, but you can't really notice something that small from behind the wheel. As far as running smooth, I have no idea what you guys are referring too as not running smooth on 87. The motor was designed for 87 and runs fine. Premium isn't available in the area where I live usually, so I have limited choices, but when I do put premium in it's just a waste of money for me. Any performance difference is purely subjective at best.

 

The motor was designed for 87 and runs fine.

Uh, no... The motor was designed to operate in a range. A computer learns and adjusts to run on whatever is available. Older simpler computers would still allow some detonation at WOT, when fuel is crappy and the day is hot. This one is probably better. It will absolutely run fine, and the difference is probably not that significant. I mean, whoever needs 350 torque anyway? ;-)

 

I too have a '13 awd S60 and I always run premium, to me, the improvement in motor performance is not subtle at all. I notice it very quickly if a gas station has committed fraud and sold me regular or mid-grade and charged me for premium due to rapid drop off in throttle response.

If you have never run premium, I suggest you try two tankfuls and see what you are missing.

+1 to buying from a brand name high volume station. I favor Shell and Mobil.

Good luck.

 

Run one tank of 87 in the '15 V60 FWD T5 and have 93 in there now...sitting in the garage on a trickle charger. Sport mode and 93 octane is WAY more fun, although easily gets out of it's own way with the 87 in there.

The C30 with the Elevate tune gets 93 and is a beast, especially out on open turnpike where I can safely open her up.

Just noticed I need to change my avatar...wonder if they have V60 pics yet...

 

Trickle charger? How long do you expect it to sit?

 

Will be a couple days short of a month when I return--probably don't have to do it since the V60 is new, but owner's manual says start it and run 15 minutes a week. It also says not to put it on a charger, but, quoting Graham Chapman, that's just plain silly...
Have disconnected the battery on the C30--had it die on me (under warranty) after coming back from an extended trip a few years back.
Wife gets back after I return. Road warrior family.

 

Did regular at first but got crappy fuel economy, now I put in premium and the performance and fuel economy has increased in my T5.

 

I run 87 all the time, mpg is decent and power is OK.

It is very noticeable if I put 91+ in the tank. Must be at least 10 hp improvement and better throttle response. But mpg is the same.

 

I run 87 all the time, mpg is decent and power is OK.

It is very noticeable if I put 91+ in the tank. Must be at least 10 hp improvement and better throttle response. But mpg is the same.

There are a number of factors that could influence this, but a local guy here that has a family member running 87 octane in their T6 measured peak boost at only like 8 or 9 psi. Run 91+ and you'll hit the advertised 13.1 PSI of boost. That is probably more like a 30+ HP difference if not more. After all, Polestar only goes up to 14.7 PSI of boost from 13.1 PSI but that got them +25 HP.

 

91 usually. I like having all 295ft/lbs of torque available if needed. It's only a couple cups of Starbuck's more per tankful which is also offset a little by the 1-2mpg better fuel economy that I've noticed.

 

2012 R-Design here, and I put premium in it. As a matter of fact I have not own a car in the last ten years that didn't require premium. My last car was a 2012 Gti, and before that an E36 M3. I even put premium in my 1998 V70 R. I figured if I quit drinking energy drinks it would pay for the the difference in cost.

 

I run 93. Car was delivered with 87. The difference in throttle responsiveness between the two is drastic, as is peak acceleration and how long that lasts.

87 felt more like cheap thrills.
93 feels like a roller coaster.

 

Mrsideways, where do you fuel up with the 93 in the US? Is it a Top Tier retailer?

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

 

The Graph above is where ever the dealer topped it up mixed with what was left in the tank from Europe.

I get the gas for the Mini and the race car at the local Sunco that has 100 octane at the pump. Then fill up at the track. Honestly for the S60 I just fill it up at whatever is near by when it's low. But in Florida everything is 93. Only Wawa is 91.

 

I've actually wondered why Sunoco isn't on the top tier list given they are the only ones I know of selling 100 octane around here (here it's not from the pump, though).

I wish there was actually more data than just GM's top tier BS, but from what I've been told being on that list can matter just as much as octane when it comes to performance. I didn't think these cars were tuned for more than 93.

 

I've actually wondered why Sunoco isn't on the top tier list given they are the only ones I know of selling 100 octane around here (here it's not from the pump, though).

I wish there was actually more data than just GM's top tier BS, but from what I've been told being on that list can matter just as much as octane when it comes to performance. I didn't think these cars were tuned for more than 93.

Top Tier gas is more about the detergents and additives than octane.
In MN it varies, you find some stations with 91, others with 92, others with 93. Nearby BP seems to have 93 all the time.

Not sure about the T6 R-Ds, but it is well known that the P2 Rs were tuned for European premium which is about 95.5 US octane. I wouldn't be surprised if the Polestar tuned T6 cars work best with the same.

 

Detergents and additives absolutely affect performance. Anything you put in a fuel will effect how well it performs.

But if the P2's were tuned for higher octane, maybe these are as well. I e-mailed Polestar.

 

Detergents and additives absolutely affect performance. Anything you put in a fuel will effect how well it performs.

The detergents help performance over thousands of miles because they keep the engine clean. But if you have a clean engine and you compare Top Tier 93 vs some other 93 with fewer detergents, that tankful will perform the same. The detergents aren't added in any quantity significant enough to change the chemical energy or octane properties of the fuel...

 

I've been using 87 in my '12 S60 T6 w/Polestar upgrade. Never had an issue with detonation or fouling. On long road trips I get 28 mpg and great acceleration

 

I'm telling you, I have switched back and forth a zillion times between 87 and 91, and there is no change. No change in fuel economy, no change in throttle responsiveness, no change in acceleration, no change in smoothness. I mean, I'm no car czar, but I've driving about a zillion performance cars, and I'm attuned to have a car engine behaves, and sometimes I think you just want to believe your car runs better on premium just to make you feel better. There is a big difference between an engine operating in theory better on premium and what happens in the real world in everyday driving. I mean, exactly how much better fuel economy do you think I'm gonna get than this? That's on 87.....so I should expect what on premium? Any difference is marginal at best....this has been shown over and over again for the vast majority of engines.

 

By not putting Premium 91/93 in a Polestar tuned car you are not getting all the power as advertised. There's a sticker right on the fuel door of R-Design models saying its recommended.

 

Yep, no way they get more than 9 PSI of boost on 87 octane after they've driven it hard.

I'm telling you, I have switched back and forth a zillion times between 87 and 91, and there is no change. No change in fuel economy, no change in throttle responsiveness, no change in acceleration, no change in smoothness.

I call BS. Unless you can show us a datalog from your car using VIDA/DICE or Torque app and an OBDII dongle or similar, there is no way I will believe you're getting anywhere near the advertised 15 PSI of boost that the T6 Polestar runs.

One question - how many tankfuls of each grade (87 vs 91/93) are you running between switches? You need to run at least 4 tanks through for the car to really re-learn the new gas, especially the switch up from 87 to premium. If you're switching every tank or two then your car acts the same because you aren't giving it enough time to adapt to premium.

 

Yes, Ford does this as well. They actually have in print that I think you have something like 12 horsepower difference if you run that motor on regular. That's not enough difference to offer meaningful improvements in fuel economy or performance, let alone noticeable. It's always been that way. Good thing it's not required...I'd have a 15-20 mile drive one way to the closets 2 premium pumps.

 

Ok, so only because this keeps coming up I figured why not try and see for myself if there really is a difference. That said, a bit of background, I began using mid grade when I first got the car @ 30,000mi was having the trans problem many on the forum have had (gear hunting, hesitation) so I tried premium for a while maybe 1500 mi or so..... It seemed trans got better but every now and again hunt hunt hunt. Fast forward and @ 35,000mi I get new engine and for first 2500mi or so the tran has learned my driving style and seems better than before and this on 87, so I figure leave well enough alone but this thread made me take another stab at all that spirited driving you guys are doing.... After just one tank I can say without a doubt there is a considerable difference, almost the difference between D and Sport. The word that comes to mind is EAGER with CONFIDENT a close second, it is that noticeable especially in light traffic where sport mode is just too aggressive. This is just my honest assement after one tank of 92 octane and really paying attention to the cars behavior.

 

Good for you that you can't feel the difference, but the engine timing is retarded for lower octane fuel. Changing the timing has a huge effect on the performance of a turbocharged engine. I don't notice the "lack" of power so much with the Polestar tuned T6 as much as I did on my 2.5T because it's still making significantly more torque than the 2.5T ever did, but the difference I feel is at least on par with the difference between the regular T6 and a Polestar T6. Especially in sport.

 

Perhaps "sport" mode makes if feel more powerful more than the fuel type in it..... Everyone has there own experience. I probably drove my S60R M with premium for a year, then switched to 87.....never could tell the difference, same for my new car. I guess what gets me is when someone just states it as fact that you get way better milage and have noticably more power if you put in premium....I don't think it's fact, and there are thousands of others who feel the same way. Everyone has there own experience based off of where you live and how you drive the fuel you put it, but for everyone person that says premium is awesome there is another person that says regular feels exactly the same..... It's not a fact, and there are many reputable and knowledgeable studies or people that say its not just a blanket fact, it does very much so very from car to person.

 

Do you ever actually floor the gas and leave it there for 6+ seconds?
If the thought of doing that sort of thing horrifies you, then yeah I'm not surprised you wouldn't notice a difference between 87 and 91+. You're probably never asking the engine for more than 200 lb-ft of torque anyway...

 

Except it is a fact. Just because the butt dyno does or does not recognize a gain doesn't mean fuel octane has no measurable effect on engine performance.

I'll tell you what - I'll fill up with regular tonight (<50 miles to empty right now) and do some timed sprints and we can compare the difference to the very consistent 5.5 second 0-60 time I'm getting (no launch, DSTC not in sport mode).

Averages so far with 93 Octane Exxon fuel:

Peak Acceleration: 0.74 G's

 

Sounds great, that will be interesting. I still think you are missing that point that, why you say it does have a significant impact 100% of the time for every engine, there are many, many people that say it's far from 100% of the time..... I'm pretty confident your highly-tuned T6 Polestar behaves very differently to 87 than my T5 does, or say an M3 to a 320i for example. Not everyone sees huge changes when switching fuel grades, that's my point. You may very well with your T6, maybe to a huge degree. But saying everyone does...that's where I question your idea out in the real world

What I'd really like to know is what app you are using!!!

 

What I'd really like to know is what app you are using!!!

Seconded