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Hi, I’m really bored tonight.
Yes, it’s an old subject and considered a controversial one to some extent.
I had to think it through long ago.
When you say “called for” you have to ask from whom?
Cars are built for a market percentile to be captured that is in existence or create one that doesn’t.
Points to be considered.
In relation to the gasoline differences the octane is leaning in for the performance ends that it can provide.
Both octane blends have a purpose to bring energy IN to be used.
Both have to burn efficiently and do no harm or that would be a big problem.
Octanes are tested and certified by using a “knock test” motor that can be varied in for burn times accurately.
It’s those specifications that tell an operator what octane is presently in the cylinders. It’s a lab thing and a field test thing, done by the petroleum institute and possibly by a state weights and measures departments.
All under various departments of Energy and Transportation state and federally.
I imagine it a spot check system of testing distributors or even stations themselves, at random, or by complaints filed in the regions of our nation. All is data processed into large reports someplace.
Now here come the twister and it’s in the additives to get those octane levels up and maintain despite variations in the crude oil and its distillations.
This is where marketing kicks us in our brains by having branding names and with tiers of engine cleaning additives, supposedly?
I’m no lab rat but if there is are differences someone is going to exploit them some way or another to a benefit monetarily or just to make a product better against a competitor.
I want to say there has to be a difference, to warrant the extra effort, in either case.
So, This goes back to what marketing tells the engineers to do or build. It’s that or get into another business. Cars and petroleum is about as big as it gets.
With the change in octane there has to be a different amount of energy and the specifications written in owners manuals are recommendations to get you performance or longevity hopefully.
This written outline given covers lubrications, service intervals and so on.
The part of meeting or exceeding requirements is put on suppliers of products following all manufacturers guidelines.
Gasoline’s are all useable, thanks to standards, without harm or there would be big trouble quickly.
All car systems are built to operate safely first and within that, you are supposed to get where you are going within those systems of standards.
Any vehicle will run safely on lower octane but it may not reach the higher end of it’s “possible”horsepower specifications.
Engine damage or any ill effects should not happen due to properly designated systems that will have it operate on the lowest levels inside of gasoline standardizations.
The energy level is proportioned of what goes in must go out by the amounts of hydrocarbons molecules available. Octane or cetane.
Here is an explanation of energy. Interesting differences on standards in Europe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetane_number
Diesel has more of those in it so all of a sudden it’s more expensive.
Does it do that much more work since that the rating for horsepower? Should!
It’s was cheaper to distill but getting the energy out requires more mechanisms to do all that.
These mechanisms suffer greatly if the fuel isn’t clean and kept that way with alternative additives and the list goes on.
I personally think the Diesel engine was endangered but it got better and better performance enhancements over time. Much to the disdain of the many futurists.
In order to make electric vehicle a more viable option, the playing field got tilted, due to the proliferation of cars and pickups so thereby a new gauge was implemented.
Economics will always affect the minds of the many!
If you feel you do not need the difference in performance or even have a worry a possible change in longevity, that will almost impossible to prove either way, so, do as you please!
There will be a slight change in performance as “We” still get what we pay for,” adage.
In many cases a lot of people adapt to whatever, because we are built that way and end up never really notice it for long as we move on.
In IMHO, it’s all mostly a mind thing in a moment passing on by.
I can tell you that there is a difference in overall starting up and smoother power on 91 octane. But 89 is the recommended for my older 240 models.
It can adapt to whatever gasoline to not cause harm.
Even those 240 engines were built after and in line with the “Knock Test” engines of many years ago before them.
Choice names of “Ethylene” and “High Test” are terms not spoken.
So I’m sure your car is built the same way and will putter just the same. (:)
With Costco the 91 is the same as mid grade 89 elsewhere or even for less, so, that sneaks into the brain pan! (:)
It’s fresh and filtered supplies I want.
I shop where a turn over of gasoline can be a known given.
Getting impurities like grit comes with the whole crude oil processing.
You might be surprised to find out how many metal shavings in your tank just from the metal fuel nozzles themselves.
That bumping, twisting and scraping’s are from previous cars and are available without asking.(:-)
I see them in my lawn tractors fuel tank bottom. It comes from transferring fuel in my own plastic cans from a station.
No fuel nozzle has ever been near my lawn tractor.
Occasionally you might see a station with gasoline way way cheaper than the surrounding stations for a day or so. Ever wondered why?
They got fined is why.
Most times its a pump measure being off or their tank leak detectors were out of calibration.
Now even vapor retrieval requirements are subject.
Some stations will get shut down completely over that.
Occasionally if receipts were of considerable age, then Look out, if a test says the fuel is under grade too!
Gone are those Ma and Pa general stores who cannot survive that level of cash retainment or the responsibility anymore.
Now it’s your turn to think it through. (:-)
Phil
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