Fuel Grade Used

[RandallNeighbour]

My mechanic told me that premium fuel is truly not required in my boxster. The middle grade offered will be fine. He said the computer will shift a little and it will run the same and do no engine harm.

But, mechanics often say things like this because they don't see the need for the added expense, but don't have lots of long-term personal experience.

I know that probably 99% of the boxster owners on this list use premium at every fill up. No doubt in my mind. But I would like to hear from anyone who's consistently run the middle fuel grade in their boxster for months on end and can tell me it hurt performance, fuel economy, did engine damage, etc.

At the expense of being seen as dogmatic, I don't particularly need posts from premium advocates who feel the need to tell me why to use it and only use it. I too am a premium advocate and don't need the preaching to the choir. I just want to read what users of middle grade fuel have found, and you know who you are... the non-conformists who don't care or actually know better than what the manufacturer recommends.

For most everything I've asked my mechanic, he's told me to follow the factory recommendations for brake fluid, oil weight, etc. But on this one he just blurted it out when I told him I was expecting $2+ a gallon for premium by the time we got to CA next week.

[deliriousga]

I tried it for two tanks, one running 87 and one running 89. Since my computer has not been chipped, it does as your mechanic said and adjusts the engine to compensate. And compensate it does. Lost power and fuel economy, especially with the 87. I didn't run it for months on either because the performance difference was not worth $1.50 per fill-up.

Btw, if yours is chipped you most likely cannot do this. The computer has built in compensation as mentioned above and the chips fine-tune the engine to run at peak performance so it can't handle lower octane fuels.

[Brucelee]

Your mechanic is a moron. I can't run lowest grade in my wife's Subaru without her noticing that the car has lost power.

I actually wouldn't even try it in any of my Porsches.

[RandallNeighbour]

OK, this is good input. Hans isn't a moron overall though... everyone says stupid things from time to time. I just caught him doing it and will avoid the lower grades of fuel.

Thanks for your input! I had a feeling I was right to ignore him, but I wanted it validated and validated it is! I love this forum.

[Brucelee]

My apologies to Hans. I spoke too hastily.

[SD987]

I don't know what gas stations are like in the Houston area, but when I lived on the east coast, gas was available in - 87 -89 - 91 -93 (94 for Sun). Now 93-94 is sadly not available on the east coast, 91 is the top. But if 91 is a "middle" grade where you live, perhaps this is what your mechanic OKed. The Box owner's manual states that if 91 is the best you can get, this is just fine and the engine will compensate.

Incidentally, I have heard that 96 grade is available at select 76 stations in the LA area, has anyone found such a station and experimented with this super fuel in their box?

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

My apologies to Hans. I spoke too hastily.

On his behalf, your appology is accepted. He'll never know though cause I remember what you posted last week.

What's said on the forum stays on the forum.

Or was that only with spousal discussions?