HeavyMetal
11-08-2003, 12:16 AM
I'd really appreciate if you guys could take a moment of yours for me.
I bought a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am V6 3.4 (24K mileage) recently. In the manual I read that, 87 octane gasoline is recommended for my car. I've never gone cheap on the gas and always bought the highest (premium) octane for my old car. So did I for my new car at first tank, too. Then I read the manual and I switched to 87, right after I hit the bottom of my fuel tank.
I'm not comfortable. I just don't want to be happen anything to my engine because of a few cents. That amount of a money is not an issue. I just want to do the right thing for my car. Also I think I feel more vibration and knocking while I'm idling. I don't know, I've had so many bad memories with my old car, and maybe I'm just being paranoid.
I've been reading a lot of things on the internet. So, I'm aware of what the octane is and what it does. But, I'm not able to get a honest and open recommendation for the octane choice. Some sites recommends to use basic, some recommends higher.
I'm from Florida:
Hot wheater and low altitude, means requires higher octane.
High humidity, means requires lower octane.
Over 15K mileage, may mean requires higher octane.
V6 3.4 liter engine, does that mean higher performance engine? Higher octane??
Questions, question, questions... Don't want to take time too much of yours. Please give me your suggestions.
Thanks.
By the way these are some helpful links. But I'm getting some conflicting recommendations.
http://www.shellus.com/products/pro...soline_faq.html
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fue...pi_octane.shtml
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=150553
I bought a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am V6 3.4 (24K mileage) recently. In the manual I read that, 87 octane gasoline is recommended for my car. I've never gone cheap on the gas and always bought the highest (premium) octane for my old car. So did I for my new car at first tank, too. Then I read the manual and I switched to 87, right after I hit the bottom of my fuel tank.
I'm not comfortable. I just don't want to be happen anything to my engine because of a few cents. That amount of a money is not an issue. I just want to do the right thing for my car. Also I think I feel more vibration and knocking while I'm idling. I don't know, I've had so many bad memories with my old car, and maybe I'm just being paranoid.
I've been reading a lot of things on the internet. So, I'm aware of what the octane is and what it does. But, I'm not able to get a honest and open recommendation for the octane choice. Some sites recommends to use basic, some recommends higher.
I'm from Florida:
Hot wheater and low altitude, means requires higher octane.
High humidity, means requires lower octane.
Over 15K mileage, may mean requires higher octane.
V6 3.4 liter engine, does that mean higher performance engine? Higher octane??
Questions, question, questions... Don't want to take time too much of yours. Please give me your suggestions.
Thanks.
By the way these are some helpful links. But I'm getting some conflicting recommendations.
http://www.shellus.com/products/pro...soline_faq.html
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fue...pi_octane.shtml
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=150553