P5 + MSP ECU gas choices?

[digitalslacker]

Hey Guys,

I may be falling into a pretty cheap turbo / engine / trans / ecu from a 2003.5 mazdaspeed protege. I was wondering, if I transfer the turbo kit and use that ECU am I going to have to run premium? I'm fine running slightly less boost if I can keep running 87. I already have one car that is tuned and takes 93 octane only and don't need another.

Is it worth trying or is it an exercise in frustration?

 

[HKPRO5]

If you are worried about gas octane you should do the swap. WWhen going turbo you will have run higher octane so that it runs right. If you do a search you will findout thr problems when running the lower octane. Also you have to change oil more frequenly. It takes a bit more care than NA.

 

[Ricktalife]

Premium is required for a turbocharged vehicle regardless of boost level.

 

[P-Funk!]

^true. Anything less is foolish. The money saved on fuel will not overcome the cost of burned pistons and a re-build...

If money is that tight - do not turbo. Many other expenses as well before the project is complete.

 

[Flash5]

agree with everything said above, not to mention lessening the boost on an msp would make the turbo useless. they run 6 psi stock and lowering it anymore is just insane!

 

[Ricktalife]

plus I highly doubt he could make a wastegate go lower lol.

 

[digitalslacker]

Fair enough. Looks like I'll pass on the parts then. I'm liking the 32mpg+ 87 octane DD right now.

 

[Ricktalife]

You can still achieve 30+ highway with the MSP turbo kit. Premium costs more yes, but it costs more for a reason.

 

[digitalslacker]

True, just not worth it for this car.

 

[thecrash91]

average difference in cost between 87 and 91 is about 15-20 cents by me, you realize for 10 gallons thats a 2 dollar difference? im in college and i ALWAYS get 93 and im on a budget as tight as *insert dirty reference* its really not a big deal.

 

[HKPRO5]

Yea I budget $35 a week for gas. It pits me at full tank on 93. Worth it though.

I'm thinking about running 100 but that's $6.36 a gallon here in Hawaii.

 

[digitalslacker]

average difference in cost between 87 and 91 is about 15-20 cents by me, you realize for 10 gallons thats a 2 dollar difference? im in college and i ALWAYS get 93 and im on a budget as tight as *insert dirty reference* its really not a big deal.

I drive 25k-30k miles a year, it adds up... trust me.

 

[thecrash91]

then dont expect to own any car with relatively high horsepower, because they all pretty much require it

 

[thecrash91]

ok i did the math, and here it is. say 30 cents difference, and you drive 30k miles a year.
30k miles/30 MPG (all msp's see this on average) = 1000 gallons of fuel a year.
1000 gallons/14 (fuel tank capacity) = ~72 fill ups a year, 30 cents difference per gallon means
.30*14 gallons= 4.2 dollars per full tank of gas
$4.2 *72= $302.40
that really doesn't seem like a lot when its on paper.

 

[Ricktalife]

I wouldn't say the MSP gets 30 on average... I just said it is capable of that. Most of us don't drive it like a grandma

 

[thecrash91]

i beat the hell out of it and get 34 highway and about 30-32 city hahaha

 

[digitalslacker]

then dont expect to own any car with relatively high horsepower, because they all pretty much require it

First off, 180whp isn't high horsepower. Not even factoring in displacement.

Second, 300$ might not sound like a good chunk to you, but that's an extra few Christmas gifts to people or whatever else.

I got the answer to my question so this thread can be closed, thanks for the input guys!

 

[Ricktalife]

That's ridiculous, i'd have to see it to believe it.