Regular or Premium Gas?

[jcmerida23]

Dear All:

I have just a question, for a Mazda 3 (US) is it worthy to use premium as compared to regular fuel?

If you do the math, premium is only about 6% higher in price as compared to regular gas. I do not know how the millage will change if I change to premium. Any suggestions?

In addition, does anybody knows how will this affect the engine if the case?

Thank you for your time,

J.C. (Atlanta- Georgia)

 

[mp3josh]

you need to check out the mazda 3 section Because MP3's have to run on premium gas.

 

[StealthWyvern]

I know I dont have a 3 but with my mp5 i put the good stuff in it al the time. Mainly because I can tell the difference in power between reg and the good stuff. Plus the good stuff keeps your fuel system cleaner.

I know comeof you guys think its the plocebo effect with me feelign more power but its not. I know this becuase my atc I can spin the tires from a dead stop with higher grade gas then with reg at the same intersection and weather beign the same give or take a degree in temp difference.

But does it have any damage to your engien I highly doubt it.

 

[dommo_g]

With lower octane, the engine will start to knock, your knock sensor will tell the ECU to pull timing to eliminate the knock, reducing performance and making the engine slightly less efficient, e.g. lower mileage.








*Disclaimer: I may or may not know what the hell I'm talking about on any given subject.

 

[Puckpimp71]

Regular is fine for a 3

 

[manofmacg3]

Up to you man. If you don't mind paying the difference go for it. The benifits are worth it, in my opinion. I ran 93 in my old ES, and never went back.

 

[AznXstazy]

well when i calculated its only 3 more dallors on a full tank of gas over 87... but i only put in 20 anyway cuz my cars getin REALLY crappy gas mileage cuz of tire issues n clutch. so im only paying like wat.... 1.50 more? for 93? that i get a bit more power from. not that much. calculate it n ask ur self is it worth to save the extra 3 or 5 bucks or should i just put it in n have some fun =)

 

[dcbeggs]

I usually run 87 in mine. I have never had any knocking or anything of the sort. However, when I run 91 (which is recommended) I definately notice a huge difference in the way the car performs. As the owner manual states, you can run lower octane fuel, but it is recommended to run premium.

 

[Puckpimp71]

On the 3, not the MP3, there won't be as much of a difference, since the 3 was designed to use 87. Doesn't help much that this is in the wrong section.

 

[winty87]

You dont HAVE to run premium in the MP3 it just says its RECOMENDED. I've been running it on 87 for almost a year and 80% of my driving is highway too and nothing bad has happend, sure I may be getting slightly lower mileage but i also avg 80-85 on the highway. I also get on it from time to time now more in the better weather, I'll be switching over to middie's or Prem because I dont suck through gas on the highway for the summer.

 

[AznXstazy]

ya, unless we had vtec, then i would use premium =)

 

[AznXstazy]

btw, sorry if im going to jack thread, but i saw x3 n it wasnt all the great. kinda pissed me off how the movie has nothign to do with the acual x men anymore. =) waste of 2 hours of my life o well

 

[StealthWyvern]

btw, sorry if im going to jack thread, but i saw x3 n it wasnt all the great. kinda pissed me off how the movie has nothign to do with the acual x men anymore. =) waste of 2 hours of my life o well

Yeah I would call that a thread jack however I do agree with you on the entire 3-5 bucks more to fill your tank for some fun

 

[AznXstazy]

Yeah I would call that a thread jack however I do agree with you on the entire 3-5 bucks more to fill your tank for some fun

lol, thanks. sorry the movie really pissed me off decided to post somewhere haha.

 

[Bigg Tim]

I moved this to the Mazda 3 section.

My wife runs 87 in her 3 and she see's no ill affects. I think she's getting around 25-27MPG with mixed driving.

 

[cbc]

From page 4-2 of the US M3 manual
Fuel Requirements

Your Mazda wil perform best with fuel listed in table:
Regular unleaded fuel 87 octane rated or above.

Fuel rated lower than 87 coud cause emission control problems or engine knocking

 

[compujas]

I run only Reg 87 in my '06 3 manual. I've had no problems with the car at all, and I consistently get between 27 and 32mpg on mostly highway driving (closer to 27 now in the summer with the horrible Mazda A/C). Until someone can produce some proof that higher octane actually creates better performance, I don't believe it. Octane rating is used purely as a measurement of engine knock. If the engine doesn't knock or the manual doesn't recommend higher, stick with regular.

 

[Rac3rX]

From page 4-2 of the US M3 manual
Fuel Requirements

Your Mazda wil perform best with fuel listed in table:
Regular unleaded fuel 87 octane rated or above.

Fuel rated lower than 87 coud cause emission control problems or engine knocking

Why does it say 87 or above ?

87 is the lowest acceptable grade, but if it says "or above", wouldnt that sugest POSIBLE benifits, even if slight?

Also this is for a Stock car, if it states "87 or above" for the car in stock trim, does this nessesaraly mean be the same once you have modded the car to free the intake and exhaust flow, ect? Or at this point would looking more at the "or above" part in order to perform better, be a better idea? As when modding, the goal is usually to get as much as you can get even if it cost 2 to 3 bucks more at fill up time.

 

[cbc]

Why does it say 87 or above ?

87 is the lowest acceptable grade, but if it says "or above", wouldnt that sugest POSIBLE benifits, even if slight?

Also this is for a Stock car, if it states "87 or above" for the car in stock trim, does this nessesaraly mean be the same once you have modded the car to free the intake and exhaust flow, ect? Or at this point would looking more at the "or above" part in order to perform better, be a better idea? As when modding, the goal is usually to get as much as you can get even if it cost 2 to 3 bucks more at fill up time.

Where does it say "above 87 octane rating improves performance of stock engine"? Octane is added to prevent engine knocking. If at 87 octane rating, your engine doesn't, why use 93 octane gasoline? But hey...it's your money.
If you feel that higher than required octane makes your car run better, then by all means use it.
As far as modded engines go, that same principle applies.

 

[RHAGEL]

I can guarantee that the car will not have more power or improve gas mileage with a higher octane gas. You would need to reset your ecu mapping to see any change. If anything it will actually be worse for your car. You may see a larger amount of build up of deposits in your combustion chamber due to the fact that the fuel will neot burn completely.