high octane fuel?
I have a 2007 Miata MX-5. The owner's manual says to use 95 octane fuel. My previous 1999 MX-5 had no such requirement. Does this engine really need the higher grade gas? Has anyone used 87 octane routinely and found a difference? Thanks. Jim
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If it recommends that fuel, it must need it. I would expect that if you put 87 in it would start knocking and running rough.
Surprised it specifies 95.....tough to find anything north of 93 here in Michigan. |
Even here in the oil capital of the world, it is hard to find 93 sometimes.
If it is recommended, odds are that the valve and ignition timing are such that the engine will knock and ping, as SST stated before me, without premo fuel. |
Originally Posted by jdoliver
(Post 100989)
I have a 2007 Miata MX-5. The owner's manual says to use 95 octane fuel. My previous 1999 MX-5 had no such requirement. Does this engine really need the higher grade gas? Has anyone used 87 octane routinely and found a difference? Thanks. Jim
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Most manuals will just say that you need premium, rather than specifying an octane. It does seem odd that it specified 95.
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Originally Posted by wsoape281
(Post 101003)
Most manuals will just say that you need premium, rather than specifying an octane. It does seem odd that it specified 95.
2.3-liter turbocharger engine Your Mazda will perform best with fuel listed in the table. Fuel ------------------------- Octane Rating* (Anti-knock index) Premium unleaded fuel ---- 91 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (96 RON or above) * U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps. This vehicle is designed for and requires use of premium unleaded fuel. If 91 octane fuel [ (R+M)/2 method] (96RON) is not available, gasoline as low as 87 octane [ (R+M)/2 method] (91RON) can be used temporarily for emergency purposes. Use of gasoline lower than 91 octane [ (R+M)/2 method] (96RON) can decrease performance during its use. Refueling the vehicle with the correct octane fuel a couple of times will restore vehicle performance. Except 2.3-liter turbocharger engine Your Mazda will perform best with fuel listed in the table. FuelFuel ------------------------ Octane Rating* (Anti-knock index) Regular unleaded fuel --------- 87 [ (R+M)/2 method] or above (91 RON or above) * U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps. Fuel with a rating lower than 87 octane (91 RON) could cause the emission control system to lose effectiveness. It could also cause engine knocking and serious engine damage. |
My '08 Miata called for premium fuel, I routinely ran midgrade (89 octane) in it with no pinging or noticeable loss of performance or driveability.
Running regular (87 octane) may be pushing it a bit, but these days everything is computer controlled, so if it senses pinging it will adjust accordingly. One option I used to save a couple bucks on fuel was to fill with premium, when the tank got below half, I'd fill with mid-grade figuring the average octane then in the tank would be about 91. On the next fillup I'd use premium and alternate each fill. That was back when gas was > $4/gallon, now that is is cheaper it's not as big a deal on the savings. |
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