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VincentDC Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2022 Posts: 2 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 10:37 am Post subject: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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Hello,
Can I use regular unleaded in the Eurovan? I’ve seen data on the internet suggesting yes, but also see that premium is recommended? Can I get away with just using regular 87 octane? I ask because CA prices are ridiculous but I still want to purchase a EV.
Thank you! |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2796 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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I am yet to put premium in my Eurovan- 1995, so the 5 cylinder, all later models are a different motor. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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You can burn 87 in the later VR6 engine if you drive it like an adult. I go to 93 when I tow the beast , otherwise it’s 87…
_________________ .ssS! |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76938 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Most modern EFI cars with computers have multiple maps to deal with grades of fuel.
You'll bet better performance with a higher grade of fuel but it will run with a lower grade... just lower performance. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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VincentDC Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2022 Posts: 2 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Thank you all for your input! |
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VolksVelo Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2020 Posts: 138 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Abscate wrote: |
You can burn 87 in the later VR6 engine if you drive it like an adult. I go to 93 when I tow the beast , otherwise it’s 87…
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Optical illusion? Either you have a very big boat or a special tiny Eurovan model. |
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OB Bus Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003 Posts: 2541 Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Mid grade at the least in our 2002 EVC. Premium for heavy loads and/or hot weather. Anything lower knocks/pings and performance and fuel economy goes down. _________________ Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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IdeaNerd Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2016 Posts: 598 Location: Central California
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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When I looked into this sometime back, I came across Pop Top Heaven's input on the subject:
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Fuel Requirements
Premium vs lower grade fuels in the Eurovan. The bottom line is fuel economy. if you use premium fuel in your Eurovan, you will get better gas mileage (up to 38% increase in MPG over using 87 Octane). Eurovans have an Electronic Control Module computer that will adjust the engine to help maintain the best performance based on the quality of fuel in the tank. The use of premium is recommended for these engines to achieve top performance and fuel economy, but it is not required.
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from here:
https://www.poptopheaven.com/about_campers.asp
If I recall correctly, I think I also found something indicating they did some actual firsthand tests and data collection on the MPG differences as well, but I may be incorrect about that.
FWIW... |
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MrPulldown Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2020 Posts: 649 Location: Truckee
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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You can burn regular but you will not save any money due to the decrease of mpgs _________________ 2002 EVC |
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Endopotential Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2012 Posts: 186 Location: Pacifica, California
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hmbrgrs Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2021 Posts: 21 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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changing timing to avoid knock can impact efficiency significantly. |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2796 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:35 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Just noting that all this stuff about computers adjusting to octane rating and so forth only applies to vr6 gassers. The 5 cylinder is digifant and it self adjusts nothing to my knowledge. I welcome being corrected. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:57 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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Quote: |
mileage (up to 38% increase in MPG over using 87 Octane). |
No.
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Raising the octane rating (also known as the anti-knock index) doesn't change the energy content of a gallon of gasoline. |
No. In fact , higher octane has lower fuel value than lower octane _________________ .ssS! |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:05 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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VolksVelo wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
You can burn 87 in the later VR6 engine if you drive it like an adult. I go to 93 when I tow the beast , otherwise it’s 87…
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Optical illusion? Either you have a very big boat or a special tiny Eurovan model. |
Rear perspective. She is a 26 footer but much lighter than she looks. Total package under 3000 pounds _________________ .ssS! |
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TheOneTrueQuux Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021 Posts: 363 Location: Winona, MN
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:01 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel |
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mikemtnbike wrote: |
Just noting that all this stuff about computers adjusting to octane rating and so forth only applies to vr6 gassers. The 5 cylinder is digifant and it self adjusts nothing to my knowledge. I welcome being corrected. |
The ACU (95 5 cylinder) at least has a knock sensor, I think the earlier engines do not. If it has a knock sensor, it'll be using it to optimize ignition timing for the available fuel quality. |
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MrPulldown Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2020 Posts: 649 Location: Truckee
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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I have run 1000s of miles tracking mpgs of the high and low octane fuels. It defiantly makes a difference. I am one that preaches not using high octane in low compression engines. But with the VR6 this is not the case. ~19 vs 16 mpg between the 2. With low oct you have to push deeper into the throttle to get the same acceleration. _________________ 2002 EVC |
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EuroTec Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2020 Posts: 382 Location: Asheville, North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:19 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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MrPulldown wrote: |
I have run 1000s of miles tracking mpgs of the high and low octane fuels. It defiantly makes a difference. I am one that preaches not using high octane in low compression engines. But with the VR6 this is not the case. ~19 vs 16 mpg between the 2. With low oct you have to push deeper into the throttle to get the same acceleration. |
Yep. I run high octane in my EV. _________________ If it ain't broke, don't fix it! |
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JFBx Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2018 Posts: 52 Location: SS, MD
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:26 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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Something to remember (especially for the "....but, but the VW engineers!" crowd). The 24v engine is designed assuming high octane gas will be used. Relying on the knock sensor is unwise because it reacts after the fact.
(That said, I did indeed drop from 93 to 91 during fill-ups due to the recent price spike to save a few dollars.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqvhaPLuTPI _________________ '02 Weekender, '02 S6 MT, '06 A3 3.2 |
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volkybus Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2013 Posts: 481 Location: CASTLETON VT USA
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2022 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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My 2 cents.If I use reg gas my van breaks down so I use hi test.My van sits for long periods of time, so that's probably why. Its a 93 w 108 HP engine. |
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Bonesberg55 Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012 Posts: 1270
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2022 7:14 am Post subject: Re: Regular or Premium Fuel? |
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Unless your engine was designed to use premium fuel, you're throwing your money away. The cost differential never makes it economical to use higher octane when it isn't necessary. In fact, I recently got 2 mpg LESS using premium instead of regular and it was pure gas. I only got it because premium was the same price due to an oversight at the gas station. E85 is another joke. |
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