EPA Mileage estimates low-balled my BMW
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Originally Posted by vijfje' post='521064' date='Jan 21 2008, 10:52 PM
No problems whatsoever. Could be for several reasons.
The listed octane rating at the pump is the minimum octane. Actual could be higher at the couple of stations I use.
The engine computer whiz automatically adjust for the lower octane.
Most high performance cars get slightly better milage with high octane fuels, and if the EPA numbers are based on the higher octane gas, they have to make it (premium) a requirement for use.
I filled up empty tank halfway with regular to test, knowing I could stop at the next gas station and fill up with premium if there were signs of trouble. Had none. Can't speak for anybody else, but have driven 15K on regular now.
My 30 MPG is on 2 hour drives with low traffic, where very little speed changes are needed.
The listed octane rating at the pump is the minimum octane. Actual could be higher at the couple of stations I use.
The engine computer whiz automatically adjust for the lower octane.
Most high performance cars get slightly better milage with high octane fuels, and if the EPA numbers are based on the higher octane gas, they have to make it (premium) a requirement for use.
I filled up empty tank halfway with regular to test, knowing I could stop at the next gas station and fill up with premium if there were signs of trouble. Had none. Can't speak for anybody else, but have driven 15K on regular now.
My 30 MPG is on 2 hour drives with low traffic, where very little speed changes are needed.
I can't remember which board that I posted a response to this but I will chime in. I was on a project for 6 months which I had to drive to the same location in the same traffic conditions. The trip was about 46 miles each way. So I put the Octane rating to a test. I would drive 2 weeks on 87, then I would drive 2 weeks on 93. I did this for about 3 months. What I found out was the average cost that I spent on the the 87 fill ups vs. the 93 fill ups were about the same. I found that I got less mpg using 87 but spent less money at the pump. I got greater mpg using 93 but it cost more. In the end It cost me the same to run 87 over the long run as it cost me to run 93. I don't have the numbers in front of me but I believe that I had to fill up 1 more time using 87 compared to 93. so the $2 to $4 price difference was negated by the one extra fill up. This is based on an average of $40-$50 fill up cost.
To hopefully make the results fair i would run the car to about 15 MTE and found my self putting in close to 18 gallons every time.
My Conclusion was just fillup with 93 and forget about it. you will have more power when you need it and the fuel economy negates the price difference.
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