Please don't beat on me too bad - I know it's not a huge difference BUT
Is everyone putting Premium in their Minis?
I'm doing one tank yes - one tank no.

I'm I being cheap??

 

If you search on this topic you'll find a number of threads. The simple math is that it just isn't worth it for the $200~300 a year to get more power and better gas mileage.

 

If you have an S, then yes! Lol. Your talking 30 cents for every gallon, so round off at $11 per full tank, say, 3 tanks a month if u drive a lot, that's $33 a month, for a year it's $400. So, ya it adds up, but you may be risking deposit buildup or other issues with other components. Ive never used less than 91, but I'd guess you'd see a performance decrease with that cheap gas.

Does the car run differently with the cheap stuff? I usually put some race fuel in mine every once in a while just to clean everything out! I get a nice dent in the wallet, but an extra 5 hp for a while

 

I always run 93 octane premium from tier 1 gas companies.

 

From the Owners Manual

Super Premium gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
Cooper S: 89
Cooper: 87
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rating,
the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures. This
has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the specified
minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the
engine could be damaged.[FONT=Calibri]<[/FONT]
Use high-quality brands
Betty gets a strict diet of 87 with no problems at all.

 

I only use premium in my MCS.

 

I am using the highest octane I can find, which to me locally is a series of Gulf stations with 93 octane fuel. Before the Cooper S I owned an FJ Cruiser with numerous mods and ran premium in that as well. I have found that the benefits far outweigh the costs. I would encourage you to put premium in all of the time, and no I don't work for the fuel companies!

 

After experiencing a tank of bad gas that led to a long search for answers, I've stuck w/ vPower Nitro+ Racing. Runs smoothest. Remember, our ECUs aren't as brilliant as the human brain, try not to confuse it.

 

On a 13 gallon tank you are talking $3.60 or roughly $11 per month if you fill up 3 times a month. So about a $100. per month. Not $11 per tank.

 

Always use 93 octane period.

 

I always used premium on my first MINI and I will do the same for my next one.

 

The damage you may be doing is not something you can notice until it is too late. The higher octane for premium keep you from damaging internals. Some will say the knock sensor will take care of it and retard timing. This is true to some extent but the engine was designed for higher octane.
You will likely not know if you harm a piston or ring until it is way too late.
Why take the chance for about $3.50 per tank?

 

91octane ethanol free or 93 octane with 10% ethanol. I can't find 93 octane with no ethanol :(

 

Not necessarily true. I agree on a turbo engine but not on a normally aspirated one. If the manual says that you can run it on 87 then you can. Anything more would be a waste.

 

I always run 93 on my Cooper S, tried using lower grade and I can notice the difference performance/MPG wise

 

Premium for me in mine - but, I just rented a 2012 Cooper at the ONT airport. I assume that Enterprise or any rental fleet would fill the cars with the lowest cost gas - likely 87 octane. Honestly I don't notice any difference - have not heard any pinging. Hard to compare MPG [it seems lower on the rental]- with my personal car with so many differences coming into play - California gas, ethanol content, different roads, newer car.... One thing this rental is going to cause - when I get home it will have to do something about the rattles and wind noise on mine - 4 years and 40,000 miles... This rental is brand new ~200 miles and is quiet and tight.

 

On a Justa 87/89 would be fine. On a S only the best should be used.

 

It is a debatable topic for naturally aspirated but force induction requires high octane to burn properly. When I bought my mini used I was told by the owner he ran regular unleaded (he only owned it 2000 miles so not too worried) and I felt a real difference finishing off that tank and switching back to high octane. My first mini I ran only high octane and this one as well. Not worth the noticeably worse performance

 

A non S is a Cooper and the S is referred to as Cooper S. "justa is justa wrong?
IMO

 

 

Yes, a 13 gallon tank, but who runs theirs bone dry? I was estimating, as I try to put gas in when the idiot light comes on, so that's about 10 gallons eh? Hw do you get $100 per month from 3.60$ a tank?

 

I think he meant per year. 3.60 per tank extra(premium vs regular), equating about 11 per month(assuming you fill up thrice each month), equating about 121 per year.

 

Fair enough. I have to commute, so I put about 70 miles a day 5 days a week, so I have to **** away $45 almost every week :( so for me, it's about $400 extra a year.

Man thats a lot of mulah... When do we get those cars that run on water, happy thoughts and rainbows again? Soon I hope!

I there weren't lobbyists, America would be the worlds best producers of industrial hemp, and we could all be using clean burning cheap hemp alcohol, along with a TON of other useful products that replace both wood and oil...

 

A $100. per month for 3 tanks (fill ups) of gas as you state 3 tanks of gas. Saving about $3.60 per tank. So $3.60 per tank (not $11.00) x 3 times he fills up = $10.80 of month x 12 months equals $129.60 a year. So my quick math came out to $100 per year.
So you are not saving $11.00 per tank as you state by using 87 gas you are only saving roughly $3.60 per tank.

 

Get a cc that gives you a discount on your purchases. I used to have a 140 mile a day commute, and filled a comparably sized tank 3X a week with crummier mileage (Mitsubishi Eclipse V6). It was a sad day when my 15 cent a gallon discount went away, but its part of the price of a performance vehicle. The real wallet killer is maintenance IMHO.