F55/F56 Octane Rating
Octane Rating
US.......................Germany...........RON.......MON.....(RON+MON)/2
unleaded 87..........Normal91...........91.........82.5.... ..86.75
midgrade 89.........EuroSuper95.......95.........85........ .90
premium 91-94.....SuperPlus98........98.........88.........93
I'm changing this post so I spread the correct information.
Above is the way different countries measure Octane. We in North America use the AKI method = (RON+MON)/2. Some European cars have RON Octane amounts in their manuals and on the gas cap. If your car is one of these see the chart above to figure out what you should be putting in it. Putting in significantly higher Octane gas in your car should not improve performance unless you have modified the cars ecu (remap or piggy-back unit). It is not bad to run you car on mid grade 89 Octane as the engine will adjust to this. Most MINI's run best (performance wise) on 91 although the JCW's like 93!
unleaded 87..........Normal91...........91.........82.5.... ..86.75
midgrade 89.........EuroSuper95.......95.........85........ .90
premium 91-94.....SuperPlus98........98.........88.........93
I'm changing this post so I spread the correct information.
Above is the way different countries measure Octane. We in North America use the AKI method = (RON+MON)/2. Some European cars have RON Octane amounts in their manuals and on the gas cap. If your car is one of these see the chart above to figure out what you should be putting in it. Putting in significantly higher Octane gas in your car should not improve performance unless you have modified the cars ecu (remap or piggy-back unit). It is not bad to run you car on mid grade 89 Octane as the engine will adjust to this. Most MINI's run best (performance wise) on 91 although the JCW's like 93!
Last edited by GregoryK; Nov 6, 2015 at 08:18 AM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Londonderry, NH USA
US.......................Germany...........RON.......MON.....(RON+MON)/2
unleaded 87..........Normal91...........91.........82.5.... ..86.75
midgrade 89.........EuroSuper95.......95.........85........ .90
premium 91-94.....SuperPlus98........98.........88.........93
So when you go to the pump and look inside the gas cap and you see 91 Octane (ron) and you see 91 on the gas pump and so you put that in or even higher thinking you are being good to your car.?
I would argue that you are throwing your money down the drain.
The system of Octane measurement in the US and Canada is different as can be seen on the chart above. US 89 is like German (RON) 95 which is way, way higher than the car calls for (even when chipped).
In Canada I would an extra $9 to fill a 50 litre tank with gas if I use 91 Octane - but then again that is really 98 RON.
When I travel to Europe and the South Pacific I've always notice that the rating at the pumps is way higher 91 - 98 and that is because they use a different system of measurement (RON)
When you think that these cars are manufactured for our specific markets. MPH speedometers...etc then why can't they use local Octane ratings on the sticker on the gas cap.....for sure the gas companies aren't saying anything!!!
Think about it and complain to MINI.
unleaded 87..........Normal91...........91.........82.5.... ..86.75
midgrade 89.........EuroSuper95.......95.........85........ .90
premium 91-94.....SuperPlus98........98.........88.........93
So when you go to the pump and look inside the gas cap and you see 91 Octane (ron) and you see 91 on the gas pump and so you put that in or even higher thinking you are being good to your car.?
I would argue that you are throwing your money down the drain.
The system of Octane measurement in the US and Canada is different as can be seen on the chart above. US 89 is like German (RON) 95 which is way, way higher than the car calls for (even when chipped).
In Canada I would an extra $9 to fill a 50 litre tank with gas if I use 91 Octane - but then again that is really 98 RON.
When I travel to Europe and the South Pacific I've always notice that the rating at the pumps is way higher 91 - 98 and that is because they use a different system of measurement (RON)
When you think that these cars are manufactured for our specific markets. MPH speedometers...etc then why can't they use local Octane ratings on the sticker on the gas cap.....for sure the gas companies aren't saying anything!!!
Think about it and complain to MINI.
I put in 93 (or 91 when I visit my parents in Maine) and have with all my Mini's. I know outside of the US they figure out their values differently but for now I don't mind as the fill ups are not that bad with a Mini. Not like my LR3 that required 89 or higher...
Really silly! I wonder which one is correct. We aren't talking high compression engines here!
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
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Octane ratings on new Mini
I have been wondering about just this.
I had a 2004 (base) Mini which ran perfectly for all those years and 129,000 miles on "Regular" (87 octane) fuel, never a problem even though the manual said to use Premium. No 'ping', no 'knock'.
I'm considering getting a new Mini, but I'm wondering if the 1.5 liter engine with the Turbo boost might have high enough compression to actually NEED a higher octane fuel.
For me it may well be a deal breaker to have to pay more for fuel: I could afford it, it just seems like an irritating waste.
SO.....does anyone KNOW? Is anyone running USA "regular" in one of the new engines?
-Oly
I had a 2004 (base) Mini which ran perfectly for all those years and 129,000 miles on "Regular" (87 octane) fuel, never a problem even though the manual said to use Premium. No 'ping', no 'knock'.
I'm considering getting a new Mini, but I'm wondering if the 1.5 liter engine with the Turbo boost might have high enough compression to actually NEED a higher octane fuel.
For me it may well be a deal breaker to have to pay more for fuel: I could afford it, it just seems like an irritating waste.
SO.....does anyone KNOW? Is anyone running USA "regular" in one of the new engines?
-Oly
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 662
Likes: 158
From: Germany Hamburg
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 165
From: Bonita Springs Florida
My dealer said we should run mid grade in our 2015 MCS (91 Octane) Top Tier gas.
I know when they fill the cars up at the dealership they put in 93 octane. I usually throw in 91 or 93 octane when fueling. The MINI tank is so small, filling the car hardly feels like I'm paying what I should anyway.
I know when they fill the cars up at the dealership they put in 93 octane. I usually throw in 91 or 93 octane when fueling. The MINI tank is so small, filling the car hardly feels like I'm paying what I should anyway.
Last edited by USA-RET; Nov 6, 2015 at 05:47 AM.
so looks like 89?
keep in mind the tune may be different for US cars, which can contain 10% ethanol. Euro doesn't have any.
OP, definitely update your first post when you find an answer so people are not misled
keep in mind the tune may be different for US cars, which can contain 10% ethanol. Euro doesn't have any.
OP, definitely update your first post when you find an answer so people are not misled
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 165
From: Bonita Springs Florida
I like to motor hard with the car and am getting 35 MPG in town.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
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I'm still wondering if anyone KNOWS or has actually used regular in one of the new 3-cylinder engines?
-Oly
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Londonderry, NH USA
Instead of 91/93 you could try 89 to see if you get knocking, with the turbo, I would say regular may not be the best choice.
Message received! Called MINI today they say the manual is what I should go by...which as stated is AKI 91. They said that occasionally the cars get decals for a different car. They are sending me the correct one!
cool, great service!
FYI low compression motors that are turbocharged do still "need" premium, depending on how they are tuned. i.e., the turbocharged gen coupes can tell what type of gas is in the tank and scale back accordingly.
Higher octane fuel does not necessarily create better mpg - and sometimes can be worse. Higher octane means harder to burn, so more heat/effort to burn it.
FYI low compression motors that are turbocharged do still "need" premium, depending on how they are tuned. i.e., the turbocharged gen coupes can tell what type of gas is in the tank and scale back accordingly.
Higher octane fuel does not necessarily create better mpg - and sometimes can be worse. Higher octane means harder to burn, so more heat/effort to burn it.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
But I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Mini - once I have it I can do experiments such as that but I sure wouldn't want to buy it if it can't take regular gas - shucks, I can always get a FIT, and know I can use "real" gas.
I just don't like being suckered, as the OP implies, and I tend to agree. In a normally-aspirated engine, I would not be concerned - it's the Turbo that concerns me.
-Oly
Last edited by Oly; Nov 6, 2015 at 12:04 PM.
Understood.
But I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Mini - once I have it I can do experiments such as that but I sure wouldn't want to buy it if it can't take regular gas - shucks, I can always get a FIT, and know I can use "real" gas.
I just don't like being suckered, as the OP implies, and I tend to agree. In a normally-aspirated engine, I would not be concerned - it's the Turbo that concerns me.
-Oly
But I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Mini - once I have it I can do experiments such as that but I sure wouldn't want to buy it if it can't take regular gas - shucks, I can always get a FIT, and know I can use "real" gas.
I just don't like being suckered, as the OP implies, and I tend to agree. In a normally-aspirated engine, I would not be concerned - it's the Turbo that concerns me.
-Oly
Due to the high compression pistons....some got lucky...most did not...machine shops make lots of $$ doing head jobs on them...
So my point is, use what the engineers who built the car SAYS IT NEEDS...
Not based on turbo or not..
There are turbo's tuned to run 87...
There are normally aspirated cars tuned to run 90 (gen1 r50/r52 cones to mind)....
Unfortunately the op of the threads has had the longest run of bad MINI luck....
Kinda surprised he is still driving one...think I would have started riding the bus than deal the series of issues he seems to find with his cars....then again, some folks reach a point that they will never be 100% happy.
Understood.
But I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Mini - once I have it I can do experiments such as that but I sure wouldn't want to buy it if it can't take regular gas - shucks, I can always get a FIT, and know I can use "real" gas.
I just don't like being suckered, as the OP implies, and I tend to agree. In a normally-aspirated engine, I would not be concerned - it's the Turbo that concerns me.
-Oly
But I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Mini - once I have it I can do experiments such as that but I sure wouldn't want to buy it if it can't take regular gas - shucks, I can always get a FIT, and know I can use "real" gas.
I just don't like being suckered, as the OP implies, and I tend to agree. In a normally-aspirated engine, I would not be concerned - it's the Turbo that concerns me.
-Oly
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 889
Likes: 105
From: Lodi,CA
Lower octane gas, really?
The "S" engine has over 190hp from 120cubic inches. Even in today's era, that's still a high performance engine. Buying cheaper, lower octane gas seems like stepping over a dollar to save a penney.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 165
From: Bonita Springs Florida
I never understood spending $30K-$40K or more for a car and then going cheap on the fuel to make it run (especially when the owners manual states the fuel grade necessary to allow the car to function properly).
If the manual stated using 87 octane, then I agree it's crazy to burn 89/91/93. But if a manufacturer states using a higher octane or a synthetic why wouldn't you
Honestly if it's a financial burden to spend the extra, then another car would be the way to go IMO.
If the manual stated using 87 octane, then I agree it's crazy to burn 89/91/93. But if a manufacturer states using a higher octane or a synthetic why wouldn't you
Honestly if it's a financial burden to spend the extra, then another car would be the way to go IMO.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
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As such I suspect engine management is even more critical in this engine than typical, and I am curious if the ECU is always busy managing timing and boost right up to detections of knock.
In any event I would expect this engine to be even more likely to knock with use of lower octane fuel.
If the ECU and software is designed to seamlessly manage preignition then perhaps use of lower octane fuels is no more destructive than running premium. Without knowing for sure, I avoid doing so.
But again, due to its higher than normal static compression ratio, I would expect this engine to require even more sophisticated engine management and be more sensitive to fuel octane.
The thing about this is that the product that they put in the unleaded gas to stop pre-ignition cost nothing (used to be Tetraethyllead and now in Canada anyway we use MMT). So why do they charge so much more? In Canada anyway I'm told most of this is tax - it's a way that the government tax the imported more expensive cars. Frankly I don't think this is fair. It should be like going to the ice cream store and you pick your flavor for the same price. Maybe charge more for 94 but the rest....
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
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Actually older r50 gen1 MINI's would burn valves pretty regular with 87....
Due to the high compression pistons....some got lucky...most did not...machine shops make lots of $$ doing head jobs on them...
So my point is, use what the engineers who built the car SAYS IT NEEDS...
Not based on turbo or not..
There are turbo's tuned to run 87...
There are normally aspirated cars tuned to run 90 (gen1 r50/r52 cones to mind)....
Unfortunately the op of the threads has had the longest run of bad MINI luck....
Kinda surprised he is still driving one...think I would have started riding the bus than deal the series of issues he seems to find with his cars....then again, some folks reach a point that they will never be 100% happy.
Due to the high compression pistons....some got lucky...most did not...machine shops make lots of $$ doing head jobs on them...
So my point is, use what the engineers who built the car SAYS IT NEEDS...
Not based on turbo or not..
There are turbo's tuned to run 87...
There are normally aspirated cars tuned to run 90 (gen1 r50/r52 cones to mind)....
Unfortunately the op of the threads has had the longest run of bad MINI luck....
Kinda surprised he is still driving one...think I would have started riding the bus than deal the series of issues he seems to find with his cars....then again, some folks reach a point that they will never be 100% happy.
Thank you - good info, well stated.
I have no idea if my 2004 was an "R50 generation 1" - whatever that means
It was a base Mini, never in 120,000 miles failed to get me where I was going until a belt idler broke & it got seriously overheated so I traded it on a Fit which my wife has taken over, declaring it to be a "Dog-Free Zone"
I notice that now 'most everyone on the forum uses these "R 5x" designations which I don't recall from several years ago when I frequented the forum more. For that matter, I wonder what model # my early '60s Cooper was
Now THERE was a CAR!Anyway, thanks, I'm just doing due diligence - the "Premium" gas bit is so often sucker-bait that I'd like to avoid if possible. But right now I'm stuck with an old Toyota with a slush box and I want a good stick - which the Fit has, but I also want my dog along for the ride.
Yes, I want to keep both wife & dog happy.
I appreciate your thoughtful answers guys!
-Oly