Sweet!

 

That my friend is a beautiful thing. I feel vindicated and my Mini will love me even more. Also don't forget that the additive's added to the fuel will help to keep your engine clean and fresh thus being able to use that Octane even better. LOL.

My car coo's at me every time I fill him up with the good STUFF.

Pat

 

You must have missed my point in that response. I simply meant that no matter what higher octane brand you put in, you shouldn't have problems, not that you can put the lowest octane regular at any pump and you'd be ok. I've also stated that I have found Shell to be the best. It was my attempt at the most unbiased-keep everyone happy-hide my own bias reponse I could come up with . Then again, in the good ole OH, Shell mid-range gas is 90-91 octane in some stations...which actually meets most places high octane rating. I fully believe in always putting premium gas in a vehicle that calls for it. It won't add any performance, but it helps for the overall condition of the engine. If you put lower grade in it however, you run a good chance of losing performance.

 

It does add performance. The way octane dative work is the higher the ratin means the less combustible it is. Meaning under high compression the fuel will not predetonate (knocking) and you will get the more horsepower because he fuel sill detonate at the proper point in the engine stroke/cycle. Bmw engines have knock sensors so you wont precieve any knocking, but the sensors in turn tell the enine to retard the timing, which in turn reduces the power. So those of you putting lower octane than recommended, you are reducing your horsepower.

 

All testing of any car are always done with the highest rating gas available...you will not add performance to what the car is rated. Physically impossible. You will simply get the performance the car is SUPPOSED to get. Why would any car company do testing with a less quality gas and risk low numbers on their testing? Think about it...you're not adding any performance based on fuel. never.

 

I appreciate the response actually...my original post was actually asking what brand people prefer. If shell mid is 90-91...that is high in LA. So that makes sense. I wouldn't see putting 87-89 in a MINI tho...that seems dangerous.

 

fwiw, BP used to be a Top Tier gas. Until recently, Exxon was not on the list. I suspect some of the head scratching info in the manual is due to the static nature of a printed manual versus online info.

I have used only Exxon and Shell in my MINI. Been happy with both. Seem to be getting about 1 mpg more using Exxon in recent months.

 

The MINI can "appreciate the difference"........... Been having more fun with Chevron supreme from day 1.........

 

well, I'm not even going to say I think you missed my point b/c its obvious you did. Maybe it was me typing on the iphone and some of the words got autocorrected to some garbled mess, but still, I never said that premium INCREASES your performance. It only unlocks the potential of the engine at what the manufacture designed it to be at. What I was describing is that if you put 87 or 89 into an engine that was designed to run at least 91, then you are going to be losing power vs. what the factory spec'd. You'd think someone who owns all these high performance cars like myself might know a few things about how to maintain and run them. I put nothing but Top Tier Shell or Chevron in my cars. If I'm in a pinch then I will put in another name brand like Mobil, Texaco, or Unocal 76 (also top tier), but places I would avoid are Arco, costco, and no name gas stations.

Also, just the fact that I described to you that low octane affects high compression engines should give you an idea that what I was saying is that you are losing power by not using the proper octane designed for your engine. I hate to rant like this but you sir, did not read my post correctly or comprehend it.

 

I went back and reread both of your guys' post and I think you are both saying the same thing. Just a little differently. But your both coming to the same result. At least I think so.
To put it simply, (I think better simple) if you put 91 octane in a car that is not capable of using it you won't necessarily hurt anything but you are throwing your money away because you won't get any better performance. If you put 87 octane in a car that is high performance you will not get the full HP and Torque output that the engine is capable if giving. If you put 91 or better octane in a High performance engine that is capable of using it you will get the HP and torque that the engine is capable of giving. But you will not get anymore HP or Torque than the engine was designed for.

That make sense? I think you are both there just went around the horn a little differently that's all.

 

I may have come off kinda crass, but I don't like it when someone misconstrues my words. Especially to the point where they are saying I said something completely different.

Forgive me but does the regular non-s cooper take 87? I'm kinda ignorant to mini coopers as this is my first one but I do know they're very similar to BMWs in many ways. Maybe this is the root of our misunderstanding?

 

I'm not sure but I think they do. It's not a hippo motor. I have to think it just takes regular gas.

Maybe one of the guys/gals out there that has a Justa can tell us. The owners manual should say exactly what type it takes. I'll do a quick google and see If I can get the answer real quick.

Pat

 

Boy I'm not sure. The quick search I did say's they all take at least 91 octane. I think that is pretty much premium gas in the US. I think someone needs to tell us exactly what the owners manual says.

I guess it would not surprise me. I think the engine is a pretty high compression engine so it may require it. At least to get full performance. You could probably use less than recommended but the car will probably not perform to the level it was designed to.

 

In addition to the octane level, remember how much BMW (as do I, but for different reasons) detests ethanol. Whenever possible, fill with the premium Cheveron & Shell are e-free (at least in Canada) !

 

I have a Hess gas station next to were I live. I run their premium, which is 91 octane. I sometimes run their 87 octane and add a little octane booster.

 

Not my "Non-S" Cooper, she gets only the BEST!!

 

here is a site you all might want to be familiar with...

http://pure-gas.org

 

Yeah, I've seen that site. The only place in town that sells non-ethanol gas only has regular.

But there is a race track being built near by that will have ethanol free premium starting this Autumn!

Dave

 

My thoughts are that a Non S can run on 87 octane but there is a caveat. Heat can be a problem and it also depends on how you drive. I will try 87 but have a feeling that I will have to run it on 89 most of the time. Finding a station that sells gasoline without ethanol may be a problem. only 4 more weeks to go until the arrival of our baby.

 

..

 

I hate to start an argument, but I'm actually very good at reading. I'd like to know YOUR meaning to the above sentence, which was your opening line of your comment. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I believe that says "it does add performance."

Maybe that's not exactly what you meant. But it's exactly what you said.

 

No simple or quick answer to this question. I have a non-S and I use 87 and it works just fine. I drive in Miami where the temp has been around 95 almost every day and I have yet to have any issues with knocking.

What makes it confusing ----------- and I know this has been talked about here before but I have not seen any kind of explanation that really satisfies me -------- the owners manual says Mini recommends 91 but also says that it can run on 87 perfectly well without affecting the life of the engine. The gas cap says 89. So, on the same page in the manual Mini says they recommend 91 but then say that 87 will work just fine without any adverse effects. But the gas cap says you should use 89.

So basically, according to Mini, you can run whatever you want as long as you don't go lower than 87 octane.

From reading the threads on this I think I'm in the minority here but personally I think it's a waste using premium in a non-S Mini. The ability of the car to run regular gas is one of the reasons I traded my high performance sports car (300+ hp in a 2 seater) for a Mini. Got tired of paying out the a$$ for premium.

 

Even if you do not hear or feel the detonation the car could be pulling timing to compensate for the fuel not resisting ignition like hi-test. I cannot believe someone would not buy a MINI or get rid of a car because it runs on premium. $2 a tank is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I know my Dad thought my cars were cool until he found out it ran on premium. It gets over twice the gas mileage my previous truck does and about 3 times what his does.

 

No foolin' .......... We put nuttin' but Chevron supreme in the MINI....... And diesel which is no longer a bargain in the truck........... Both rigs are worth the few pennies more in fuel for what they do for us everyday.

 

Haha BOAP, I'm with you. I think he meant the right thing, but he said:
"it does add performance" and then he ragged on you after you were correct and followed up with:
"I never said that premium INCREASES your performance."

"Add" is a synonym for "Increase" in my book!

Regardless, using less than Premium in a MINI is foolhardy at best. But if anyone wants to save $2 on a fillup for a car they paid a lot of money for, then it's not my car, so "knock" yourself out...

J