easiest performance upgrade EVER

knucklehead · 08-08-2006, 10:37 AM

don't hate me. seriously. i don't mean to be such a knucklehead. but i've been using regular octane gas in my cars for a long time. i'm not a car guy. i never even OWNED a car until my wife got a job in burlingame several years ago and we found ourselves in need of one. (she's since moved back to the city, but that's neither here nor there.)

anyway, on the way back from reno, nv this past weekend, i stopped at a gas station to fill up. this was a super-ghetto, backwoods-style gas station, where the pumps still had that big metal handle that you flip up to make them work. i realized as the gas was already going into the tank that i was using super octane gas. "oh, well," says i, "what's another couple bucks ... once?"

and my performance is NOTICEABLY better. i don't have the oatmeal section of second gear anymore. i accellerate off lights better. i have more responsiveness overall.

i apologize. it won't happen again. swear.

datgnat · 08-08-2006, 12:17 PM

...oh wait, it says you are, right there above your eoc ranking; sorry! And I'm certainly no car guy (only know the difference between the oil-hole and the gas-hole:rolleyes: ). But everything I've read from back to the first gas shortage says that the only thing the higher octane does for cars is reduce the risk of pre-ignition (knocking/pinging).
Someone enlighten us no-nothings!

Rock E Top · 08-08-2006, 12:53 PM

datgnat is right....

Proof here

ramblerdan · 08-08-2006, 12:53 PM

Placebo effect.

knucklehead · 08-08-2006, 01:06 PM

ok, so wait. it's placebo? well then let me ask this : the e's only two months old -- have i just passed some break-in period? did taking the road trip give my engine a long enough haul to clean it out or some strange thing? cause i ain't foolin, man, there's a noticeable performance difference since i got back. especially off lights.

also -- my manual is in the car right now, which is at mrs. knucklehead's office. anyone got theirs handy that can tell me the recommended octane for the e? perhaps i've just been using low-octane when i should've been using mid?

i'm so confused.

lizzurd · 08-08-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklehead

ok, so wait. it's placebo? well then let me ask this : the e's only two months old -- have i just passed some break-in period? did taking the road trip give my engine a long enough haul to clean it out or some strange thing? cause i ain't foolin, man, there's a noticeable performance difference since i got back. especially off lights.

also -- my manual is in the car right now, which is at mrs. knucklehead's office. anyone got theirs handy that can tell me the recommended octane for the e? perhaps i've just been using low-octane when i should've been using mid?

i'm so confused.

87 or higher is what my manual calls for.

rhurt · 08-08-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramblerdan

Placebo effect.

Hey knucklehead, (I'm only saying that because I don't know what else to call you). If you want to rule out the placebo effect, then do some real tests. Check your mileage under consistent conditions for two or three tanks and see if it goes up. If it makes your car run better, then it should increase your mileage. There is definitely a difference between the grades, thats why one costs 50 cents a gallon more, and thats why you can only run 93 in a corvette. I think that its worth the experiment.

SheDevil · 08-08-2006, 01:42 PM

Might have something to do with the break in period....I kinda noticed mine runs better now that I am not afraid to put my foot in it. It was a little doggy in 2nd until I really started driving it....now it's fine. I always run midgrade gas tho....Chevron. I'm picky tho.

knucklehead · 08-08-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhurt

Hey knucklehead, (I'm only saying that because I don't know what else to call you). If you want to rule out the placebo effect, then do some real tests. Check your mileage under consistent conditions for two or three tanks and see if it goes up. If it makes your car run better, then it should increase your mileage. There is definitely a difference between the grades, thats why one costs 50 cents a gallon more, and thats why you can only run 93 in a corvette. I think that its worth the experiment.

that's a great idea. i've been keeping track of my mpg from the first tank, and i will do this test over the next month to see what's what.

(PS, no worries on callin me knucklehead. that's what everyone calls me. if it makes you feel wierd, though, you can call me blair.)

Lman · 12-06-2006, 08:21 AM

If I`m addicted to placebos, would it matter if I quit????

08-08-2006, 10:37 AM	#1
knucklehead EOC Rank: Oxygen 2006 4WD EX AT Nighthawk Black Pearl (NBP) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: sf.ca Posts: 274	easiest performance upgrade EVER don't hate me. seriously. i don't mean to be such a knucklehead. but i've been using regular octane gas in my cars for a long time. i'm not a car guy. i never even OWNED a car until my wife got a job in burlingame several years ago and we found ourselves in need of one. (she's since moved back to the city, but that's neither here nor there.) anyway, on the way back from reno, nv this past weekend, i stopped at a gas station to fill up. this was a super-ghetto, backwoods-style gas station, where the pumps still had that big metal handle that you flip up to make them work. i realized as the gas was already going into the tank that i was using super octane gas. "oh, well," says i, "what's another couple bucks ... once?" and my performance is NOTICEABLY better. i don't have the oatmeal section of second gear anymore. i accellerate off lights better. i have more responsiveness overall. i apologize. it won't happen again. swear. __________________ > 000006 miles, 29 jun 06 > side marker blinker mod, 5 jul 06 > DIY removable internal bike mount, 7 jul 06 > rear outlet always on mod, 9 jul 06 > locking gas cap, rekeyed to ignition, 17 jul 06 > .44 magnum shell casing valve caps, 26 jul 06 > table leg kit, 3 aug 06 > b-cool billet grille, 5 aug 06 > debadge, 21 oct 06 > ex-p black bumpers and grille trim, 15 nov 06 > hidden outlet splitter, 31 dec 06

08-08-2006, 12:17 PM	#2
datgnat EOC Rank: Helium 2006 4WD EX-P AT Tangerine Metallic (TM) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 102	I don't hatecha, and you're not a knucklehead.... ...oh wait, it says you are, right there above your eoc ranking; sorry! And I'm certainly no car guy (only know the difference between the oil-hole and the gas-hole:rolleyes: ). But everything I've read from back to the first gas shortage says that the only thing the higher octane does for cars is reduce the risk of pre-ignition (knocking/pinging). Someone enlighten us no-nothings! __________________ '06 EXP TM AWD AT/ Sacto. CA "Doncha wish your Hummer was small like that?"

08-08-2006, 12:53 PM	#3
Rock E Top EOC Rank: Oxygen 2003 2WD EX MT Satin Silver Metallic (SSM) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Buffalo Knoxville Denver Posts: 519	datgnat is right.... Proof here __________________ Rock E Top, Curmudgeon at large "Every time you get behind the wheel, you are teaching your kids how to drive." - Me

08-08-2006, 12:53 PM	#4
ramblerdan Moderator 2004 4WD EXS MT Fiji Blue Pearl (FBP) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Saratoga, N.Y. Posts: 8,129	Placebo effect. __________________ EOC essentials Posting and You Rambler Dan's Element site

08-08-2006, 01:06 PM	#5
knucklehead EOC Rank: Oxygen 2006 4WD EX AT Nighthawk Black Pearl (NBP) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: sf.ca Posts: 274	ok, so wait. it's placebo? well then let me ask this : the e's only two months old -- have i just passed some break-in period? did taking the road trip give my engine a long enough haul to clean it out or some strange thing? cause i ain't foolin, man, there's a noticeable performance difference since i got back. especially off lights. also -- my manual is in the car right now, which is at mrs. knucklehead's office. anyone got theirs handy that can tell me the recommended octane for the e? perhaps i've just been using low-octane when i should've been using mid? i'm so confused. __________________ > 000006 miles, 29 jun 06 > side marker blinker mod, 5 jul 06 > DIY removable internal bike mount, 7 jul 06 > rear outlet always on mod, 9 jul 06 > locking gas cap, rekeyed to ignition, 17 jul 06 > .44 magnum shell casing valve caps, 26 jul 06 > table leg kit, 3 aug 06 > b-cool billet grille, 5 aug 06 > debadge, 21 oct 06 > ex-p black bumpers and grille trim, 15 nov 06 > hidden outlet splitter, 31 dec 06

08-08-2006, 01:42 PM	#8
SheDevil EOC Rank: Helium 2006 4WD EX-P AT Nighthawk Black Pearl (NBP) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The "OC" Posts: 183	Might have something to do with the break in period....I kinda noticed mine runs better now that I am not afraid to put my foot in it. It was a little doggy in 2nd until I really started driving it....now it's fine. I always run midgrade gas tho....Chevron. I'm picky tho. __________________ SheDevil NBP 06 Thule Racks for Kayaks and Surfboards, Specialized Bike addict (06 Tarmac, 07 Stumpjumper). Terrible sense of humor stock equipment on operator

12-06-2006, 08:21 AM	#10
Lman EOC Rank: Helium 2006 4WD EX AT Atomic Blue Metallic (ABM) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ , SHORE Posts: 150	If I`m addicted to placebos, would it matter if I quit????

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