Fuel Prices / Octane levels

I have always run my 2001 Passat on the higher octane fuel (93) as was recommended by VW. With fuel prices being so crazy, has anyone experimented with lower octane fuels? Or, does anyone know if this would cause any long term damage or poor performance?

Well, high octane gas generally burns quicker and cleaner, which does help keep the engine cleaner than low grade. I manage a gas station, and I refuse to use anything but Shell and Marathon Premium gasoline in my VW.

When I had my Durango, I would switch when the price changes, and I felt a HUGE difference.
Hope That Helps.

_________________
Sent from my iPhone.

This is my .02 I live in Cali have been hear long time I have the subject with customers all time now.

This is what I tell them.

I just fille up Yesterday Prem: whitch is only 91 out hear was $4.01 at Shell this is the ony station I get gas from.

I fill 13 gallons of gas in my Passat. The lowest grade fuel was $3.87 so do the math it cost $0.14 cents more for Premium. Per gallon Vs. lowest grade fuel. At 13 gallons it was only $1.82 more to use Premium fuel. My Euro Van cost a whopping $2.80 dollors more to use Premium.

I has a range of about 300 miles thats only 18 miles to a gallon of gas. I use this Van to go to work and drive my kids to school and practices. when we take the Van on trips we just had one she jumped to 425 mile on a tank of fuel. she has over 90 k mile on her and she still going strong.
The range that was on the MSRP sticker when we got her said 18 to 24 miles per gallon.

One less trip to Starbucks or 4 less sodas in a week just pad for that. there are other places you get cut bigger savings from then just pennys.

Just my .02

If you drive alot then maybe there is a alternate way to get to work to save more.
Bus Train carpool Bike if you work close weather is getting better.

Fuel effects all areas of are lives and we need to remember that.

_________________
http://www.vortexautomotive.com

just my 2 cents

all cars can and are designed to run on the low octane fuel however cars with a performance engine tend to spark knock or ping on acceleration which is called predetonation and higher octan fuels fix this as they don't ignite as fast as low octane .

But i seem to get better milage when using it so I found a good way to fix this problem fill up on low octane and dump a bottle of stp injector cleaner in,its made with jet fuel "refined k1"

I get about 18-20 mpg on low octane and 25-27 on low octane with injector cleaner or you could use octane boost but I have not tried that yet.

I drive a 2000 Passat 4motion. With rising Fuel prices I have been alternating between High octane and regualar grade fuel for a few weeks. I have noticed knocking ever since and I had the "Emissions workshop" display come up again. I switched back to the High test stuff and no more Knocking and engine light has cleared itself!

I get about 5 miles less per gallon going from 91 to 87 octane. Tested this in my Passat this week. It's actually cheaper for me to buy the Premium in the long run.