87 Vs 91 Octane Gas - In The Vue

Since about late August I was running 93, then 91 octane gas in the Vue, it ran at the time quite a bit smoother and had a little more power. At that time it also started being hesitant wanting to stall from a rolling stop, it even stalled out once on me. Gas mileage didn't get any better, the past tank of 91 octane only came out to 19.6 MPG, with feather driving.
Today I refilled it with 87 octane gas (regular) and it's running the same as before and low and behold the hesitation at rolling stops vanished completely.

In this video you'll see it doing a couple near 4000 RPM runs, and mostly 3000 RPM. 3000 RPM is how it likes you to drive, any higher then 3400 and you start feeling like your working hard for nothing. you'll also see a 2-1 WOT kickdown from 25-50.

Another thing to keep note is that this car loses ALOT of power when you turn the A/C on, and MPG spirals down too.
The Vue just had an oil change 2 weeks ago and got new spark plugs a month ago.

2007 Saturn Vue 2.2 I4 4spd automatic FWD. 144 HP and 156 Ib Ft of torque.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2007
• saturn
• Vue
• mpg
• gas
• 2.2
• I4
• cylinder
• 4spd
• automatic

[gusherb94]

@dm19 Only reason I can see that is the price difference. But for this car that price difference was a must and only cheap morons wasted there money on the 4cyl. Glad this isn't my car!!

[Intechdude300]

From a Duratec Taurus, Ford Expedition, 5.0 Ford Explorer, and Grand Marquis/Town Cars,......I can't put regular in them. Power & MPG's go down and in some instances Check Engine Lights come on with Trouble codes regarding emissions.

I gotta stick with 89 min. But a regular 4cyl car like this, regular will do

Even a New 4 Stroke Weed Wacker I got years ago gave me issues after a few weeks. Sparkplug got so black, cleaned it out and refilled with 89. Been running fine 2 years now

[gusherb94]

@Intechdude300 Everybody I know with an older V6 GM, Chrysler, or Ford engine all say there cars run MUCH better with premium, and use less gas. certainly not this Saturn. with premium or mid grade, at a rolling stop it would hesitate like it was getting choked of air, or like it was getting flooded with gas.

[briangsi]

why is the octane leave so low 91 in the usa in the uk it starts at 95 and goes to 99

[frankliu532]

what? you only keep 91 octane if you car requires it to prevent knocking my bmw 330 xi requires 91, but my toyota is optimized to run on 89 if I add 91 octane to my toyota it will make absolutely no difference..if I however I add a lower grade gas to my BMW it can cause engine problems cause it is suited for 91 octane.

[iphone3guru]

@21philip21 thanks for responding

[21philip21]

@iphone3guru no, youll get carbon build up, possibly ping (depends on onboard computer), decreased performance, and decreased mpg. Thats why the manual says 91...

[dm919]

@chris000089 I never understood why people chose the 4-cylinder Vue over the V6. They are both EPA rated @ 25 mpg hwy and the 4-cylinder is rated only 1 mpg better in the city. The V6 has over 100 more hp too!

[chris000089]

that thing's a bit of a slouch, huh?

[iphone3guru]

My Mazda 3 says i can only use 87 for emergencies and i should be using 91 can i use 89 with no problems?

[TheMasterhaxs]

the resin the car runs better is the ECU witch is made to run 87 oct and not 91 or 93 or higher and the power HP over 4 oct is about 2.3Hp per ton not really great but when you run a turbo or superchanger then yes onless they are stock

and if you want more power Dont run gas with Eatthoal in it. Shells 91 oct doesn't have any and i run that with 4 oct boost but i have a turbo non stock so i like it . costly thw $1.14cnd a L

[Intechdude300]

@gusherb94

Yeah they do, with prmium, I only use it when the difference isn't much compared to mid grade.

But your Saturn seems to make do with regular. Kinda like people who don't like Budweizer but like Bud Light