Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (Full Version)

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Does Premium gas void your factory warranty?

  

HummerGuy -> Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 7:35:34 AM)

One of my friends at work has a Honda Pilot.  His dealer told him that if he uses Premium gas and there are engine problems, it can void the warranty since the engine doesn't require it.

I think this is total BS because in every single car manual I have seen, it always says a Minimum of 85/87 octane and never has said anything about a limit to what octane you can use.

I'm just curious if anybody knows anything about this.

  
ockie -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 7:43:07 AM)

I've heard of the opposite, but not this.  If your care requires 93 or higher octane and you put in 87, you can be nailed for that... but never heard of 87 requirement and you dump in 93.  Sounds like a dealer trying to milk things.

Doc Olds -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 8:23:44 AM)

[sm=bs.gif]  That's what ya get for buying Jap Crap.  The lady at home Depot said I would void the HOT DOG WARRANTY if i used Grey Poupon mustard, intead of Cisco????

Premium is not going to hurt anything, but if your sake sucker's computer isn't programmed to take advantage of the cooler burn, why would you pay for it?  Too much octane can lead to hard starting when a car that isn't mechanically of electronically set up to burn it, but that is like Turbo Blue 106, NOT 93/94.  When I say hard starting, I mean only while you have it in your tank, not permenantly.  Sheeeoot, I had a boat with Gale Banks Big Block Chevy's that had to burn Aviation Gas....110.  Pump gas isn't gonna do anything.

alrock -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 8:36:13 AM)

Doc Olds is right. Honda engines are more tempermental and they usually say to NOT use 91 octane because the engines aren't calibrated for that octane and won't burn it efficiently. So basically, all you get for 24 more cents per gallon in the Honda is higher pollution, not higher performance.

hummer08 -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 11:01:31 AM)

Yeah a huge missconception is that a higher octane fuel will give you more power when it doesn't. the higher the octane the more stable the gas is so you can run a higher compression and add power adders without having detonation. When i first built the 347 stroker in my mustang i had to run it on 100 octane because it was detonating with 93 octane do to the timing and compression. I now have a custom tune on it and run 93. If i had tuned it for 100 octane i could have pulled a little more power out of the engine by advancing the timing more and giving it a more aggresive tune. OCTANE DOESNT ADD POWER.

Patrick -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 11:47:00 AM)

my old dodge runs on 87 octane, making in the 490-500hp range...im only running around 8.5 to 1 compression.

when a modern vehicle "requires" a certain octane, it is because the engine computer is programmed to perform at its optimum level with that octane, without detonation.  running low octane in a car that "requires" higher octane, will often make slightly less power as modern, stockish vehicles have things like knock sensors, which adjust the timing based on a variety of readings by the computer...but in most cases it will not hurt anything, but that is provided that the octane difference and the changes needed by the computer are within the adjustable parameters of the system. for instance...if you put 87 octane in a modified new GT500, it will most likely "knock" (detonation) and with detonation, you have increased heat levels and over time, that will cause hot spots in the piston, and eventually engine failure...this problem is especially serious with forced induction engines.

say that you had a "tune" or hand programmer for your H3, and had it set to make its power with something like a "93 octane tune", and you instead run 87 octane, it could eventually cause a hot spot, but on a vehicle with something as simple as a tune on a stock, NA vehicle, it will not be a sudden thing, unless there are other problems..

we have a performance computer in amanda's truck, and it requires 92 octane or higher.  if we run cheap gas, it will knock under load, and overtime, that knocking could cause a problem, but if i were to swap back in the stock computer, that same engine will safely handle 87 octane.

Muddydawg75 -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 11:52:14 AM)

Sake Sucker..... Nice.... very classy to boot I might add.

[:D]

Doc Olds -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 12:49:06 PM)

Yeah yeah.  Rice burner.  Tokyo toilet.  I got hundred's of em.  I'm from suburbia DETROIT.  I have two family members retired from GM, others still work there.  I'd like them to be able to retire too.

If foreign diluted america keeps buying jap crap, maybe we can flip burgers and sell insurance for a living?  How'd ya like yer burger sir? 

importliller isn't even on par with me on that one.       [sm=americanasmiley.gif]  I feel better.  Now what kind of insurance did ya need on that weedhopper?

ZYNE -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:04:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doc Olds
If foreign diluted america keeps buying jap crap, maybe we can flip burgers and sell insurance for a living?  How'd ya like yer burger sir? 



Hey now ... I'm proudly diluting the American gene pool thank you very fricken much! LOL! 

HummerGuy -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:08:15 PM)

I know about the minimum premium requirements, but his car requires 87.  I don't think he realizes premium doesn't mean luxury.  Oh well.

I had my PCM programmed for 87 through 93, so I can use whatever I want.  The engine runs so much smoother on 93 then it does on 87/89.  It's noticably smoother and quiter, so I choose to use that.  I did the math, and for $100+ dollars a year more to use better fuel in my only car, I think it's worth it

We've had alot of debates about this and Linus Gump is the ultimate gas expert since he has the inside info on it.  BUT, I don't think anybody has ever asked the question about using Premium in Regular and it voiding the warranty.

I know everybody says if your computer is not programmed for 93 and you use it in your car, you can get carbon building in the engine.  Wouldn't this void your warranty, since it's your fault?

Doc Olds -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:19:22 PM)

Probably voids all the Japanese Warranties[:D]     If your warranty booklet/manual says "If you do x.............. your warranty will be void..."  Yep

C'mon Mike, you work at a law firm, the answer is in your warranty booklet/manual.  The warranty is in writing and the terms are included in the written document they provide with the product.  The can change/modify unilateraly so long as it is in writting.      Maybe there will still be some jobs teaching people to read.  The Magnoson Moss Warranty Act does not make the sales/service bozo at the dealer ship in control of a new product manufacture's warranty conditions.

Zyne:  You are welcome bro.

HummerGuy -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:25:57 PM)

I'm not arguing with you on that one buddy; people DO need to RTFM [sm=icon_rtfm.gif]

BUT, I don't know much about engines.  I know how they work and more about compression then the average person, but I'm no expert by far.  That's why I ask so much.  I would love to buy an older car and tear it apart and build it up from scratch.  My wife is into old muscle cars, so I'm trying to slowly work that project in now that we have our own garage [:D]  I know how to fix everything on a car, except engines and transmissions.  I have never attempted it, because I never had to, but am good at taking things apart, fixing them, and putting them back together.  Unfortunately, my in-laws know this as well and is very unfortunate.  [:@]

BUT that's not the point [:D] 

Doc Olds -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:45:20 PM)

Alright.  Then I think we covered it.  Going up in octane ain't gonna do nothin.  Oh, Ive torn apart motors that are 40 years old, I've seen some carbon buildup.......but I never saw it cause engine breakage.  Might run crappy, but not ruin it.  If you are supposed to be running higher octane, and running too low a number, then you can cause problems. 

So, up = nothin.   Down = potential problems....some that can cause real damage and trash engine components. 

HummerGuy -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 1:51:29 PM)

Well, here's another one for you...

My PCM has a special tune for that range I mentioned.  How long does it take an engine to adapt to switching from low, to high, or high to low before it knows how to run the engine at that level? Keep in mind, I have the program for the whole range, so is it instant, or does it take a tank or two?

Doc Olds -> RE: Does Premium gas void your factory warranty? (8/3/2007 2:24:13 PM)

Pretty figgin instantaneous.   Ask the PCMforless people, they know a lot more about that than most any of us.  Look at what Patrick said.  The MAF,MAP, O2, Knock and Throttle position sensors send continuous data thet the computer reacts to PDQ.  Hey this is up your alley big time HummerGuy. [:)]   So the computer knows it can advance your timing and adjust fuel mixture with higher octaine and the burn will be maintained at its optimal level.

  

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