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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / March 2006Premium Fuel?
Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative consequences? I'm in the market for a used Miata, but am concerned about having to pay premium gas prices. Thanks. fritzel67 91 octane is recommended, not required, with the normally aspirated engine. The computer will sense the knock and set the timing advance accordingly. You will have less power, but if you drive with a light foot you may not be able to tell the difference. However, you want to buy a sports car. I assume that you want to be able to get the most power out of it and the Miata does not have a whole lot of that. The higher octane will give you the maximum power the car can produce. With a 12.7 US Gallon tank, you are talking about a 10-11 gallon for a full fillup. Thats 2.00 more for premium for every 250 miles of travel. (or about 100.00 per year if you drive 12000 miles and get a crappy 24 mpg >Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative >consequences? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >fritzel67 Does anyone have any sort of results for independent testing & verification of fuel octane levels? When I had the old Kingswood (something like a mid 70's Malibu 6), I became adept at twisting the distributor frequently to compensate for variations in fuel quality. The car would be running just fine, then refuel, and it starts pinging badly. I suspect a lot of fuel is sold here in Australia that is not up to spec. > 91 octane is recommended, not required, with the normally aspirated > engine. The computer will sense the knock and set the timing advance [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> >>fritzel67 Octane is measured and determined by a single cylinder laboratory engine with an adjustable compression ratio. I imagine the cost of such a device and the lab to support would be enormous. The only regular test of fuel in my area is a test of pump accuaracy. > Does anyone have any sort of results for independent testing & > verification of fuel octane levels? When I had the old Kingswood [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >>> >>>fritzel67 I;ve seen at least one hand held octane analyzer at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston but don't know how it works. As far as other testing, see: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/05/octane.htm The US had testing at the national level until 1995 when the program was teminated. As the document shows, it is the local gas station selling 87 octane as 93 where the problem of mislableling is likely to occur (easiest way to increase profit) If you are down under and suspect foul play, you can call these folks: http://www.intertek-cb.com/newsitetest/services/petrotesting/octanetesting.shtml though I don't have their pricing. >Octane is measured and determined by a single cylinder laboratory engine >with an adjustable compression ratio. I imagine the cost of such a device [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] >>>> >>>>fritzel67 How about that? I just searched for octane testers and came up with 2 new hand held testers that are much quicker than the CFR method. ....But...they have yet to be approved by the ASTME. That doesn't mean they're not accurate, the ASTME may be protecting some labs. These new testers are a good thing and I hope the receive approval soon. > I;ve seen at least one hand held octane analyzer at the Offshore > Technology Conference in Houston but don't know how it works. [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] >>>>> >>>>>fritzel67 > Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative > consequences? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > fritzel67 Depends on the year and model. My '99 uses 87 octane. Correct, it's dependant on the year, the NA cars all ran on regular unl (87oct) and my 99 also does. Hopefully someone will chime in here and tell you which year they changed that. M.Caterra has a good point that you're talking about a couple hundred bucks spread out over a year if you drive 12k. There's also a good chance that you'll get better than 24 mpg also. Chris 99BBB >> Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative >> consequences? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Depends on the year and model. My '99 uses 87 octane. In 2001 the compression was raised as was the octane requirement. I b'lieve 91 is the number, but I'm not sure. Then there is the MazdaSpeed turbo model and I have no idea of its' fuel requirements. > Correct, it's dependant on the year, the NA cars all ran on regular unl > (87oct) and my 99 also does. Hopefully someone will chime in here and tell [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> >> Depends on the year and model. My '99 uses 87 octane. I think the also introduced the variable valve timing in 01. The Mazdaspeed turbo drops the compression to 9:1 and has no variable valve timing. It requires 91 octane. >In 2001 the compression was raised as was the octane requirement. I b'lieve >91 is the number, but I'm not sure. Then there is the MazdaSpeed turbo model [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >>> >>> Depends on the year and model. My '99 uses 87 octane. >In 2001 the compression was raised as was the octane requirement. I b'lieve >91 is the number, but I'm not sure. The specification for my 2006 is 91, though lower can be used at reduced power and increased knock. Going below 87 is apparently a very bad idea. I just put in 93. Leon > Then there is the MazdaSpeed turbo model >and I have no idea of its' fuel requirements. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >>> Depends on the year and model. My '99 uses 87 octane. >  SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative > consequences? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > fritzel67 My stock '96 has alway pinged on 87, so I've used 89. I know others have not found that necessary. It is easy to readjust the timing on a '96. It is set at 10 degrees from the factory and won't ping on 87. It is probably adjusted for 16 degrees or more. Many of the owners of M1 1.8 motors have readjusted the timing to 14 degrees to get a little more low end. > My stock '96 has alway pinged on 87, so I've used 89. I know others have > not found that necessary. That's not just on 1.8's, it was a lifesaver in my 92, 1.6 ! Chris 99BBB > It is easy to readjust the timing on a '96. It is set at 10 degrees from > the factory and won't ping on 87. It is probably adjusted for 16 degrees [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> My stock '96 has alway pinged on 87, so I've used 89. I know others have >> not found that necessary. > It is easy to readjust the timing on a '96. It is set at 10 degrees from > the factory and won't ping on 87. It is probably adjusted for 16 degrees [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> My stock '96 has alway pinged on 87, so I've used 89. I know others have >> not found that necessary. Bought new, I've never reset the timing. I don't imagine the Miata dealer who tunes my card has done so. But I'm due for my 90K tune-up and will try 87 again. Thanks very much for the responses. I had not thought about it in annual fuel expense terms. The other "hurdle" I've got to clear is leg/head room. I'm 6'1", and after riding in a friends Miata, I was especially apprehensive about the leg room...but I guess that is a topic for a new thread. ;) >Is it possible to run Miata's on regular fuel with no negative >consequences? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >fritzel67 > The other "hurdle" I've got to clear is leg/head room. I'm 6'1", There shouldn't be a problem, I'm three inches taller than you with a very long inseam and I have no problems with my 1992. > Thanks very much for the responses. I had not thought about it in > annual fuel expense terms. > > The other "hurdle" I've got to clear is leg/head room. I'm 6'1", and > after riding in a friends Miata, I was especially apprehensive about > the leg room...but I guess that is a topic for a new thread. ;) Hurdling inside a Miata could be a problem. I think my 92 had the ECU placed in the foot well area of the passenger side, under the carpet, right under the feet and it made leg room very skimpy over on that side of the car. It's not near as bad on the drivers side. Chris 99BBB > Thanks very much for the responses. I had not thought about it in > annual fuel expense terms. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> >>fritzel67 >I think my 92 had the ECU placed in the foot well area of the passenger >side, under the carpet, right under the feet and it made leg room very >skimpy over on that side of the car. It's not near as bad on the drivers >side. Then, the 1994-97 ones had it behind the passenger seat, considerably limiting the ability to move the seat back. Leon >Chris >99BBB [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >>>fritzel67 > SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) Hmm, looks like the Australian ones differ here as well. I have no idea where the ECU is on my '94, but it aint under the carpet in the floor, or behind the seats. I assumed it was in the dash, maybe behind the glove box. Maybe when the original design was altered to put the steering wheel on the wrong side, some compromises had to be made. Anyone know where the ECU is on a Right hand drive Miata? >>I think my 92 had the ECU placed in the foot well area of the passenger >>side, under the carpet, right under the feet and it made leg room very [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >>>> >>>>fritzel67 > Anyone know where the ECU is on a Right hand drive Miata? I'll guess it's in the same place as on my '94: behind the right seat (driver's in your case) recessed into the rear bulkhead and covered by carpet. SignatureLanny Chambers '94C, St. Louis http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html Maybe it is there, but there is certainly nothing "limiting the ability to move the seat back", as Leon suggested. >> Anyone know where the ECU is on a Right hand drive Miata? > > I'll guess it's in the same place as on my '94: behind the right seat > (driver's in your case) recessed into the rear bulkhead and covered by > carpet. |
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