Regular gas in WRX

Do not believe a single word in the above paragraph. Serious damage in the most likely outcome resulting from use of the incorrect fuel. If your engine is designed to be run on 98 RON, and it becomes damaged through use of the incorrect fuel, chances are that your warrantee will become void.

I sometimes wonder what tree morons like this fall from.

-- GW

Very true. The owners manual specifically states what type of fuel should be used in the car. For the WRX, it is 91 min, with 89 to be used in an emergency. However, it also states that prolonged use of fuel less than the recommended octane can result in severe engine damage.

If the engine grenades, the technician can read the ECU values. It will tell them whether the ignition was retarded to the danger point, and what boost level the automatic BOV was at, as well as a variety of other parameters. If any of them are outside the 'recommended', there is no warranty.

And yes, manufacturers WILL produce an engine that can be damaged by regular gas. It is called 'a performance engine'.

What a stupid statement. That's like saying that if I run Mazolla corn oil in the car until it seizes, that the manufacturer will have to replace the engine. After all, no manufacturer would produce an engine that will be damaged by Mazolla corn oil, would they?

Performance WILL (not MAY) suffer, and there are plenty of research numbers to tell you by how much. For the STi, a 2-point octane drop below the recommended 93 results in the loss of some 35 HP and 30 lb-ft of torque. That is a 10% loss. Assuming the WRX is similar, it would DEFINITELY be noticeable; not to mention the crappy gas mileage from highly retarded ignition. You got lucky with the Passat. In addition, since VW has a great reputation for quality, how do you know that not following the manufacturer's recommendations were not the cause of the 'quality problems'; after all, if you are burning regular gas in the thing, what other manufacturer's recommendations are you ignoring?

Let's see the problems with the Passat: oil pump, camshafts, water leak from cabin air filter causing death of trans control computer and ruined carpets, multiple sensors failing. This was a vehicle made in Germany- I feel for the suckers buying vw's made in mexico. You are free to pay more at the pump. I personally would never buy a vehicle that requires premium fuel but to each his own.

That's fine. Then you probably shouldn't buy a performance vehicle. But to suggest it is safe to run lower octane fuel in one, is rediculous.

And at the dealership. And at the maintenance shop. And to your insurance company. There are lots of cost variables associated with each different vehicle. But it's just a little bit hypocritical to condemn the spending of more money at the pump when you, in fact, already own a car that required you to spend more money at the dealership. There are lots of cars out there that would have been cheaper at the dealer than your Passat. You elected to spend more because you wanted to get more. For some of us, this concept follows us to the gas pump. Just because you're too cheap to give your vehicles their proper care and feeding doesn't mean that we should *all* be so cheap.

You mean a vehicle like a 2001 VW Passat with a 1.8 L turbo engine in it? Perhaps you meant to write "I personally would never buy premium fuel for my cars that require it." Because you obviously *did* "buy a vehicle that requires premium fuel." Moron.

Indeed. And thank goodness for that.

- Greg Reed