premium fuel or normal fuel

didn't read all the posts...i'll just say few quick things about premium fuels and regular.

Premium is does have extra additives that helps the engine run smoother (less detonation/knock in engine).

 Premium burns lil slower than regular (has less surface tension) so it does give bit extra milage.

Premium has a higher octane level compared to Regular so it gives the car couple extra HP's /TQ.

Premiums is mostly for Premiums cars. Small cars won't benifit from it much since smaller engines (regular engines not high performance) don't need extra octance/additives.

I have been user of BPCL Speed ever since it was launched with our Fiat Uno and do find that over the years it has done wonders to the engine's maintenance and overall performance, compared to my brother-in-law who always uses normal petrol with his Maruti.

Our Petrol Uno is now 7 years old and done 70k kms, but the engine is still brilliant and has never had a major problem in the entire fuel train.

I wouldnt know if paying the extra for Speed has been cost effective, but we are sure very happy choosing it over regular.

Sunny, that's a good piece of informaiton. Thanks.

But I would say... Small segment cars also benefit from premium fuel, though not as much as premium cars do (for the reason stated by you).  However, if one can afford, one should go for premium fuel, as it would definitely help/benefit in long run, and one should not bother about its cost effectiveness (like Suryanarayan has said, in a way).

Your welcome, and you are correct there is nothing wrong in using Premium in regular small cars. It def improves engine life, keeps the valves, injectors cleaner hence increasing HP and milage. If one can afford it....go for it. When running premium, once a while....push the car to limit do couple of redline shifts. It blows some of the built up carbon out of the exhaust. Also, make sure you change fuel filter/spark plugs/air filter when time comes.

I donot think there should be any problem with different versions of petrol. As such the petrol engine technology is fairly well settled. Specifically in India. However when i have used Premium Petrol, i have felt slight smoothness & increase in power delivery.

However when it comes to diesel, in my opinion, a highly refined engine would have no problem with normal diesel, turbo diesel or low sulphur diesel. However not every vehicle manufacturer is equipped with maturity in making refined diesel engines. Infact HONDA CEO has gone on paper saying that for them to get their I-DTEC engines to India two things need to happen here: 

1. Lower sulphur diesel availability
2. Availability of Uniform quality of diesel across the country

All said and done this is not an easy task. And in my opinion as long as the additives are inherent in nature (meaning additives are added by the petrol company) they should be fine as fuel testing happens at the petrol stations every time they fill their tanks.

We should however be careful (i am not saying they are bad) of external fuel additives. Many mechanics could recommend external fuel additives which come in sachets and which could be poured into the fuel tank, while filling in gas into our vehicles. We need to be careful as to what is the purpose of using these additives. Again i am not saying they are bad / ineffective.

Many vehicle makers recommend fuel additives only when the cars have run more than 30,000-40,000 kms. My guess is that they might help in slight decarbonizing and slightly better power generation.

Bhushan

Hi ganesh,
i dont think you can compare any well maintained fiat engine to a maruti engine...
i was talking about ganesh's UNO...

    premium petrol is supposed to increase the engine life of MPFI engines only....
it is not recommentd for the old cars' carburated engines.. another big fact is that,
it is found regularly that if you use premium fuel for your car, even after your dealer does not back you, then its gonna be trouble.. it is like /... the engine might not be damaged at any cost.. but the rest of the standard parts like the exhaust...and all unless you use a automac or raemus muffler..., will defenitly be affected badly.. and it will be an issue some or the other day..
i know many who switched back to the normal fuel after getting negetive effects...
    i know that the ford and GM recommends premium fuel..... while the honda doesn't... in fact, the ford dealers ( not just one) have named out IOC's extra premium.. or they even have their own additives, that can be added to the normal fuel..
    But i have messed up with my old ford escort, when the premium fuel-- speed petrol was launched... the ford dealer said, they dont recommend it for escort.
    earlier, from 2002, i also used an ikon 1.8 D .. i started using premium diesel once it started becoming available,... but i ended up with frequent filter changes.. dealer dint have anything to say about this.. later i stopped using the premium.. my bills on services reduced...
    one more thing .. i feel like.... when i used the premium fuels... the engine sound increased a bit...
may be my mistaek.. but i used to get that feeling..
    what i understand is that the premium fuel may help the engines some how, but defenitely it will affect some or the other parts..
    talking about the RELIANCE fuel.. the dealers cannot add anything to the fuel../
the level and quality of fuel are monitored centrally .... and each reliance petrol bunk is connected via satelite to their head office... you can see the antenna at all reliance petrol pump...
also it is heard that reliance provides good quality fuel... and they say it is premium fuel..
but people say that it is normal fuel but of good quality.... dont know the truth. anyways i'm now happy with the reliance fuel....
no trouble due to fuel since i started using reliance petrol...

Thanks for your detailed feedback on your experience Josie - this issue is definitely worth researching some more then.

What fuel is recommended for Hyundai i10 and Maruti 800?

Small segment cars (new/not old) benefit from premium fuel, though not as much as premium cars do.  If one can afford, one should go for premium fuel, as it would definitely help/benefit in long run.

 you know guys i'vealways used my gut feeling n results produced 4future planning.when this premium fuel either in petrol or in diesel segement came,i thought it might be good either in giving extra boost n power resulting in better pickup,or maybe it might help in better mileage,but after continuously using 4bt  2-3 months,i found no positive effect what so ever.My advice to you?dont fall for these gimicks,its a waste of time n money.rather than than that just use regular/normal fuel but from a good petrol pump.the fuel should not be adultrated ,thats all the concern that shd be.if a specific car requires sm specific fuel needs it always mentions,either in the book or directly on the lid!! so go 4a a good reputable gas station/petrol pump and get ur tanks filled from there with regular fuel only!!