I get your point, but I've heard from a friend who's pretty into cars that mixing fuel grades occasionally might help if your engine's knocking a bit. Not saying it's a magic fix or anything, just that sometimes a higher octane can smooth things out temporarily. Personally, I'm still sticking to whatever the manual says—better safe than sorry—but maybe it's not always a total waste of money...?
I've heard similar things about higher octane quieting engine knocks temporarily, but isn't it usually masking the symptom rather than solving the underlying issue? Maybe better to check for spark plug or timing issues first... just a thought.
Yeah, higher octane gas can sometimes quiet things down temporarily, but it's like putting a band-aid on something that needs stitches. I'd definitely peek at the spark plugs first—cheaper fix if that's the issue. Been there, done that... learned my lesson the hard way.
"Yeah, higher octane gas can sometimes quiet things down temporarily, but it's like putting a band-aid on something that needs stitches."
Exactly. Higher octane might mask the knocking for a bit, but it's not solving the root cause. Spark plugs are a good first check, but if they're clean, you might wanna look at carbon buildup or timing issues. Had a similar issue with my old Civic—turned out to be carbon deposits causing pre-ignition. Ran some cleaner through it and adjusted timing slightly... problem solved. Cheaper than chasing ghosts with premium gas, that's for sure.
Premium gas isn't always just a band-aid though... depends on the engine. My Audi was knocking slightly, mechanic said it was designed for higher octane. Switched fuels, problem vanished. Sometimes it's not carbon or timing—just the car being picky.
