Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with a
performance hit or will it damage the engine?

I am talking about the 06 models

Thanks.

Adam Frankel wrote:
> Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with a
> performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>
> I am talking about the 06 models
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>

tough call, I think regular is 'allowed' in emergencies only. Also, in
addition to a 'performance hit' it's POSSIBLE gas mileage could be
REDUCED making the switch closer to an even tradeoff.

maybe you could give up bottled water or starbucks or Coca-Cola ($450
per barrel) to help pay the difference in price?

if you must run regular, shop for a different vehicle.


Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

I wish that were possible.

I already do not drink Starbucks (expensive), Coke (try to avoid High
Fructose Corn Syrup), or bottled water (costs more per gallon than gasoline
and is a waste). I drink Brita filtered water.

I test drove the Legacy and the salesman seemed to believe that Premium was
only "recommended" but not required - however it was his 3rd week and he did
not sound sure.

"Carl 1 Lucky Texan" <alckytxn@swbell.not> wrote in message
news:aWSBg.6117$FN2.5188@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
> Adam Frankel wrote:
>> Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with
>> a
>> performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>>
>> I am talking about the 06 models
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> tough call, I think regular is 'allowed' in emergencies only. Also, in
> addition to a 'performance hit' it's POSSIBLE gas mileage could be REDUCED
> making the switch closer to an even tradeoff.
>
> maybe you could give up bottled water or starbucks or Coca-Cola ($450 per
> barrel) to help pay the difference in price?
>
> if you must run regular, shop for a different vehicle.
>
>
> Carl
>
>
> --
> to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

On Mon, 7 Aug 2006 22:41:35 -0400, "Adam Frankel"
<writher@optonline.net> wrote:

>Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with a
>performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>
>I am talking about the 06 models
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>

It is required for all Subaru turbo models. Regular may be used in a
pinch but you then need to drive accordingly, no heavy throttle/high
boost or damaging detonation may result. Ask to see the owners manual,
the info is in there.
If you are harboring any ideas of buying one and not running it on
premium all the time, don't bother. You want a different car.

Adam Frankel wrote:

> I wish that were possible.
>
> I already do not drink Starbucks (expensive), Coke (try to avoid High
> Fructose Corn Syrup), or bottled water (costs more per gallon than gasoline
> and is a waste). I drink Brita filtered water.
>
> I test drove the Legacy and the salesman seemed to believe that Premium was
> only "recommended" but not required - however it was his 3rd week and he did
> not sound sure.
>
> "Carl 1 Lucky Texan" <alckytxn@swbell.not> wrote in message
> news:aWSBg.6117$FN2.5188@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>
>>Adam Frankel wrote:
>>
>>>Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with
>>>a
>>>performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>>>
>>>I am talking about the 06 models
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>tough call, I think regular is 'allowed' in emergencies only. Also, in
>>addition to a 'performance hit' it's POSSIBLE gas mileage could be REDUCED
>>making the switch closer to an even tradeoff.
>>
>>maybe you could give up bottled water or starbucks or Coca-Cola ($450 per
>>barrel) to help pay the difference in price?
>>
>>if you must run regular, shop for a different vehicle.
>>
>>
>>Carl
>>
>>
>>--
>>to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)
>
>
>

You might see if there's a manual in which you could read the fuel
requirments online at www.my.subaru.com or www.cars101.com

I run premium in my '06 WRX (and will likely never run regular) and my
wife's '03 H6 OBW. The OBW does run on regular, but I didn't like the
performance effect. Since requiring premium is a negative selling point,
I doubt FHI engineers would recommend it if they didn't feel it was
'necessary'.

Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

Thanks for the responses.

Is there anything I can do in terms of aftermarket modification (in addition
to driving conservatively) that will increase the cars MPG?

Thanks.


"Carl 1 Lucky Texan" <alckytxn@swbell.not> wrote in message
news:7FTBg.6131$FN2.2821@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
> Adam Frankel wrote:
>
>> I wish that were possible.
>>
>> I already do not drink Starbucks (expensive), Coke (try to avoid High
>> Fructose Corn Syrup), or bottled water (costs more per gallon than
>> gasoline and is a waste). I drink Brita filtered water.
>>
>> I test drove the Legacy and the salesman seemed to believe that Premium
>> was only "recommended" but not required - however it was his 3rd week and
>> he did not sound sure.
>>
>> "Carl 1 Lucky Texan" <alckytxn@swbell.not> wrote in message
>> news:aWSBg.6117$FN2.5188@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>>
>>>Adam Frankel wrote:
>>>
>>>>Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with
>>>>a
>>>>performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>>>>
>>>>I am talking about the 06 models
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>tough call, I think regular is 'allowed' in emergencies only. Also, in
>>>addition to a 'performance hit' it's POSSIBLE gas mileage could be
>>>REDUCED making the switch closer to an even tradeoff.
>>>
>>>maybe you could give up bottled water or starbucks or Coca-Cola ($450 per
>>>barrel) to help pay the difference in price?
>>>
>>>if you must run regular, shop for a different vehicle.
>>>
>>>
>>>Carl
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)
>>
>>
>>
>
> You might see if there's a manual in which you could read the fuel
> requirments online at www.my.subaru.com or www.cars101.com
>
> I run premium in my '06 WRX (and will likely never run regular) and my
> wife's '03 H6 OBW. The OBW does run on regular, but I didn't like the
> performance effect. Since requiring premium is a negative selling point, I
> doubt FHI engineers would recommend it if they didn't feel it was
> 'necessary'.
>
> Carl
>
>
> --
> to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

Carl 1 Lucky Texan wrote:

> I run premium in my '06 WRX (and will likely never run regular) and my
> wife's '03 H6 OBW. The OBW does run on regular, but I didn't like the
> performance effect. Since requiring premium is a negative selling point,
> I doubt FHI engineers would recommend it if they didn't feel it was
> 'necessary'.

What Carl said about the WRX. If you're
not willing to feed it a steady diet of
premium, look for a different car.

My '99 Outback is happy as a clam on Chevron
89 Plus gas and decidedly unhappy on regular.

"Adam Frankel" <writher@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:iRSBg.1134$qy1.574@fe11.lga...
> Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with a
> performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>
> I am talking about the 06 models
>
> Thanks.
>
>
If you are talking STI, 93 Octane is the recommended fuel. 91 can be used
(since 93 isn't available everywhere) but you may need a reflash of the ECU
to avoid knocking. Anything below that can damage the engine. This is
especially true if you are in a warm climate. If I remember correctly, 91
is recommeded and 89 can be used in a pinch for the WRX, but again,
prolonged use of anything besides 91 minimum can damage the engine.

I had to put 89 in the STi once (premium wasn't available), and it went into
limp mode (timing advance was reduced to 15 degrees from its usual 45) and
gas mileage sucked. It went through the entire tank in 200 KM (about 120
miles) with no power at all, and it knocked at about half throttle. I'll
never do it again.

On Tue, 8 Aug 2006 07:55:30 -0400, "Adam Frankel"
<writher@optonline.net> wrote:

>Thanks for the responses.
>
>Is there anything I can do in terms of aftermarket modification (in addition
>to driving conservatively) that will increase the cars MPG?
>
>Thanks.

I think you need to face the fact that these cars are not econoboxes
and can't be made into same. If fuel mileage is your priority then you
should not be looking at a turbo Subaru. The combination of a low
compression engine, turbo, and all wheel drive does not add up to an
efficient vehicle. And, there is no point to paying the extra cost to
get the nice turbo drivetrain only to "drive it conservatively".
Besides, once you get used to the boost you won't be able to do that
anyway.
Sorry to be a bit harsh but you really need to consider what is most
important to you before you make your purchase.

Adam Frankel wrote:

> Do both of these cars REQUIRE premium fuel? Can I use regular fuel with a
> performance hit or will it damage the engine?
>
> I am talking about the 06 models
>
> Thanks.

They sell them in locations that don't have premium 94 AKI for hundreds or
thousands of miles. In locations like that, they (yes, I've spoken with
them) claim that the STi will simply retard the timing and run just fine on
92 AKI.

DO NOT GO BELOW 91, EVEN WITH OCTANE BOOSTER.

Also, many gas stations that claim they sell "92" in reality just sell 91.