weddy11
Champion Author
Phoenix
Posts:1,732
Points:430,875
Joined:Dec 2011
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 1:27:06 PM
regular
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23227
All-Star Author
Richmond
Posts:839
Points:457,525
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 9:22:39 AM
My 99 Astro (Chevy version of the Safari) had the 4.3 Votec V-6 that I assume you also had. My experience with that van was that I got 20 mpg on the highway regardless of how I drove it. 60mph on a flat road: 20 mpg. 75mph on a flat road: 20 mpg. Mountains: 20 mpg. Loaded down with the family and luggage: 20 mpg. In town was much lower, of course. Never got 21, never got 19 when running on the highway. It's the only vehicle I have ever owned that always got the same highway mileage regardless of terrain or driving style.
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23227
All-Star Author
Richmond
Posts:839
Points:457,525
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 9:14:30 AM
There is no benefit to burning premium fuel if you don't need it. With premium fuel costing twenty to fifty cents a gallon more, you are just throwing money away. I pull a sixteen foot cargo trailer with a Suburban. I tried a few tanks of high octane fuel and noticed no improvement in fuel economy. I drive about 33,000 miles a year, and it has well over 180,000 total miles. No fuel related problems yet. I reckon it would cost me $500 to $1,000 extra every year to use premium fuel.
[Edited by: 23227 at 2/2/2013 9:16:08 AM EST]
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GrumpyCat
Champion Author
Alabama
Posts:2,603
Points:788,325
Joined:Jun 2009
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Message Posted: Jan 29, 2013 5:10:29 PM
87 octane is the specified fuel for your 1995 Safari? Then it is very unlikely to get better MPG or even run better on 89, 91, or 93 octane fuel.
On your trip there will be variations in MPG even if you could make the trip on the same gasoline you started with. There will be side winds, head winds, and tail winds. In southern TN you will go up and down hills. So you won't be able to make a conclusive statement that Brand X gasoline was better than Brand Y, or Octane Z was the best.
As for cruise control MPG, I agree with other posters that best MPG is *not* had with CC. However the CC provides a repeatable benchmark to measure against. Many over control, accelerator is constantly going up and down, same for brakes and steering. If CC results in better MPG then your other driving habits need review. Your passengers will thank you.
For best MPG you might let the car run a bit faster down hills, and let it slow a bit on the way up. The idea is to use a bit more throttle initially so you don't need as much at the top of the hill. A CC will get behind at the bottom of a hill and use extreme efforts to resume set speed at the same time climbing the hill. You might assist the CC by applying throttle early before starting up the hill.
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Saab93turbo
Veteran Author
Washington
Posts:485
Points:85,235
Joined:Dec 2012
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Message Posted: Jan 29, 2013 4:46:53 PM
Some cars get better gas mileage with premium but the difference is too small to cover the higher cost of gas.
As far as cruise control, if you have a steady foot, you can beat the gas mileage of cruise control. It requires a frozen foot. With the gas pedal in one position, you will slow as you go up a hill and speed up as you go down the hill. In contrast, the cruise control will maintain a steady speed, which uses a little more gas. However, with a long drive, most people are exhausted and don't want to have a frozen foot that doesn't move.
Consider putting 3 psi more than the recommended amount for better gas mileage. Mercedes Benz says to do that and they know better. They say that 3 psi will get better gas mileage and handling but worse ride.
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Mr1lung
All-Star Author
Phoenix
Posts:811
Points:164,150
Joined:Nov 2012
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Message Posted: Jan 29, 2013 12:27:58 PM
use 87
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102670
Rookie Author
Sacramento
Posts:77
Points:21,315
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 29, 2013 9:41:45 AM
Premium fuels are best used in high compression engines. I'm assuming by your description that your vehicle does not have a high compression engine. Therefore, the use of regular unleaded fuels will be work just fine. It's been my experience that there is no significant mpg differences between the two grades of gas to justify the price difference.
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DiannaVA
Rookie Author
Virginia
Posts:31
Points:12,230
Joined:Feb 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 28, 2013 11:35:19 AM
My mother says regular is perfectly fine! I can't tell any difference in my Honda Accord.
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weddy11
Champion Author
Phoenix
Posts:1,732
Points:430,875
Joined:Dec 2011
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Message Posted: Jan 28, 2013 8:57:00 AM
Regular for my car.
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Onlypremiumg
Rookie Author
Ontario
Posts:6
Points:2,595
Joined:Jan 2013
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Message Posted: Jan 27, 2013 5:14:33 PM
It's up to you! I run premium only and just changed my plugs at 258,000kms cuz I thought I should. Funny thing is all they needed was to be gapped. Synthetic oil is what I use and the bully dog to get the best mileage. It's a 2002 gmc 5.3 V8 and the wife's car is a 4cyl cobalt running reg gas. Only cuz we're not keeping it and it's the secondary car. It averages 13 liters of gas per 100/Kms. Funny cuz the what I average in my truck burning premium gas. So ask yourself is it worth burning regular? Only if you deal your car every couple of years.. The problem with everyone's gas mileage is they hammer the gas and jump on the brakes. Anyone that says I'm full of beans can come out with me and I will teach you how to drive and save some money. I'm never in a hurry now and well 2 speeding tickets did it for me.
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gvan
Champion Author
Chicago
Posts:21,526
Points:2,835,315
Joined:Dec 2004
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Message Posted: Jan 27, 2013 7:46:46 AM
Regular. The only effect premium will have is to fatten the wallet of the station owner and make yours thinner.
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Dennis783
Champion Author
Des Moines
Posts:13,589
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Joined:Sep 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 10:46:35 AM
use regular
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BigHorne1
Champion Author
Missouri
Posts:1,492
Points:295,800
Joined:Jul 2012
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Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 9:36:54 AM
regular, cannot afford the premium
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Titanic1985
Champion Author
South Carolina
Posts:6,252
Points:357,245
Joined:Dec 2010
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Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 8:25:12 AM
Hello forkedt141. Congratulations on your first post :-). Your 1995 Safari should be happy running what fuel is recommended in your Owner's Manual. Have a good trip :-). MGY
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OceanArcher
Champion Author
Mississippi
Posts:5,703
Points:1,327,400
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 12:07:48 AM
Follow the advice of your Owner's Manual ...
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carinthuist
Champion Author
San Francisco
Posts:2,238
Points:328,285
Joined:Mar 2012
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Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:03:43 PM
regular in one car other car premium fuel good gas mpg
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author
Ontario
Posts:2,385
Points:1,120,850
Joined:Apr 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 6:50:16 AM
Regular
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MertieMan
Champion Author
Lexington
Posts:14,783
Points:2,894,635
Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 5:13:56 AM
You are only wasting your money by putting in a higher octane rating than what the vehicle manufacturer recommends, plus it may clog your intakes.
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jes
Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:16,160
Points:3,351,500
Joined:Jun 2003
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Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 5:03:08 AM
What does your owners manual say? I would think regular unleaded should be fine.
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