Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. Fuel with a higher octane rating can stand up to higher compression before it detonates. Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time.
No matter your model, BMW recommends using only premium-unleaded fuel. That’s not to say your BMW won’t run on lower-grade fuel, but premium-unleaded fuel will maintain its quality in the long run, letting you drive at peak performance consistently.
What type of gas does a BMW 328i use?
The kind of gas a BMW 328I takes is premium gasoline with a 97 or higher octane rating—in fact, the BMW 328I is one of the few models that BMW actually requires to use premium fuel, rather than simply recommending it.
Can I put 93 gas in my BMW 328i?
The short answer is: NO! We do not recommend running low grade fuel in BMW’s. While a few models might present this as a viable option when reading the owner’s manual, Triangle Imports does not believe in that philosophy.
Can you run 87 in a BMW 328i?
87 is fine in a 328i. I use it whenever the 87/93 price differential gets much above 10% as it becomes more cost effective, even given the poorer performance & fuel economy.
What happens if I put 87 gas in my BMW?
The short answer is – nothing. Most BMWs can run on regular gas so you aren’t at any risk of causing damage to your brother’s car. When you put regular gas in a BMW as opposed to premium, the car will recognize this and may run with a little less power and less timing but all components will work properly.
Can I put 89 in a BMW?
BMW recommends that their drivers only use high-octane fuel, such as 91+ octane. This will help ensure you BMW performs at its best, though, as with any fuel option, there are some pros and cons to 91+ octane fuel.
Can you put 89 in a BMW 328i?
The minimum AKI Rating is: 323i,328i/xDrive: 87 335i/xDrive: 89. If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rating, the engine may produce knocking sounds when starting at high outside temperatures. This has not effect on the engine life. Do not use any gasoline below the specified minimum grade.
Can I use 93 octane instead of 91 BMW?
BMW requires 91-octane fuel at a minimum, with 93 recommended, so we did just that, switching between the common forms of premium gas depending on which state you’re in.
This makes high-octane fuel better for engines that create higher cylinder pressures during the combustion cycle. We call these “high-compression engines” for obvious reasons, and while some BMW engines do use very high compression, not all of them do.
What happens if I run 93 instead of 87?
Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.
What happens if you put 93 in 91?
In most cases, the vehicle will run fine, but you may experience less power and a decrease in gas mileage. In more serious cases, you may hear engine knocking or valve chatter because the fuel isn’t burning right. These things could damage your engine and you should take it to your mechanic.
Is it worth putting 91 instead of 87?
The main difference with premium is its octane rating — 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane. The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging.
What if I accidentally put 87 instead of 91?
If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine needs service.”
Other things to consider: failing to use high-octane fuel in your premium vehicle could cause engine knock or pinging, which sounds like there’s a large woodpecker under your hood; you could experience damage to your components; and using the wrong octant level could even void your warranty.
Can you mix 87 and 91 gas?
Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.
What happens if I mix 89 and 93?
Mixing regular or mid-grade gasoline (87 – 89 octane) with premium gasoline (91 – 93 octane) won’t be harmful to cars designed to run on regular gasoline. However, mixing these gasoline types in cars designed for premium gasoline may result in engine knocking and damage to the fuel system depending on the car.
Why does BMW recommend Shell fuel?
It’s all about the marketing dollars and has nothing to do with the product being good, bad, or better. Because Shell paid more money to be the official fuel recommended by BMW. It’s all about the marketing dollars and has nothing to do with the product being good, bad, or better.
Is it OK to mix 89 and 93?
It really is this simple: Equal amounts of 89- and 93-octane gas gives you a tankful of 91 octane.
What does 328i stand for?
In past years the last two digits of the number in each series used to refer to the displacement size of the engine (e.g. the 328i Sedan had a 2.8-liter engine). Now the numbers roughly show the performance of the engine with a higher number reflecting more power.
Can a BMW 328i take E85?
On a stock 328i, will you gain anything or lose? You should not run E85 on a stock car without an tune for E85. It should not hurt anything, the N54 and N55 have successfully been running E85 tunes as well.
Can a BMW 328i run E85?
Specifications. The patented ProFlex™ Commander adaptive flex fuel system for BMW E90/E91/E92/E93 328i allows you to start making more power and running cooler with E85. True plug and play flex-fuel for your BMW in about an hour with no tuning required.
Does 93 or 87 gas last longer?
No, premium gas does not last longer than regular gasoline in a fuel tank. A car owner might only consider the longevity of a car’s gas if the vehicle has been sitting unused for an extended period.
Does higher octane give better mileage?
So is Higher Octane Fuel More Efficient? In a word, no. On its own paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage. Giving your car the fuel it requires to run smoothly and efficiently, without damage to the engine, does make a difference in your fuel mileage.
What happens if I use 95 instead of 91?
It can’t hurt your engine if you use a higher octane fuel. So, for example, if you use 95 or 98 in an engine designed for 91, that’s OK. However, it’s not acceptable to put in a lower octane fuel than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer. Using 91 in an engine designed for 95 or 98 is potentially destructive.