Regular gas

What would be the long and short term consequences of running regular gasoline in my 996? I am having serious trouble finding premium around here right now. Is there an additive I can add to regular to make it work? Thank you.

Detination is a possibility.

No long term consequences. The computer will simply pull timing and add fuel to compensate. Performance of the car will be less than it is now.

Tom, You must be in the western part of the state. Here in the Raleigh area, we don't have any problem getting premium (except for the price) . Using lower octane will only reduce performance as the knock sensors will retard the timing to protect the engine. Alternatively, you could fill up with regular and add an octane booster to raise the octane level of the regular. Randy

Thanks for the replies, guys. Bad news Randy. I'm in Durham. (15-20 miles away to the rest of you)

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consequences would be a decrease in gas mileage thus higher fuel costs, lower engine output with possible degradation of drivability, increased exhaust gas temperatures with increased wear/tear on anything in contact with exhausts gases, increase in fuel system and combustion chamber deposits. These engines have a pretty high compression ratio partially to boost their output (and provide good throttle responses). Burning a lower octane gas on a regular basis takes away from the engine and its performance. In a pinch, if premium in short supply, or even no supply, 87 octane better than nothing but feeding these engines a regular diet of regular is just silly. Sincerely, Macster.

don't bother w/ octane boost; in order for it to actually make a difference, you need literally gallons of it. the 996 has knock sensor ignition and will dial back the ignition timing to preclude detonation. the car will be a bit down on power and gas consumption will go up a bit, but the engine will suffer no damage.

AFAIK, the engine management system can only compensate down to 90 octane. Below that, as in regular at 89-87, the electronics can no longer compensate and pre-detonation and consequent problems can arise. Quote from tje manual: "Porsche also recognizes that these fuels may not always be available. Be assured that your vehicle will operate properly on unleaded premium fuels with octane numbers of at least 95 RON (90CLC or AKI) since the engine's Electronic Oktane knock control will adapt the ignition timing, if necessary." Boosters are useless. Best bet is to mix with 100 octane unleaded race gas. Someone here has posted the appropriate ratios to get the right octane. Not cheap, but cheaper than a new engine.

I am filling my escalade with 87 (screw it it is a lease and the recommend premium, not demanding itlike BMW and Porsche) and never had a problem...I would put it in a delicate machine like a P engine....

honestly I'd drive the 15 miles for premium once a week or every couple, I think your fuel economy will scrub and it will probably save you some cat work down the line.

geez I cant get any gas here in my area - Atlanta.....no one has any

one of my employees is down in ATL (a California transplant). He recently said he had to drive for an hour in every direction looking for one with supply, and when he finally found one, he was on fumes and the line was 100+ cars long

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in a way that lets the dealer know the car was not filled with proper grade of gasoline and this was a regular (no pun intended) action on your part. This could be construed as damage just like body damage with the end result is the vehicle's residual value being lowered and you having to come up with the difference. Also, that you posted this info here and if the dealer/lease company decided to google for any posts by you and sift through looking for indications of vehicle odometer tampering (which is quite common with leased vehicles (though I'm sure you'd never consider tampering) but instead came up this post by you admiting you fed the vehicle the wrong grade of gas, your actions if you didn't admit to them when you turn the vehicle back in could be construed as an attempt to defraud. I am not a lawyer but you should be aware of the possible risk to you arising from your action regarding fueling your lease vehicle wtih the wrong grade of gasoline. As lease companies deal with falling residual values they are looking to defray these or receive compensation from lease vehicle leasees. Sincerely, Macster.

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so I got up at 6:00am this morning and found only regular - which I promptly filled up from 1/4 tank of prem (no telling when the gas supply will increase here) There is simply no Prem available here at all. So more importantly give me a real reason not to go buy a few bottles of Octane booster. I see no one giving any reason why it will not help in these dire circumstances. What can it harm vs running w/o it? Anyone have any real facts on this?

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Doubt it. A bunch of manufacturers (including Porsche) just recently had to admit that using regular gas will not harm their cars and will not void the warranty. It was in response to a class action as I recall.

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WHATEVER...... a lease company checking the residual value against the octane your filling up with and using google to find out statements you have written on a forum?? Stop reading the fantastic 4 novels....stop smoking the crack pipe and get real......big brother is not watching you or me.....start living...yes you can search the internet for **** (if you don't want your boyfriend to find out....use the privacy setting).....just don't search for illegal **** and it is okay!! some people are just tooooo much!!!

I was in Atlanta all last week, I was shocked to see those folks lined up at 10pm just to get gas.

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not necessarily true. Torco fuel accelerator provides a very noticeable octane increase. 32oz in the standard gas tank should provide 2 or 3 full points of octane increase. The off the shelf stuff at Autozone is useless though.

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You must not know what's going on here in the southeast. There is no other choice currently.

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half the premium gas in the US is just regular gas mixed with oxygenators, MTBE , ethanol, toluene, etc. No reason you can't run some, but unless you're an organic chemist I probably would just let the car detune itself on regular and keep the throttle under control until availability returns.

If you have to run regular, just don't place any heavy loads on the engine like lugging it on too low a gear.

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+1. I wrote a post about this and it includes a link to the article in the NY times regarding Porsche (among others) admitting it is okay to run regular. I even called Porsche's PR department and spoke to them about it.

The key is not to floor it. Regular will be fine but don't overwork the engine.

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Why do you need to run more gently with lower octane? Heat?

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chemically impossible

to elaborate on the post above, if we ratio 64oz. (1/4 gallon) into a 14.75 gallons of 87 octane (for 15 total gallons), the Torco juice would need to be 210 octane for the average of the tank to reach 89 octane. after reading up on how the torco works, it is NOT actually an octane booster, but it WILL boost the anti-knock index (AKI) of the fuel. i believe it does this by chemically coating the combustion chamber and smoothing out the 'hot spots' that typically cause pre-ignition first. this product DOES seem to work to that effect; it will reduce the probability of knock by a fairly significant amount. considering how it works, though, i don't know how i feel about something coating my fuel system & combustion chamber. not sure whether there could be problems after long term use. in a pinch, i think it could do the job.

Ok, say I have a 2008 997. I travel South in my 997 from DC not knowing there is a shortage on gas. I arrive to Atlanta and am unable to find premium grade gasoline. I fill up with regular and 10 miles down the road my engine blows because I have the incorrect octane in my 997. Will my warranty cover this or is this my fault?

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If you read the article I mention above. I believe that they come right out and say they are not going to ding you on the warranty. Besides, your engine isn't going to blow from running regular (less than premium) that is what the engine management system is for.

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Your engine will not blow from using regular gas, so it's kind of a moot point.

FYI, with the gas shortage here, i've had to run a lot of 87 here in the last two weeks. the car is a LITTLE down on power, but seems to run just fine.

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Ok then, so there's no need for folks to drive 20 miles to get premium gas.

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dropping like bank stocks, you bet. Querying engine computer for misfire counts or times it had to retard ignition and other info saved can clearly indicate engine fed wrong grade of fuel. Just depends upon how hard the lease company/factory wants to push it. Also, more and more stories about judges/courts/DAs searching web and facebook and other social sites for info about people up for sentencing or under court orders to abstain from drinking. In one case a search found a guy charged with drunken driving still drinking and partying. He posted pictures at his social site of his partying holding a drink in his hand. He got book tossed at him. In another case, young woman involved in a fatal accident and during trial or sentencing phase again pictures of her drinking/partying against court's orders and as a result received much stiffer sentence. Prospective employers can do a web search for postings by job applicants... Can lease companies be far behind? Sincerely, Macster.

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Seriously?

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this guy is unbelievable!! My engine never even gives a hiccup on 87....and it is only 4 away form 91 anyways...maybe older cars like 996 P's shouldn't be driven on low oc's but the "modern" marvels like overhauled in chevy tahoe, yukon and escalade really don't care much they even run on corn!!!

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Geez, I'm sure glad I'm not living inside your head - the world sounds like a pretty scary place... Sorry - this is just my opinion, and my philosophy on life - but me thinks you're taking this to extremes - long live the ACLU! "I wouldn't be so paranoid if they weren't all out to get me!"

No premium in Franklin, TN (south of Nashville). Going on a week now. I'm driving as little as possible.

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I this no gas thing is starting to reach VA. I'm really not believing the whole pipeline inspection theory.

actually its true, some companies check if an applicant has a personal site, see what the person is like outside of work, or if talk down their past employee, it was on 60minutes back in like 06.(photographic memory thank you). i think it's something like invasion of privacy that mostly defers employers from doing so, but most employee's don't relize it. as for running 87(regular around me) no i'm not driving a 911, but my 944 has no issue's with it. had to do it recently because more and more stations are choosing not to bring in 93...which i think some people are going to have issues with. i'm used to 35mpg highway, i'm lucky if i'm pulling 28 now.