Octane is now and always has been a very simple and open / shut case...

 

Its not that simple and if it was they would not have knock sensors. A car with out one with 10.4 compression would not last a week on 87.

 

Regardless anyone with a brain can figure out what octane to use. Very simple concept even for the simple minded.

My 14.1 1397cc bike ran on 93 and it didn;t have any knock sensors and even did it at 11,000rpm.

New Ford Focus has 12.0 c/r and while you are right that we "need" (in concept but not actually) knock sensors they certainly make the engine a much better thing in terms of reliability and efficiency these days.

 

I should of added at 14.7 air fuel. 93 is good stuff and as you see people complain but dont try a different fuel whether its a different brand or premium. They also are not used to ethanol blends and knock retard.

 

I found out looking around at the hyper milers forums that the Fits sweet spot is 3000 for manual and 2000 to 2500 for auto. They do pulse and guide a lot and thats go fast and coast. Which explains why people drive 45 or so in traffic get the best mpg.

 

34.2 mpg on the last tank and I really do wonder if the pumps are calibrated on a regular basis? Like I said before, I usually go to the same station and almost always the same pump even. It appears that the weather is starting to level off and will only continue to go up, so the mileage will continue to go up and with having run 93 in the car for monthes now, the ECU should be up to the task when the weather is over 50 all the time.

I used to think the car didn't need 93 because of what the owners manual says but I'm looking at the compression ratios and even with knock sensors, I'm sticking with 93, my mileage has gone up and once I go back home to Detroit I'll get a better idea of how much

 

Come on now, you know you like the better acceleration the good stuff gives you also..

 

That's the part I'm feeling - a little more pep in the step on Ultra93. Also think that's why my mileage is a bit below were I think it should be. Right foot responds well to temptation...
Next week I'll be into the second tank of Ultra, have Hondas 0W20 in the crank and be on the road to Boston then Portland w/ my daughter to see the Maine Boat Builders show. Good opportunity to see the effects on the trims and mpg's and see some really good craftsmanship.

 

They build boats like fine furniture up there in your neck of the woods... I know you are going to love going to that kind of boat show, I know I would.... So your having problems with the ball of your right foot wanting to involuntarily push down on the throttle pedal, aren't you the guy that at one time considered a waste of time and money to do anything other than milk economy out of a car like a Fit?

 

I've been dancing the pedals and hitting the apex for many a year. In my conservative old age it's nice to feel a bit of timing advance coming through the right foot. I really should unwrap the Alfa.

You're right on milking the economy though. Not that my hands out but one of my favorite tunes as a kid was Perry Como singing Catch a Falling Star. But the dang program itself cost me the deal so I resorted to doing it the old fashion way, like I always end up doing - I simply paid for it.

Now, if we could only get congress to do that... our fair land still does not have a budget in place.
Why aren't the kids tweeting that all over the place.
Heads in the sand.

Looking forward to the show.
Take a peek MBS.
I like where he says the builder must be on the boat or in the exhibit.

 

None of the kids read the news... unfortunately. I am probably the only person under 40 that subscribes to the Economist in North America.

Considering most of the people my age listen to tripe like Lady Gaga and autotune cRap music, and pursue whiffy degrees if they even go to school... I fear for our future.

 

I liked that song too, still do, but later on it was Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" that better suited my lifestyle.. I guess it still does based on ability to justify spending money and working on my car to better enjoy impromptu mad dashes into the triple digit region of the speedometer, but then it is back to Perry Como and "Catch a Falling Star" as I try to put a little cash in my pocket by resetting the electronic throttle controller to the EC5 position.. @ DSM... Well dude you know that in an insane society the sane are the ones that are considered insane and you are totally out of your mind. One of the phrases that was commonly said and heard in anticipation of, during and after a senseless hopeless situation where we had to be resigned to keep on keeping on was "It don't mean nothing". I finally had to resign myself to accept that the status quo has been on a downhill slide and it don't mean nothing... I also think of a quote by Gerry Spence in his book that was banned from being sold at Wal-Mart "From Freedom to Slavery" in regards to the freedoms we had already lost at that time 16 years ago " Pull easy in the harness". We have lost so much more to the manipulations by the corporate elite, or in Spence's words "the non breathers" since then it is scary, snowballing and picking up speed... I think the goals of our WW2 fascist are being carried out here and as long as there are products to buy and money to buy them they will be successful. That is why there are social programs drugs that pay off those that would other wise revolt and drugs coming into the country to pacify, confuse and justify a domestic war that gives more power and weaponry to law enforcement.... I'll stop now... Tune in tomorrow for another impromptu rant on whatever sets me off on whatever thread that is unfortunate enough to be high jacked.

 

I changed the way I drive and notice my mpg is around 36 with lots of idling. I changed BP gas stations too. When accelerating I keep the revs at 2000 to 2500 and let the engine do the work. I think to many people rev it to high because of the gas they use or think they are saving time when all they are doing is wasting gas. My shifts are firm like a shift kit and even though the weather is warming up it cooler when I drive and have the lights on and heat. Still have winter gas till next week but thats only if they need premium it will be added.

 

SB, I wish I could control my shifts like you do...I've only got 2 pedals. Speaking of that, I wonder if my mileage would go up if I used the paddle shifters all the time, what do you guys think.

Krimson, you were talking about the boat show and all I could think of was this line from a great movie...."YOUR GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT!"

I'm not tempted to push the gas pedal on the Fit because it doesn't go anywhere, sounds good but doesn't go anywhere

You guys were talking about music earlier too, "Born to be wild", can anyone really stomach that song on the radio anymore These "no DJ stations" are the worst thing evar, same old shit, day in, day out! I turned 41 last month and have found myself getting into other kinds of music lately. My current taste has been Miles Davis, although I've had one of his box sets for years now and ofcoarse "Kind of Blue" (who doesn't) I've also just ordered this 5 cd box set of Weather Report and Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters". Music today really does suck and no, this isn't because I'm getting older either, its becaue ITS TRUE! I can easily play some "Bitches Brew" from Miles, then slip in some "Band of Gypsy's" and wash it down with some "Live after Death" from Iron Maiden

 

About your question about "Born to be wild".. Answer not me, not now but after living in the jungle for over 10 1/2 months and coming home as a 19 year old disabled Marine Corps combat veteran with a big motorcycle and an addiction to adrenalin it made sense to me for a few years anyway.

 

Thank you for your service Sir!

 

I have a automatic trans in my new car. My Fit was a manual. I found the info from hyper milers websites for the Fit. You need to let the trans shift automatically for better mpg. Shifting with the paddles is fun but dont expect better mpg. It sounds like you want to go fast and then mpg is not an issue. Thats the way your coming off. Revving to 2500 rpm and letting the engine do the work and let the trans shift gives good acceleration. Racing to red lights or pass every car you see will not. I threw premium in wifes car and hooked the Scan gauge on the way to parents house and was surprised what the car did. MPG averaged 36mpg and was quieter. Acceleration was better but the wife likes to accelerate like someones chasing her. Its all about driving style, like Scratch and Dent says premium makes the car get better mpg easier but not necessary the best total mpg.

 

Ive been reading and found a few things that help explain the ecu and fuel mpg.

Car Bibles : The Fuel and Engine Bible: page 4 of 6
CobbTuning.com - Dynamic Advance & Dynamic Advance Multiplier Explained
RomRaider - Open Source ECU Tools | RomRaider / How the Variables Interact

 

33.6 mpg today

I wasn't trying to come off that I wanna go fast, I mean I've got a Fit afterall With this car I wanna play to its strength, which is MPG's, not MPH! Its fun to drive, even with the auto and I've recently done some aesthetic mods to the car, check out the GE8 exterior mods and general GE8 photo forums to see what I've done

 

Ha -I've had bigger boats the 4dr Impala and the two Cadillacs were 20'. The 150 had an extended cab w/ an 8'bed.

I called the Brougham my LandShark!

Did a highway run yesterday - 35mpg@72mph over two hours time. Locally I see 37. This car has always given better local mpg than highway.