[RiCEADDiCTBOY]

i've been following reports with everyone using between regular unleaded and premium with their caliber...but, i thought regular unleaded was what was recommended from dodge?

if you use an alternate gas - you can develop knocks and etc...so i just wanna know...from the people out in caliberforums world...what gas you use...and whats the real verdict on this issue with gas/caliber?

 

[Ramsport47]

I don't have a Caliber (yet), but typically if a car is rated to use 87 octane, you can use anything higher and not do any damage to an engine. However, if it is rated for premium, and use a lesser grade, you will get spark knock as well as the engine not developing peak power

 

[MrTyke]

I use 87 octane. Over the years, I have refrained from using higher octane gas in my vehicles than what was prescribed...except for that first vehicle I owned (Pontiac GrandAm).

In the Pontiac, I flipped and flopped between 87 and 93 octane because I rationalized it as, "I'm going on a trip, better put good gas in the car". ...and after the trip, I'd settle back to 87. I'd get PINGS and KNOCKS. I learned.

The vehicles purchased after that have all been rated for 87 octane...and that's what I put in the fuel tank exclusively. My Caliber is fueled with 87 octane.

Tyke

 

[pyro]

this is from a post i did couple weekks ago

This is copy/pasted right from the 2007 Calibers Owners Manual (page 232):

1.8L/2.0L/2.4L Engines:

Your vehicle is designed to meet all emission regulations and provide excellent fuel economy when using high quality regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. ​

The use of premium gasoline is not recommended. The use of premium gasoline will provide no benefit over high quality regular gasolines, and in some circumstances, may result in poorer performance.

Dan

------------------------

and in my neon 98 sport and my recently smashed 2004 neon R/T that both and a high output 2.0l that required 91 octone for best performance, fuel economy, emessions test, and to not use higher octane like 94... and if you use 87 its ok but will limit performance...

the sxt neon and all other had base 2.Ol and 87 was recommended

I use 87 in my caliber R/T

 

[InfernoRedSXT]

That is good to know...I was afraid I was going to have to use premium in it. its already $3.05 a gallon for premium here. Its all I use in my neon though.

 

[draed]

I use 87 in my RT, thats what the manual calls for and it is the cheapest. In my previous vehicles I would occasionally (2-3 times a year) run a tank or two of premium, but with 87 at $2.95 a gallon and climbing I don't see myself doing that very often.

 

[katiescaliber]

I think it is such a waste to put premium in any car that doesn't need it...

A Neon, Caliber, etc, do not NEED anything more than 87.

People who put anything higher in are trying to convince themselves that their car is a muscle car and they need to.

However, if your car really IS a muscle car, then use premium. My husband has an an old Trans Am and he does need Premium. I learned that the hard way! When we were dating I thought I would be nice and put gas in it and when his car ran like crap/sputtered because I put 87 in, I knew some cars really did need Premium!

But use 87 if that is all your car needs and save yourself some money!

 

[draed]

Found an article that had some interesting info in it regarding this subject

The main advantage of premium-grade gas is that it allows automakers to advertise a few more horsepower by designing and tuning engines to take advantage of premium's anti-knock properties. But auto engineers generally agree that if you use regular in a premium engine, the power loss is so slight, most drivers can't tell.

and

The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.

Both are taken from this USA Today Article

 

[pyro]

I think it is such a waste to put premium in any car that doesn't need it...

A Neon, Caliber, etc, do not NEED anything more than 87.

People who put anything higher in are trying to convince themselves that their car is a muscle car and they need to.

However, if your car really IS a muscle car, then use premium. My husband has an an old Trans Am and he does need Premium. I learned that the hard way! When we were dating I thought I would be nice and put gas in it and when his car ran like crap/sputtered because I put 87 in, I knew some cars really did need Premium!

But use 87 if that is all your car needs and save yourself some money!

----
but my 150 hp 2.0 l in my 2004 R/T required 91 all the high ouput (like charger and pt cruiser)

 

[Ramsport47]

----
but my 150 hp 2.0 l in my 2004 R/T required 91 all the high ouput (like charger and pt cruiser)

My 2002 Neon R/T needed premium also, for some reason, (ratios I think) ...that car got horrible mileage, much worse than my present Neon. At freeway speeds, that engine would turn in excess of 3000 RPM, while my 05 SXT turns under 2500 at 75 mph

 

[pacerman]

my 96 Neon ACR got 25, but was always leadfooting it, my RPM's were 7200 @ 130 mphonly did that a few times before realizing what a fool I was, main concern was a blown tire.........Drive it much more sanely now......