Joel Walker wrote: > > On Sun, 23 Jun 1996 11:11:10 -0500 sean bartnik said: > > ... I've always run my VWs > > on el cheapo 87 octane gas with no problems, no pinging, etc. Anybody that > > puts 91 octane in the tank of a VW is just burning money, in my opinion. Of > > course, in the event that I am wrong, someone please correct me! > > one thing to remember about OLD vw's is that the u.s. has changed its method > of labeling gasoline octane: what USED to be 91 octane in the "old days" > (back in the 60's) is NOW 87 octane. so, yes, VW's are designed to run on > the lower pump octane (87) that is available NOW. > > but many people "feel" that the higher grades of gasoline give them more > performance, cleaner engines, less trouble, better smelling exhaust, and/or > whiter teeth. ;) it's their money, their choice. :) > > the point is that if you have an older VW and you read the owner's manual > and it says "91 octane", be careful to look at which KIND of octane ... > usually it's "91 RON octane" which is the old way of figuring octane. the > new equivalent is "87 (RON+MON)/2" (or some folks call it AKI octane rating). > > joel (octane-breath) :)

Excuse me Joel, but can you provide a source for this information?

It is contrary to everything I have read in the past.

Thank you.

Douglas