You say its a leased vehicle. The owner (which is not you BTW) trusts that you will follow all manufactures recommendations regarding use and maintenance. For example, if you have an engine problem and they find out that you have used non-synthetic oil they will most likely come after you for the damages.

So lets say something happens to the engine and you suffer some sort of engine failure. You take it into the dealership because afterall its under warranty. They find out that you have been using the non recommended octane fuel. What do you think the dealerships response will be?

USED WHAT IS RECOMMEDED !!!!

 

It is recommended, not mandatory (!) The dealership is not going to come after him because he used 87 instead of 91. But... like Jordon, and 1Move said: it's just a question of consideration of what happens after he gets rid of the car. In short:
1. technically, yes, you can use 87 - if you want to save money f@#k the performance;
2. do we, in general, agree with that ? No !!! Like the others I personally will use 91.

 

Don't give the dealership any ammunition or excuses and yes lets not try and F@&k the next person.

 

87 will work fine IF the car remains stock (not chipped etc), and is driven like a granny especially with colder temps. I have personally been able to feel the difference in performance ... my ex used 87 instead of 91 (Volvo S70 T6) and when I was on the highway to Tremblant and went to pass, I noticed the performance wasnt quite there. I figured I should ask the question about which octane and she confirmed 87. It was back to normal after using 91 again ...

On a personal note, the comment about not having to deal with the aftermath is a bit unsettling - seems to me there are far too many people out there who only give a crap about themselves. My motto: Do the right thing because its the right thing to do !

 

"Always do right, you will impress some but astonish others" Unknown author

 

Have any of you ever actually dealt with a warranty adjuster in person? I have, and they are absolute a**holes. I had a Volvo XC70 under factory warranty and they tried to refuse a transmission claim based solely on the brand, not the size or rating, of tires I was running. It took the better part of three weeks to get someone at Ford, the parent company, to finally ok the work.

I've never been jerked around by Audi, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they tried to avoid paying out a claim if the part in question was related to the fuel delivery or combustion process.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but if $400/year extra for premium fuel is this much of an issue - you probably should have purchased a different vehicle.

 

I think you're fine to use the 87 octane. Your car will run and you'll save a few bucks. But before you return the car, please post the VIN here so we don't buy it.

 

 

General tip: Please refrain from posting if you don't know what you're talking about.

Short version: you can destroy your engine running lower-octane fuel. The ECU will not pull timing until it actually detects pinging via the knock sensors - by then engine can already be toast. Sure, you might run it for its entire life with no problems, but you also might get on it at 5000RPM one day and BOOM! Your call on the gamble.

I'll never cease to be amazed at how people carelessly maintain such complex and expensive machines as cars.

 

Thats what I meant to say.... I appreciate the warning Mona. Not trying to make enemies here.



I mean if you were to buy a used car, and had to choose between a car that was fuelled with 91 Octane vs 87 Octane. Which would you pick? I chose the word "ignorant" for the fact that she ignores the fact that someone else will be using this car. As to what 1move stated above, is why i used the big house/no furniture analogy. If you can affod it, why chince out on the rest?