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Gas requirements.

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102K views 116 replies 47 participants last post by  Bexiga  
#1 ·
There seems to be a bit of confusion out there as to what gas to use in the N.
The dealer told me regular was good, however the manual recommends 91 octane.
What are your thoughts and what are you using ?
 
#3 ·
91 octane as read in the Owners Manual and do not use any octane boosters, they don't work anyway most are alcohol based and actually lower the octane rating of the fuel. If I could get higher thru the pumps in our state, I'd run higher. Do not use regular or mid grade in the N. The N has a 9:5.1 compression ratio and runs over 20 lbs. boost. A similar Theta 2.0 engine without a turbo can run regular. However ,with this kind of boost and it requires, premium top tier fuel. Regular grade fuels will cause pinging and detonation, which is very bad for any engine.

The salesman, nor your dealer has any idea or knows very little about the N. Read the manual and stick to what it recommends. May try some VP Racing fuel also..

Blessings and Peace
 
#4 ·
#91andUp
 
#5 ·
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2019-hyundai-veloster-n-gets/

"it runs on good, old-fashioned 87-octane"

Even motortrend specifically reports regular 87 is ok.

Everything I have read as well as some words from Albert Bierman in interview stated regular 97 can be "safely" used but does so at a "reduced performance."

My dealer even made a point to specifically say I could run 87 if I wanted.

Again all that being said I only run 94 in mine.
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
I have just over 4000 miles on my N (non PP ) i have had on problems running 87 here in Alabama when i go on a trip i use mid or premium depending on how far i intend to go . the dealership told me I could run regular 87 with no problem . depending on price i probably run mid most of the time soooooo.....
 
#12 ·
I don't know crap about fuels but a buddy of mine was a really good Dyno tuner for motorcycles and when he tuned my bike, he said to fill it with 89 octane, I know my GSXR had higher compression than this car does so is high octane really that necessary or does the computer pick up on it somehow and turn the juice up so to speak? When I had my Speed3, I swapped back and forth between 93 and 89 and I swore it ran better on 89, maybe it was the power of suggestion but it certainly ran no worse on it.
 
#13 ·
If you put anything other than 91 you're asking for trouble. The manual states 91 + octane.

Using 89 or 87 octane will cause detonation at higher rpm and boost. Plus don't tell your service manager you've been utilizing 89 or 87 octane. They will note it and then when you have problems, cite it as part of the possible cause to the problem.

Don't do it!!
 
#16 · (Edited)
Since this is a thread, clearly it's not clear. Heck Honda even puts the recommendation for Premium inside the gas door of the SI. High end performance cars used to say Premium only under the gas gauge and inside the fuel door. No offense, but I wanted to know for certain and not rely on 'some guy on the internet said'. The sport bikes I own have much higher compression and redline in the stratosphere compared to the N and I only run 87 octane unless I'm having ethanol issues (it sucks in bikes) and trying to clean it up. Then again they aren't turbo. So I called Hyundai, I got transferred around and no one could give me a straight answer. They forwarded to their engineering department and I'm waiting to hear back. Motor Trend reported that it runs on 87. The EPA lists it has regular for type of fuel (they list what the manufacturers tell them). Motor Trend says Hyundai told them it was designed to run on 87 (heresay I'll admit). The underwriter at the store I bought it told me that it will run fine on 87 but he recommends that it run on 91+ (which I am doing by the way) as it will perform to its peak that way. Hyundai would have a hard time voiding a warranty considering all of this.

What Hyundai and the service underwriter both told me was that they strongly encourage you to only use Top Tier fuel. Top Tier fuel is NOT like saying top shelf alcohol (as in the good stuff), it's a brand name. If you don't see the logo below on the pump or in the store, buy somewhere else.

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#109 ·
Since this is a thread, clearly it's not clear. Heck Honda even puts the recommendation for Premium inside the gas door of the SI. High end performance cars used to say Premium only under the gas gauge and inside the fuel door. No offense, but I wanted to know for certain and not rely on 'some guy on the internet said'. The sport bikes I own have much higher compression and redline in the stratosphere compared to the N and I only run 87 octane unless I'm having ethanol issues (it sucks in bikes) and trying to clean it up. Then again they aren't turbo. So I called Hyundai, I got transferred around and no one could give me a straight answer. They forwarded to their engineering department and I'm waiting to hear back. Motor Trend reported that it runs on 87. The EPA lists it has regular for type of fuel (they list what the manufacturers tell them). Motor Trend says Hyundai told them it was designed to run on 87 (heresay I'll admit). The underwriter at the store I bought it told me that it will run fine on 87 but he recommends that it run on 91+ (which I am doing by the way) as it will perform to its peak that way. Hyundai would have a hard time voiding a warranty considering all of this.

What Hyundai and the service underwriter both told me was that they strongly encourage you to only use Top Tier fuel. Top Tier fuel is NOT like saying top shelf alcohol (as in the good stuff), it's a brand name. If you don't see the logo below on the pump or in the store, buy somewhere else.

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You can't compare a sport bike to a turbo 4cyl. A car is meant to run on what it was tuned for. 91 being the general guideline because cars normally comply with California standards. With that said, the cpu will compensate for lower octane by reducing timing; or raise timing to a degree if the fuel allows.
I run only 93 in my N.
 
#17 ·
How many other Hyundai models on the lot require 91 octane? I don't the answer but I'm guessing it's a low number (possibly even 0?) I hope my dealership put 91 octane in before I took delivery of it but something tells me chances are low, especially with a relatively new model that may have requirements dealerships are not accustomed to yet.
 
#19 ·
@guygeo: Yep, sure does. No one is arguing that. The issue is varying information that is coming from different sources (read earlier posts if you don't know what I'm referring to). It's curious that it doesn't say it on the fuel door if it's required. Very few drivers are nerds like us that actually read the owners manual. 1st thing I do with a new car is familiarize myself with maintenance schedule and confirmation of what I was told during delivery. If there is a discrepancy in the later I contact the manufacturer to find out what is correct.
 
#21 ·
(knock sensors) electro mechanical sensors attached to the block that detect knock and detonation. They detect knock or detonation, then send the signals to the ECU. The ECU the attempts to retard the timing within the parameters the ECU was programmed. knock is caused by premature ignition.

@ mattblowers Here's some more information for you to digest.
Fuel Octane Selection


Go ahead and keep up your stubborn and ignorant thinking (no offense), which they specifically recommend in the owners manual. You underwriter is not familiar with the 2.0T Theta II motor used in the N. It has a 9:5.1 with turbocharging which produces 20 psi of boost. In essence, much greater compression and bang.

You need to understand what turbocharging does and how it effects the actual compression of the motor. You are running the risk of premature ignition, which leads directly to knocking and detonation. This is a quick death of a motor.

Don't say we didn't tell you so. Do what you want but you been truthfully informed.

Do you honestly think MotorTrend or your service underwriter will pay for your blown motor? (NOT) Hyundai states 91+ octane fuel, not E85. If you continue to run 87 octane it will shorten the life of the motor and a likely denial of your warranty claim will result. Just because you were being cheap and decided to pay $2.50 less at the pump for fill up. If you can't afford to pay what Hyundai recommends, then maybe you ought to have purchased an Accent.? It can safely run 89 octane fuel. What you're equating is; it's alright to run 87 octane fuel in any or all turbocharged cars. That's just wrong!

We've tried to inform you truthfully and if you want to continue in this folly, it's your decision. Just remember we told you so, directly!
 
#26 ·
Calm down dude, you're gonna experience premature detonation yourself. I don't know why you feel so threatened that someone you don't know on the internet isn't automatically taking your word for it. For all I know you could be a master mechanic/engineer/tuner from Hyundai that was on site at the Nürburgring testing or you could be a pimply faced teenager living in your mothers basement playing video games and trolling car forums because you watched some Youtube video reviews and think you know. The point is, I don't know you. "Stubborn and ignorant"? What a contumelious thing to say! Typing '(no offense)' after it, doesn't make it any less offensive. Furthermore insinuating that I can't afford the fuel and should have bought an Accent, that was an especially nice touch. For the record, I didn't have to go to their finance department for anything other than handing them a check and signing the paperwork. I even stated that I am running 91+ in my car and plan on continuing to do so. I simply want to know what the correct answer is.

I purchased an 87 Grand National in high school and ran that car until 150,000+ miles (hint: it's a turbo car before turbo was the thing). I've owned quite a range of sports cars and still ride and work on high performance motorcycles. Some require premium fuel, some do not. It always comes down to how it was engineered and what the people who built it say. For me not to get a straight answer is inexcusable. Considering that most people don't read owners manuals and that the car itself says nothing and dealers are giving out conflicting information (not to mention poor information in reviews and from the EPA), we are surely are headed for a lot of "my motor blew up" threads if Premium fuels are required. That will be a shame if it's because of misinformation. Surely Hyundai knows what Motor Trend wrote (it was in the headline!) and could easily rectify this with a service bulletin to their dealers. Yay for you that feel yourself a self-proclaimed expert (again maybe you are). I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday or the day before and I've been turning wrenches for more years than the average reviewer of this car has been alive. I've rebuilt everything from lawn mowers to 1200 HP Caterpiller motors so I could do with a bit less condescension and your felt need to 'explain' me. I simply shared my story of wanting to know and asking Hyundai for an answer.
 
#22 ·
I've run nothing below premium in any of my vehicles, and won't in the N either. But if the dealership says 87 is fine, and they sell me an N with a full tank of gas I have to assume they filled it with regular unleaded. Should we be scheduling appointments to have it siphoned out? What about the people that already burned through it?

My uneducated guess (hope) is that the ecm will adjust safely but that 91 octane should be used.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Do what you want.

It's doubtful, as mine was filled with 91 from new. The salesman and dealership both said, they'd fill it up for me when I purchased it. (two tanks fulls besides the original). They've only had two and are one of the largest automotive groups in the US.

Got two USB plugs from Hyundai Corporate and a Yeti mug also.

Not good to keep filling it up with 87 or 89 either. Do what the owners manual states and there's no worries.
 
#27 · (Edited)
To point of order, the service manual on the myHyundai BlueLink app has an owners manual. I've posted an image below. I believe the discrepancy might be coming from the fact that Hyundai appears to have linked their digital copies of the manual and service guide with the non-N version Velosters. The manual in my car is specific to my N, the online is not. In either case it's an oversight that I hope they correct.


NOTE: (before someone flips a gasket) I'm NOT saying this is correct. Keep using premium. I'm only showing what is on the online owners manual in BlueLink as of today (5/16/19).

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#30 · (Edited)
I probably am! :grin: However, he's got an obsession with this 87 octane thing and I really don't care what he does at this point.

The page your referencing is for the 1.6T Gamma II motor.

I do like one thing though and it's making me laugh;

No offense, but I wanted to know for certain and not rely on 'some guy on the internet said.
He's doing exactly the reverse of what he states here. "He's relying and asking a bunch of guys on the Internet!" LMAO . Now that's funny!!:grin:
 
#31 · (Edited)
I probably am! :grin: However, he's got an obsession with this 87 octane thing and I really don't care what he does at this point.

The page your referencing is for the 1.6T Gamma II motor.

I do like one thing though and it's making me laugh;

He's doing exactly the reverse of what he states here. "He's relying and asking a bunch of guys on the Internet!" LMAO . Now that's funny!!:grin:
Obsession? It's the title of the f-ing thread.

You are ruining this forum for me. Time for me to take a break. I hope we never encounter each other IRL. Peace out.
 
#34 ·
I just ran through my first tank of 87 that was provided by the dealer, I've got almost 50 miles now on 93 and I honestly can tell no difference, I'll try 89 next, I always ran 89 in my Speed3 and it felt faster on it for some reason (no dyno runs, just seat of the pants), I think anything 87-93 is fine in these cars, I'm guessing they're not high compression being a turbo car.
 
#35 ·
I received an official response saying 87 was fine, however it also said I could find this info in my manual and we all know it clearly says 91 there..

The bold print below the requirement says using lower octane may reduce power and increase consumption but doesn't necessarily specify "damage".

Definitely still conflicting info between Hyundai and dealerships. I wouldn't run less than 91 in it, just hoping all the N's being sold with a tank full of 87 suffer no excessive detonation.
 
#36 ·
I'm trusting Hyundai before I ever trust a salesperson at a dealership. Salespeople sell cars, they will tell you the car will run on cucumbers to sell a car. They do not give a ****.

Mine was sold w/ a full tank of 87 and that's the last tank it will ever have of 87. I don't mind spending 3-4 more dollars on a tank of gas and to be honest I don't understand the point of trying to run this car on anything but. If 3-4 dollars a tank is going to break you, I think you may have bought the wrong car.