STI 94 aki Octane Requirement in California
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Car Info: 02 WRX Blaze Yellow
STI 94 aki Octane Requirement in California
I just returned from my local California Subaru dealer and while there was able to read the fuel specification requirement in the STI owner's manual. The manual was quite specific in requiring 94 aki octane gasoline and further stated that in a pinch 91 aki octane fuel could be used temporarily but "continued use might cause damage". I am quoting this from memory, so if a STI owner could provide the exact language it would be appreciated.
My question is this, how can Subaru sell a car that requires 94 octane in California where 91 octane is the highest commercially available fuel?????
My question is this, how can Subaru sell a car that requires 94 octane in California where 91 octane is the highest commercially available fuel?????
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well you can mix in some racing fuel from 76 stations. not too sure what mixture with what though. the bad part is that the price for 9/10 of a gallon is 5.49...
i drive a supercharged solara that i think requires a few gallons here and there occasionally. (future STi driver in 2k5 if they still make them)
i drive a supercharged solara that i think requires a few gallons here and there occasionally. (future STi driver in 2k5 if they still make them)
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I can understand your concern but to say Subaru only recommends 91 octane "in a pinch" is a little severe.
The actual wording is as follows:
"The 2.5 Liter turbo engine is designed to operate using super-premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher. If super-premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI is not available, premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher can be used. For optimum engine performance and driveability, it is recommended that you use super-premium grade unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher."
This means that the car will run fine on 91 octane, but for peak performance use 93 octane or higher. Fortunately I have a Viper friend who is using 103 octane and has it shipped to him here in Santa Rosa. (His Viper is not quite stock as it measures over 1000 horsepower and 1000 torque. It went from 75 to 150 mph in 3.5 seconds at the old Sears Point Raceway, now called Infineon, a couple of weeks ago).
I'm using 91 most of the time and can hardly tell the difference. And, most importantly, Subaru's extended warranty covers the engine fully if 91 octane is used and the extended warranty costs the same in California where only 91 is usually available as it does in any other part of USA!
This would certainly not be the case if a steady diet of 91 would cause engine harm.
Keep the faith!
The actual wording is as follows:
"The 2.5 Liter turbo engine is designed to operate using super-premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher. If super-premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI is not available, premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher can be used. For optimum engine performance and driveability, it is recommended that you use super-premium grade unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher."
This means that the car will run fine on 91 octane, but for peak performance use 93 octane or higher. Fortunately I have a Viper friend who is using 103 octane and has it shipped to him here in Santa Rosa. (His Viper is not quite stock as it measures over 1000 horsepower and 1000 torque. It went from 75 to 150 mph in 3.5 seconds at the old Sears Point Raceway, now called Infineon, a couple of weeks ago).
I'm using 91 most of the time and can hardly tell the difference. And, most importantly, Subaru's extended warranty covers the engine fully if 91 octane is used and the extended warranty costs the same in California where only 91 is usually available as it does in any other part of USA!
This would certainly not be the case if a steady diet of 91 would cause engine harm.
Keep the faith!
Last edited by infinity5235; Aug 10, 2003 at 12:55 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 30
From: Los Angeles
Car Info: 02 WRX Blaze Yellow
"Gas Station Reference" Appendix
I have obtained a copy of the page entitled "Gas Station Reference" which I am guessing was appended by SOA to the WRX STI Owner Manual because it has no page number and is in the last few pages of the manual. Following is an exact quote:
"FUEL:
2.5 Liter (Turbo) models
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 94 AKI or higher. If premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI is not available, premium unleaded gasoline with octane rating of 91 AKI or higher may be temporarily used. For optimum engine performance and driveability, it is recommended that you use premium grade unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher."
The mention of 94 AKI octane rating above is not a typo and contrary to what appears on page 7-2 of the Owners Manual this Gas Station Reference page states that 91 AKI Octane should only be used "TEMPORARILY." So if the STI requires fuel with an AKI Octane rating of atleast 93, how can this car be sold/used in California.
"FUEL:
2.5 Liter (Turbo) models
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 94 AKI or higher. If premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI is not available, premium unleaded gasoline with octane rating of 91 AKI or higher may be temporarily used. For optimum engine performance and driveability, it is recommended that you use premium grade unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI or higher."
The mention of 94 AKI octane rating above is not a typo and contrary to what appears on page 7-2 of the Owners Manual this Gas Station Reference page states that 91 AKI Octane should only be used "TEMPORARILY." So if the STI requires fuel with an AKI Octane rating of atleast 93, how can this car be sold/used in California.
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