jasone36

I accidently got 87 gas put into my car and a few days later the check engine light came on. A check of the light came back with code 430 which is Catalytic Converter Efficiency Below Threshold.

I just purchased this car used and don't know what gas the previous owner used. Any idea if 87 gas can cause the check engine light?

Thanks!

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

Yes, stay away from Garbage stations bro. always get 93 if you have to get gas at a POS station. Dont get gas when it rains either, wait till the next day when its dry.
I got gas at that ****ING GREEN ENVIROMENT ****ING STATION in LI cause i had no choice..****ed up my Codes..

Use the gas up, get some 93 good gas, and unplug the Batt. for 10 min. start it up and go for a ride see what happens

a#'z

It is possible, but i'm sadly to say i have put 87 on my car here and there long time ago when i didn't have much cash, lol, but no c.e.l. came on on me. and NEVER PUT ARCO GAS. i recommend

RI-Lex

iTrader: (4)

always use 93 and try to use the same brand or station all times, I actually got away with using 89 a few times didnt noticed any differents, when 93 was like $4.xx

PHML

iTrader: (33)

get some injector cleaner and gas treatment...and stick with 92 octaine or higher.

ive been using the lucas gas treatment for my other car...and I've gained 3 mpg extra and better feel to the pedal.

GCOP

honestly I can't see a lower octane gas being the sole cause of the CEL. Personally I don't use anything but low octane has in my car, it has 130,xxx miles now and runs fine, no CEL. Now I'm NOT saying that a lower octatne is just as good as a higher octane gas, that is obvious. And I get my gas from different stations. Most often I fill up at a small mom and pop store around the corner from me, they used to be a Citgo station but now they are Texaco. Interestingly enough, the same truck that says Warren Distribution on the side of it still fills up their underground tanks. You nay have just got a contaminated batch of fuel. Hopefully whatever the root cause is minor.

cloead

I run 87.. no reason to put premium in this car.

No, it wont cause a CEL.

cloead

You didn't "get away" with it, higher octane is for detonation protection. I really don't see a na 2jz detonating anytime soon.

wonton

Ive bn using 89 n e/t is kool...same station all the time gas is freakin crazy....112k n still goin strong...nvr used anything lower tho...lol

jcat_350

just want to test your ignorance...do you know the compression ratio in the 2jz-GE in the GS300?

fro20

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i have found 9.6:1, 10:1 and 10.5:1

Care to clear it up

jcat_350

Compression ratio is 11:1. Let's look at why that's relevant.

The compression ratio of an engine is how much the air/fuel mixture is compressed during the compression stroke. Higher compression means more fuel/air in a smaller area. As the molecules collide, heat is generated. Enough heat means detonation.

The reason the compression ratio in the GS3 is so high, is because the engine is quite anemic. The gearing in the rear end is super high, and thus the high compression helps not only the engine's efficiency, but allows it to rev a bit quicker, and thus, get out of it's own way.

In such a high compression engine, a gasoline with a lower rating of octane (resistance to detonation under pressure, not ignition) will cause pinging, misfiring, and other unsatisfactory symptoms. This also goes for boosted cars, as the force of boost pushing against the compression of the engine's normal operation makes the mixture more prone to detonation.

If you look at modern cars, there is a direct correlation between compression ratio and gasoline grade required. 8.5, 9, 9.5 all can handle 87 octane. 10, 10.5 and 11, I wouldn't go anywhere under 89 octane. If you drive it hard, i wouldn't go under 91. To be safe, I'd never go under 91.

They don't put those sorts of statements in owner's manuals or on gas caps for no reason. It's not some conspiracy with the oil companies to get you to spend more money. It's because the engineering in the car has been optimized to operate with higher octane gas.

slickgt1

iTrader: (1)

I know that if you put 87, the car will ping, and the computer will adjust by retarding timing. (I have never tried this personally, on the GS) Which is another reason to not use anything under 91, we only have 87, 89 then 93 here. If you go under 91, you loose power, you loose mileage, and you might Eff something up if you start gunning it like crazy.

GCOP

I ran nothing but 87 in my SC300. Bought it from the dealership as a CPO with 34,000, when I sold it, it had al,ost 140,000. It never ping or knocked no CEL, nothing.

I would think it would actually cause harm. As mentioned, your ECU should compensate. Now if your car is in a poor state of tune, or has forced induction, thats a different story. A constantly pinging engine will die an early death. Less performance, yes, less milage prolly so...I guess what I'm saying is most modern cars have the tech to cope with a lower octane fuel. In that respect, I can't see it cuasing any problems or damge to the engine.

jcat_350

Your SC also is not a VVTi model....the computer trying to pull timing with no VVTi is no problem. But, the computer and the VVTi arguing over who is right with the timing will cause less adjustment, and thus pinging.