Just drove my new BRZ home... on the wrong octane.
 

So I just drove my new BRZ off the lot. The salesman filled it up with a tank of gas (it was only at 1/4 tank.) I know for a fact that he put 89 octane in it. I then drove it 90 minutes home. I'm now reading the owner's manual and it says never to use less than 91, and there are lots of posts on the forums about how 89 will cause damage.

This is a brand new car (had less than 10 miles on it.) Is 89 octane "safe" in the sense that you just don't want to do it long term, but that the car will just adjust timing and run poorly until I use up this tank, or are there larger forces at play here and should I be doing something else...? Will it cause even MORE problems due to the fact that I'm breaking the engine in with the wrong octane? I'm really hoping it's one of those things that's really not a big deal and that I shouldn't worry about causing damage.

From my prior experiences and past vehicles, I've also found out that many dealers put less than what's recommended, and that's why I've specifically written on paper of 'no fuel up' for my ordered BRZ. It doesn't make much of a difference however I'm just very OCD.

You should be just fine, I'm sure. As others would mention, go ahead and follow the break-in process and burn the fuel as you normally would so that you can focus on your next fuel up with the correct octane.

No worries, partner. :)

Yes, no worries at all.

You'll be fine. Just get some 91 in there asap :)

Oh no! That's all bad!!!

ITS TOTALED

My dealer did the same and then argued with me when I said minimum 91. They thought that 91 was only recommended. Showed them the manual and they were rather embarrassed.
Not a huge problem as the ECM will adjust for it for the short time the tank will last.

And then you posted, in the WRONG FORUM... No BRZ's allowed in here :paddle: lol just pulling your leg.

But really you'll be fine! You were (hopefully) driving her easy as she is new. The car is factory tuned for 91, and that's how it will perform best, and make it's best power figures. On 89 you'll see poor power and poor fuel economy. Just fill up with premium min 91 and you'll be fine.

post like this should be automatically deleted.

it'll be fine, go out and enjoy your new brz!!

Thanks guys. Yeah I realized this was in the wrong forum when I couldn't find it after I posted, lol. I'm definitely following the recommended break-in procedure (under 4k, no heavy throttle) so I haven't ragged on it at all. I kind of figured it was probably okay. I texted the sames guy and he said he asked their mechanic and the mechanic said 89 is fine, lol.

There's a knock detection sensor that will make the ECU pull timing until you refuel with 91 or better. Most likely as previously stated, mileage and power will be marginally reduced but absolutely no harm will be done. The person who fueled up is a moron. And sadly it could have been the sales rep. They sometimes know the least as this doesn't deter their overall ability to close deals.

As soon as there is any room in the tank start putting in the highest octane available. They'll average out.

I'm going to wait till it gets to half and then put 93 in it. That should bring it to 91! :P

And 93 from here on out!

You shouldn't be so salty and learn to take a joke.

sell me your car its gone

As everyone has said ... You'll be okay. But in the mean time ... Why not add an octane booster? Seems like that would bring the octane up to OEM specs.

Same thing happened to me and I added some octane booster. At 1/2 tank I filled up with 93. Driving easy on break in so it sounds like it doesn't hurt.

Not really a joke, it's called trolling and its 100% non-constructive.

If you're really worried about it, try adding a octane booster.

No worries at all - unless the knock sensors fail (which is highly unlikely), any ectopic detonation (which is the cause of the sound we call "knock") will result in retarded ignition timing until it stops. Yes, this reduces power a bit - but you won't notice it at all in routine driving. It won't run poorly unless you're thrashing it at WOT.

If the knock sensors fail, it'll be obvious to you and everyone within earshot - but that's probably a 1 in 100,000+ chance in a new car. Fill it with 93 when it's half empty.

PS: They did the same thing to mine - my salesman told me that "all Toyotas run on 87" when I picked up the car. As it was dealer-traded from 60 miles away, I'm sure it was driven from the other dealer with 87 in it as well. I suspect that few if any dealers actually fill new car tanks with 91+.

Every joke made is not "trolling" and every word written doesn't have to be "constructive".
SOME of us do have a sense of humour (whether you agree or not is not our concern) and some basic social skills that permit us to interact with others on more then a technical basis.
As much as some people may not like it any forum is a Social Media and people can and will enjoy different aspects!

I had to tell them not to gas mine up. I think it's ridiculous the dealership doesn't have higher octane fuel when they sell vehicles that require it. I tried to get them to give me an extra twenty bucks off since I had to buy my own gas but they didn't go for it. :D

My dealer has to drive 10 minutes past 4 stations to get to the one they use!
Even then they are only contracted to get regular at that station (or so they told me when they filled mine).
I never even thought about asking them to use premium or nothing when I bought it so good call on your part!

The day I picked up my car .... The salesperson drove with me to a local gas station and used his CC to fill my new car with premium. Maybe it was a company CC.

It is not "trolling." If anyone has logic, they would know putting wrong octane would not make your brand new car immediately a salvage. OP knows it's a joke, I know it's a joke, other users know it's joke. In conclusion, it's a joke.

what is a b r z?

One of the two American models of the European version of the GT86. The two versions in America are the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ. Basically the same car but with the BRZ, it has a different front bumper and a more upscale interior compared to the stock FR-S model. The BRZ is usually is seen in Subaru's signature blue color. It also has stricter warranty than Scion in some aspects.

The alphabet with a pile of letters missing????

FIFY

True that haha. It looks good with a good lip kit though, but by itself, you'd hope someone would trade with you.

You'll be fine. If you get the chirp from fuel filter, switch to ethanol-free and it'll go away after a fill up or two. (still use 91)

Stang,
Do yourself a favor. Never go back to that dealership, ever! Your car and you will be much better off.

I'm 17 and I have one of those bitter Dads who refuses to use any gas but regular, even when I show him the BRZ manual, countless discussions online, and my accounts of the BRZ computer detecting a "knock" and cutting signals from the gas pedal until I fully release, and how I believe the engine knocked once last week. It has cut the throttle several times, almost causing two accidents over the past month. Over the past month I have used nearly 2.5 tanks of 87 octane gas, because the dealer inserted that gas and my dad refuelled the BRZ without my knowledge with a 1/2 full tank.

I'm finally putting my "foot down". I got my mom to scream and nag until my dad complied. Now I'm filling the tank with 92 octane from Costco tomorrow, with about 1/8 tank of 87 octane left over from previous fill-ups.

I'm hope to create a discussion in the next 3 weeks on my observations before and after, taking into account mpg, dollar/mile, throttle cuts, performance, and perhaps feel of the car. I hope for the best.

Your dad is a bitter man. Even if you pay a few extra cents for gas for the chance that it will fix a problem in a new car, it sounds crazy that he didn't want to.

Your dad bought you a brand new car how bitter can he be?

Bitter enough to possibly damage a brand new car apparently lol

I don't usually call names, but your dad is being an idiot. Running an engine below it's required octane and causing it to knock ON PURPOSE is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. That's damaging the car on purpose to spite an extra 2-3 dollars a fill up, on a sports car that gets insanely good gas mileage. Wtf. Honestly, I'd get a job so you could afford to put your own gas in it.

I can afford to pay for my own gas. Even if I couldn't my mom would gladly pay for it.

5 months ago my dad was screaming for days that he wouldn't allow me to get a car worth more that $2000. I was able to do around 300+ hours of research and browsing for a car in my area. My mom severely wanted to get me a brand new car $25000 range (because of new safety laws) by the end of summer, but with all logic and reason would not allow me to get a manual or a car with such a low center of gravity. (She wanted to use the car whenever her car breaks down, but that's once in a blue moon, and then she ends up getting a rented car for free until her car is fixed anyways.) I was able to set up an appointment at a dealership without my parents knowing. Having a meeting set up, I was able to convince my mom to go. I then spoke to my dad, telling him we were going to test-drive a manual sport-car. He wanted me to get a manual, so he obliged.

Many other facts, data sheets, and arguing led to the car I now drive.

Of course my dad put the car in the backyard for 1.5 months for unjust reasons, but that's another story all together.:sigh:

I do find it sad that I am the only one in my family that knows how to deal with my parents to bring them together on a straight goal, and sometimes get something out of it. My brother can't get anything he wants unless I'm the one facing my parents, but I happily assist.

I've nearly derailed this thread already. Hope the main topic at hand can continue.

I wish my dad offered to buy me a $2000 car. Let a lone a brand new $26000 car.

[ame]http://youtu.be/9jZiKFLL6MI[/ame]

I would slap u in the face and tell u to pay ur own gas if I was ur dad. I think ur dad is just trying to do the right thing cuz obviously u are mama's boy.... So dad can't say no to mom.