[GeneKey]

I hope this would close this topic (and makes everyone, who was worried, happy) - see attached Hyundai bulletin.

 

[tostige]

No not true.

How is this thread still going? It was a mistake in one place since fixed all documented 87 Octane is what is recommended. There is zero proof using anything higher gets you more than a higher gas bill.

The proof is in the pudding, I mean the fuel, and how higher octane makes your engine run better.

 

[tostige]

We have people over here on the Santa Cruz forum using the 87 octane fuel in the same 2.5 engines. They are stumbling and even stalling off the line, or trying to accelerate. I have had no issues of such when I went back to 91 octane fuel. Even better throttle response with 93 octane. When I used 87 octane fuel, I had sluggish engine response, hesitation and stumbling off a start or while trying to pass. Thus, now by switching back, I will have no need of a Hyunai recommended fuel additive once every 8,000 miles. Nor concern myself with a new fuel filter. Which, when dirty, will cause hesitation, surging, loss of power and acceleration problems.

 

[AucadoMan]

2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL AWD 2.5L - new purchase April '22... It's an 87 (not 91) octane, thankfully, confirmed in section 1 of the PAPER Owner's Manual that came with vehicle. I surely see the online download file saying 91. But I'm going with the documents that came with car. I have no clue what the 'f' Hyundai is doing with that online download version. Maybe it's for certain engines or maybe as simple as a horrible typo that they should, at least, check on to possibly fix online & put out a CUSTOMER bulletin (not just to dealerships).
Bottom line...check your PAPER/hardcopy Owner's Manual & go with that, what came with vehicle. Hopefully we're ALL in the 87 octane category (at least for this SEL AWD 2.5 trim).
I opened a ticket on the Hyundai Motor America site asking Hyundai to explain why hardcopy is 87 & online/download says 91. If a mistake they asap need to fix it & educate us all which is it, 87 or 91. Right now no doubt it's 87 per my paper manual in glove compartment.

 

[Cheeks2184]

2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL: I'm hoping someone can help with the following statement in the vehicle manual: This is for the base engine, a naturally aspirated inline 4 cylinder (Smartstream G 2.5 GDI). I was more than surprised to see this... Hyundai dealers are advertising this trim as using regular gasoline, as does fueleconomy.gov. This statement in the manual goes beyond the more typical "premium gasoline is recommended", as it implies premium gasoline is required. I called the dealer who told me premium was recommended only, not required, and they filled the vehicle with regular the day I purchased the vehicle. But the vehicle manual should hold the "truth". My plan is to go ahead and use premium for now - can anyone tell me if this statement is indeed correct? Should I be using premium gasoline? The base Sonata has the same engine with regular gasoline only in vehicle manual, though engine may be tuned differently?

Premium fuel is not required, just recommended. However, I'd take that recommendation seriously. Direct injection engines have a lot of benefits, but their biggest downside is that they are prone to carbon buildup. Eventually this can cause "detonation" which makes an engine knocking sound and can damage or even destroy your engine. Premium fuels have additives that help dissolve those carbon buildups, and they're also more resistant to detonation. If you're only planning on keeping the car for a few years then I wouldn't worry about it. But if you're looking to take it 80k+ miles then it might be a good idea to use premium fuel (preferably from Shell as they have the best additives).

 

[Jay]

...Premium fuels have additives that help dissolve those carbon buildups, and they're also more resistant to detonation. If you're only planning on keeping the car for a few years then I wouldn't worry about it. But if you're looking to take it 80k+ miles then it might be a good idea to use premium fuel (preferably from Shell as they have the best additives).

In order to be certified as Top Tier, a gasoline must pass a series of performance tests that demonstrate specified levels of: 1) deposit control on intake valves; 2) deposit control on fuel injectors; 3) deposit control on combustion chambers; 4) prevention of intake-valve sticking. Gasoline marketers agree when they sign on to Top Tier program that all their grades of gasoline meet these standards. Shell gasolines are Top Tier certified.

 

[Cheeks2184]

In order to be certified as Top Tier, a gasoline must pass a series of performance tests that demonstrate specified levels of: 1) deposit control on intake valves; 2) deposit control on fuel injectors; 3) deposit control on combustion chambers; 4) prevention of intake-valve sticking. Gasoline marketers agree when they sign on to Top Tier program that all their grades of gasoline meet these standards. Shell gasolines are Top Tier certified.

Yes, but their helpfulness is limited. They use much more and better additives than the minimum required in their premium fuels. Shell in particular uses quite a lot in their 93 octane.

 

[Turbofan]

GDI engines inject gas directly into the cylinders so how does premium fuel prevent carbon buildup on the intake valves unless you are referring to only the 2.5l engine?

 

[Cheeks2184]

GDI engines inject gas directly into the cylinders so how does premium fuel prevent carbon buildup on the intake valves?

It doesn't as far as I know, but it helps clean the injectors themselves which is one of the major issues with GDI engines.

 

[Turbofan]

I think using a bottle of Techron periodically would work better for injectors than paying much more for premium gas.

 

[222cson]

Premium fuel is not required, just recommended. However, I'd take that recommendation seriously. Direct injection engines have a lot of benefits, but their biggest downside is that they are prone to carbon buildup. Eventually this can cause "detonation" which makes an engine knocking sound and can damage or even destroy your engine. Premium fuels have additives that help dissolve those carbon buildups, and they're also more resistant to detonation. If you're only planning on keeping the car for a few years then I wouldn't worry about it. But if you're looking to take it 80k+ miles then it might be a good idea to use premium fuel (preferably from Shell as they have the best additives).

Look at the TSB attachment in post #41 ... it acknowledges that there was an error in the original owner's manual. 91 octane fuel is NOT recommended.

I've owned many turbo-charged cars (Audi, BMW, Volvo, Subaru) that required premium fuel and I never once strayed from that recommendation. However, Hyundai themselves say the 1.6T engine in my HEV doesn't require it so I won't be spending money on Premium fuel for it. In Canada, premium costs as much as $0.30 extra per litre (or more - at Shell this morning, 91 was $0.38 more than 87), which at current exchange rates is about $0.83 USD more per US gallon. Perhaps with a much smaller gap in pricing there, Americans will find it worthwhile to burn 91 octane, but NOT so for me in Canada!

 

[Tampa8]

Look at the TSB attachment in post #41 ... it acknowledges that there was an error in the original owner's manual. 91 octane fuel is NOT recommended.

I've owned many turbo-charged cars (Audi, BMW, Volvo, Subaru) that required premium fuel and I never once strayed from that recommendation. However, Hyundai themselves say the 1.6T engine in my HEV doesn't require it so I won't be spending money on Premium fuel for it. In Canada, premium costs as much as $0.30 extra per litre (or more - at Shell this morning, 91 was $0.38 more than 87), which at current exchange rates is about $0.83 USD more per US gallon. Perhaps with a much smaller gap in pricing there, Americans will find it worthwhile to burn 91 octane, but NOT so for me in Canada!

Yes.
There is no such thing as one 2022 Tucson needing 91 and another 87. It was a mistake.

Turbo aside and if manufacturer recommends higher octane, newer cars that say to use 87 octane are 100% designed to run on that. A properly running car gains you nothing using higher octane. On the other hand if you believe your car runs better it will do no harm to use a higher octane.

 

[Snowdog82]

The new design engine of the 2.5 L is both GDI and Multi Port injection to combatant carbon build up.

 

[Turbofan]

The new design engine of the 2.5 L is both GDI and Multi Port injection to combatant carbon build up.
View attachment 2396

Yes, so far it is a good engine and hopefully the new design will prevent carbon build up on the intake valves.

 

[garyahouse]

We debated this stuff endlessly on the Challenger forums. Once upon a time, premium indeed had more detergents. Every old timer knew that running a tank of premium through the engine would help clean it out. Those days are gone, but the myth remains. The truth is, it's top tier gas that ya want to keep and engine running clean, not premium. But don't take my word for it; look up "top tier" on google. Do the research. Find out why top tier fuels like Mobil, Shell, Chevron and many others are superior and worth your time both to learn about them and to use them exclusively. See Jay's comments in post 46 above.
And thank you snow dog for post 53 above where you talk about the 2.5's fuel injection system. Indeed it has both port and direct injection, thus granting the best of both worlds: the performance and economy of direct injection, and port injection's ability to keep intake valves clean. I NEVER would have bought this vehicle if this were not the case.

 

[Ezi]

2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL: I'm hoping someone can help with the following statement in the vehicle manual:

This is for the base engine, a naturally aspirated inline 4 cylinder (Smartstream G 2.5 GDI). I was more than surprised to see this... Hyundai dealers are advertising this trim as using regular gasoline, as does fueleconomy.gov. This statement in the manual goes beyond the more typical "premium gasoline is recommended", as it implies premium gasoline is required. I called the dealer who told me premium was recommended only, not required, and they filled the vehicle with regular the day I purchased the vehicle. But the vehicle manual should hold the "truth". My plan is to go ahead and use premium for now - can anyone tell me if this statement is indeed correct? Should I be using premium gasoline? The base Sonata has the same engine with regular gasoline only in vehicle manual, though engine may be tuned differently?

2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL: I'm hoping someone can help with the following statement in the vehicle manual:

This is for the base engine, a naturally aspirated inline 4 cylinder (Smartstream G 2.5 GDI). I was more than surprised to see this... Hyundai dealers are advertising this trim as using regular gasoline, as does fueleconomy.gov. This statement in the manual goes beyond the more typical "premium gasoline is recommended", as it implies premium gasoline is required. I called the dealer who told me premium was recommended only, not required, and they filled the vehicle with regular the day I purchased the vehicle. But the vehicle manual should hold the "truth". My plan is to go ahead and use premium for now - can anyone tell me if this statement is indeed correct? Should I be using premium gasoline? The base Sonata has the same engine with regular gasoline only in vehicle manual, though engine may be tuned differently?

my 2022

my 2022 Tucson drives horrible with regular, switched to top tier chevron 91 supreme and the driving improved greatly.

 

[M_12]

2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL AWD 2.5L - new purchase April '22... It's an 87 (not 91) octane, thankfully, confirmed in section 1 of the PAPER Owner's Manual that came with vehicle. I surely see the online download file saying 91. But I'm going with the documents that came with car. I have no clue what the 'f' Hyundai is doing with that online download version. Maybe it's for certain engines or maybe as simple as a horrible typo that they should, at least, check on to possibly fix online & put out a CUSTOMER bulletin (not just to dealerships).
Bottom line...check your PAPER/hardcopy Owner's Manual & go with that, what came with vehicle. Hopefully we're ALL in the 87 octane category (at least for this SEL AWD 2.5 trim).
I opened a ticket on the Hyundai Motor America site asking Hyundai to explain why hardcopy is 87 & online/download says 91. If a mistake they asap need to fix it & educate us all which is it, 87 or 91. Right now no doubt it's 87 per my paper manual in glove compartment.

Did you ever get a response from Hyundai?

 

[garyahouse]

My 2022 Tucson drives horrible with regular, switched to top tier chevron 91 supreme and the driving improved greatly.

That's really sad to hear. No Tucson should drive "horrible" on regular. It's designed to run on regular. That's what most of us run, just like the owner's manual says. Wonder if your engine needs spark plugs or a intake manifold service and cleaning or something. how many miles ya got? Have you had the service department look at it?

 

[Tampa8]

That's really sad to hear. No Tucson should drive "horrible" on regular. It's designed to run on regular. That's what most of us run, just like the owner's manual says. Wonder if your engine needs spark plugs or a intake manifold service and cleaning or something. how many miles ya got? Have you had the service department look at it?

Something terribly wrong with his car if true. Hope he gets it fixed.

 

[newtonwm70]

The gasoline is rated differently in different locations in the world...Canada, England, Australia, Asia, Europe use RON ratings. The US ratings for our Regular 87 octane = 91 RON octane of the other countries. So we use 87 and it's the same gasoline as 91 in the other locations. The difference is the definition and calculation, causing so much confusion.