[Traxy]

Well you still haven't sold me on premium. I've tried every possible way and this Trax just runs better on the recommended fuel.

 

[TrueNorthTrax]

I'm not here to sell anybody here on anything, just relating my personal experiences with my 2020 Trax. Sorry if I came across that way.

 

[K.I.T.T.]

Just use Top Tier gas and you'll be fine regardless of octane.

Fuel Stations - TOP TIER™

TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands prominently display the TOP TIER™ logo on the pump, pump handle, canopy or in a station window.

toptiergas.com

Personally, I Use Shell 87 octane whenever possible but that's because of the discounts I get between the Fuel Rewards app ($.05 off)+ T-Mobile Tuesdays ($.10 off)+Dunkin Donuts ($.05 with every 5 drink purchases).

 

[TrueNorthTrax]

I reverted back to using Shell 87 octane (which I had been for a long time) when the weather cooled down from the heat wave we had at the end of June and in July, haven't had any issues since then. I only found there were issues with Shell 87 in my Trax when the temperatures headed above a certain point, about 28 C it seemed. I will see next summer if the same thing happens, assuming we get another spell of insanely hot weather like happened this year (hoping we won't). If it does, I will run 91 octane again until it cools down again. Normally it runs quite well on 87, but when it was getting above 28 C I was definitely experiencing some minor but noticeable power loss, which ceased when I filled my tank from nearly empty with Shell 91. My thoughts are that the intercooler is sized for a certain maximum ambient temperature, and when it gets above that the fuel/air charge is reaching a point where predetonation is occurring, resulting in retarding of ignition timing advance which results in power loss. Not all the time, just under moderate to heavy engine loading. It makes me wonder if Trax's sold in hotter climates have a different intercooler spec or some other design feature which optimizes performance for those temperatures. In Mexico and Australia they are apparently available with both the 1.4 L turbo and a 1.8 L non-turbo. Australian regular gasoline is 91 octane, with 95 and 98 octane premium available. I suspect the higher octane specs are to help engines avoid predetonation in the very hot weather often experienced there. I wonder if the 1.8 L handles 87 octane better in hot conditions than the 1.4 L turbo? It would be interesting to know more about what Trax drivers are experiencing along these lines. Mexico would likely be a good place to find that feedback, as regular grade there is 87, with I think 91 and 94 available, and with a turbo and non-turbo engine offered.

 

[Darrell]

hey all,
what gas octane should I use on a 2019 trax ? ....would that be regular or mid grade, or does that depend on station.....

 

[Darrell]

I have a 15 trax I use premium in all the time I get almost 500 mile to a tank of gas the car runs very smooth no problems with it at all I have about 85000 miles on it and it runs like it just came off showroom floor

 

[Adamphotoman]

Just read the manuals for both the 2016 & the 2020 Trax. Both recommend Top Tier with a minimum 87 Octane. I am sold on Shell. I live in a small town and the Co-op Cardlock only sells midgrade. There is another called the Rack and they sell premium. Their supplier is Shell. I have a noticeable improvement in both performance and mileage using premium. To my understanding Top Tier = premium.

In the next town over the Co-op Cardlock does sell a version of premium but a lower quality product. The snowmobilers won't use it. They say their machines don't run well on Co-op gas.

All the snowmobilers buy from the Rack and so do I.

 

[Trapper]

hey all,
what gas octane should I use on a 2019 trax ? ....would that be regular or mid grade, or does that depend on station.....

You can use 87 but for better gas mileage 91

 

[davdbob]

Lots of research, but not yet able to test for myself so.......
Got a 2015 Trax LTZ a few months ago. 115,000 mileage range. Touch screen didn't work. Fixed with an aftermarket radio.
Vampiric draw, still there so installed a "disconnecter" on the negative battery post. AC not working, not fixed yet.
Burning oil smell when we drive more then 10 minutes. Several hose and gasket failures related to the turbo, but also the valve cover gasket. Low funds so each of these will take time, then I will test the octane for myself.
However I researched a lot since my daughter just also got a 2018 LT Trax.

Mostly from the Cruzetalks forum and other sources I came up with this.
It seems GM said 87 octane is sufficient. However, that just means sufficient so the engine will out last its warrantee.
Weather below 80 degrees octane variations are less noticeable.
Humidity ranges were mentioned but I never saw at what point humidity makes a difference.
On just mileage and power many people tested and posted results when there was a difference. Other people said they tested but saw no difference. The ones saying there was a difference often mentioned temperatures, the ones with no difference never mentioned temp/humidity.

What I took away from all the research and responses from other is this.
Above 80 degrees the 1.4 Turbo will run smoother and more effectively on 91-93 Octane. It will run OK on 87, but the higher the ambient temp, the better it will do on premium fuel. Also in climates with high humidity, like anywhere in Florida or the rest of the Gulf coast for certain in the summer the 1.4 turbo will fare better on higher octane.

There was a test by a major auto magazine whereas they had a long term test vehicle and by accident noticed a difference in desert driving. They did a follow up test and results showed a test in Death Valley of about 4350 miles on 87, and on either 91 or 93 they went over 4500 miles using almost the same amount of fuel. They calculated the actual fuel cost to be slightly less using the higher octane than the same distance with the lower octane. Their posted results were something like 87 octane gave 24.4 MPG and 91-93 gave 26.6 MPG with more power in the near 100 degree heat.

More over, this is also something my research showed. The computer systems will adjust to the octane level of the fuel you use. However the knock sensor takes more of a beating and the timing system is given more of a workout to compensate at lower octane levels then with the higher grade fuel. One of the posters also mentioned 93 with Ethanol preformed better than 91 pure gasoline. Everyone that reported results on Ethanol recommended pretty much avoiding it.

My personal conclusions without yet testing for myself are this. I may change this up once I do the tests for myself.
I will absolutely use at least 91-93 octane when the temps get above 75 degrees here in central Missouri. Until everything is fixed on this car I will just use 91-93 depending on the price difference no matter what the weather conditions are.

I look at it as an extra $1 per hundred miles of driving is sort of like insurance. No there was no solid proof that things like the knock sensor or timing system will fail sooner on lower octane, but for the peace of mind that our 1.4 is getting all the help I can give it I will do it.