Does Hyundai Tucson Turbo Need Premium Gas?

The 2.5L 2497CC l4 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated engine in my 2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL is brand new.

Dealers for Hyundai promote this car as consuming normal gasoline. There isn’t a sticker or other reminder to use premium anywhere to be found. Only in the handbook, which I read after I bought it, is there a sentence that says premium gasoline 91 octane or higher is REQUIRED, which goes beyond the more common “premium gasoline is recommended” comment. When I called the dealer, they told me that standard 87 was already in the car and that premium was merely advised, not essential. However, as you advise, READ THE MANUAL and abide by it. To at least protect you from a warranty rejection!

When I contacted Hyundai, they advised me to visit a Hyundai Service Center because they couldn’t provide any information beyond what was in the manual. I spoke with a service center clown who said you “should” be alright as long as the check engine light doesn’t come on or you notice any vibration or knocking. That’s the response I receive, ya. Naturally, the service department wants me to visit them with an engine problem! Lol

So, I ask: Do you honestly believe that running 87 will damage my engine? Although the manual specifies 91 and they might void my warranty if they find out I’m running 87, what else? Really?

Many thanks Scotty; I like watching you every day and value your expertise! A fun man like you!

I recently bought the same automobile and encountered the same issue. What has changed since you’ve owned it for almost a year? The octane you used was. Regular gas can be utilized on the government website. As a result, the data are inconsistent. View the link.

And based on what I’ve already observed, it’s not a good engine: it consumes oil even when brand-new; cat chunks break off and get sucked into the cylinders (a problem unique to Hyundai engines; the cat is too close to the engine, which I assume causes higher cat temperature for emissions); and it has hydraulic tappets, which is problematic given the longer maintenance intervals Hyundai recommends. Hyundai estimates it to have 150k miles, however I suppose that will depend.

Do you have any images of the instruction manual or the sources you used? As a NA 4 cylinder, I’m certain that it needs standard gasoline. Even though premium is advised, you can still get by with normal and your engine won’t suffer.

Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual. Since Hyundai engines (and dealer/warranty servicing) are already in doubt, I would abide by their specifications. Additionally, as you can see below, you should stick to higher octane gas if you switch to a lower octane and experience knocking.

The OP stated in his initial post that the owner’s manual for his vehicle calls for 91 octane. It goes beyond the standard “premium fuel is suggested,” he claimed.

Kevie

Hyundai Tucson SEL in 2022: I’m hoping someone can shed some light on this sentence from the car’s manual:

This is for the inline 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated base engine (Smartstream G 2.5 GDI). When I saw this, I was more than surprised. Both fueleconomy.gov and Hyundai dealers promote this trim as consuming normal gasoline. The phrase “premium gasoline is necessary” in the manual goes beyond the more usual phrase “premium gasoline is suggested.” I called the dealer, who informed me that ordinary gas should be used and that premium was merely advised, not required. But the “truth” should be contained in the vehicle manual. Can someone confirm that my decision to use premium for the time being is the right one? Do I need to use premium fuel? Although the engine may be tuned differently, the base Sonata only comes with a normal gasoline engine.

What type of fuel is best for a Hyundai Tucson?

Gas for the Hyundai Tucson must be at least 87 octane unleaded. Parts for cars will ultimately stop working. Every 30,000 miles, the gasoline filter needs to be replaced. You will experience performance issues if it doesn’t. To get the most miles per gallon, the fuel must burn extremely. Your gas tank must be in excellent condition. You will eventually run into problems. There could be a faulty control valve. The fuel tank can come undone. There can be gas leaks, which require immediate investigation. It can be quite a nuisance to cope with the stuck gas cap.

In Tucson, 87 min octane is needed. Based on a call to Hyundai’s corporate office in California. It does call for “Top Tier” fuel. Almost all of the premium names are rated in that category.

In my 22 Tucson hybrid, my mpg has been really low. According to the Hyundai service manager in Colorado Springs, this is normal during the break-in phase (defined as less than 4000 miles). Additionally, he cautioned against using 91 octane petrol. Use ordinary gas with an octane rating of 87 or even 85.

Fuel Types Used By A Hyundai Tucson (All Generations)

We’ve written a lot about the American-built Hyundai Tucson and its different characteristics on this blog. Today, we’ll discuss the type of fuel that this SUV need to function properly. Let’s begin by providing a succinct response to that query:

In the USA and other countries, ordinary unleaded gasoline has an octane rating of 87 AKI, whereas in other countries, it has a rating of 91 RON (Europe only). The Tucson of the year 2021 runs on premium unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 91 AKI (for usage in the USA and other countries) or 95 RON (Europe only). When the temperature is above 23°F (–5°C), Tucsons with diesel engines use No. 2 Ultra Low Sulfur (climatized) diesel, and when the temperature is below 23°F (–5°C), they use No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel (-5degC).

That doesn’t, however, completely address the subject. We’ll discuss the various types of fuel that are sold below and whether or not they work with the Hyundai Tucson. In addition, we’ll discuss the Tucson’s fuel economy, tank capacity, and fill-up prices. Read on!

Hyundai turbo requires premium fuel, right?

Only unleaded fuel with a pump octane number ((R+M)/2) of 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher is intended to be used in your new car.

Does the Hyundai 1.6 turbo need premium fuel?

The 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Veloster turbo produces 201 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque at about 1500 rpm. Since the power of this turbo model is rated when using ordinary octane fuel, there is no need to utilize higher octane fuel.

Hyundai Kona Turbo: Does it require premium fuel?

4-cyl. 1.6 Turbo. DOHC 4-cyl. 2.0 The Hyundai Kona runs on standard unleaded gasoline, which reduces fuel expenses and facilitates fuel purchases. 20 to 55 cents more per gallon can be paid for premium.

Are turbo engines better off with premium gas?

In most areas, regular gas has an octane rating of 87, whereas premium gas frequently has a higher rating of 91 or 93. Higher octane fuel can withstand greater compression before detonating. In essence, the risk that a detonation occurs at the wrong time decreases with increasing octane grade. This event will occasionally probably not cause any damage to your car. However, if it occurs frequently, it could hasten the performance deterioration of your engine.

For optimum performance and fuel economy, engines with high compression ratios or turbochargers frequently need the high octane gasoline found in premium gas. The majority of vehicles on the road today, however, are designed to run on ordinary gas.

Can E85 be used in a 2022 Hyundai Tucson?

  • Leaded or unleaded gasoline is sold alongside or in place of gasohol, a blend of gasoline and ethanol (commonly known as grain alcohol). For instance, “E15” gasoline contains 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol.
  • Avoid using gasoline or gasohol that contains more than 15% ethanol or any methanol at all. Both of these fuels have the potential to harm the engine control system, emission control system, and fuel system in addition to causing drivability issues.
  • Any type of gasohol should not be used anymore if driving becomes difficult.
  • The alternative fuel known as “E85” is produced specifically for use in flexible fuel vehicles and contains 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Your car is incompatible with “E85.” The use of “E85” could harm your car’s engine and fuel system and result in poor engine performance. Customers are advised by HYUNDAI not to use fuel that contains more than 15% ethanol.
  • Never use methanol-containing gasohol.
  • Never use gasoline that has 15% or more ethanol.
  • Never use leaded gasoline or fuel.
  • Use only “E85” fuel.

Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover performance issues or harm to the fuel system brought on by the use of “E85” fuel.

Since I have a turbo, should I utilize premium?

Although not all turbocharged vehicles require premium fuel, this is a more frequent necessity for turbos than for other types of engines due to the nature of these engines.

The turbine that these engines employ to add more air to the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber gives these engines their designation of “turbo.” Because of the higher power density and improved fuel efficiency, this design is preferred by producers who must fulfill emissions regulations without sacrificing power.

Modern auto manufacturing is increasingly using turbocharged engines for one reason only: they produce more power without sacrificing fuel efficiency. However, a turbocharged engine doesn’t always imply a quick or powerful engine. For instance, turbos are frequently employed in diesel vehicles with diesel engines, which are more frequently utilized for transporting heavy weights than for performance driving.

Turbocharged engines have a higher compression ratio than non-turbo engines, which is the trade-off. As a result, they are more likely to detonate and require premium fuel.

An advice:

The difference in operating costs for a car that needs premium gas can be simply calculated. Simply compare the price differences at your neighborhood gas station, multiply the result by the amount of miles you drive annually, then divide the result by the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. For instance, premium gas will cost you $250 more a year if the price difference is $0.50/gallon, you drive 15,000 miles a year, and your car gets 30 mpg.

Is it acceptable to use normal gas with premium?

Your car’s ECU will change engine timing and performance to fit with the lower-octane fuel if you accidently fill up with ordinary fuel, according to The Drive. “In most cases, this is OK for situations when there are no nearby premium gasoline pumps, but using the cheapest fuel for extended periods of time is not recommended.”

What kind of fuel does Hyundai advise?

Standard and Plus The majority of automobiles can run on 87 octane gasoline, also known as “normal” or “regular unleaded” gasoline.

Will your automobile suffer if you use premium and normal gas together?

Both yes and no, is the answer. Combining normal and premium gas could affect how well your car performs. When premium fuel is mixed with lower octane fuel, performance of vehicles that solely use premium fuel is lowered. Other vehicles that run on standard fuel might not handle higher octane fuel adequately.

While it is not advised, mixing ordinary and premium gas is not anticipated to significantly affect your car’s performance. Regular fuel may result in a performance drop and something known as “engine knock” in vehicles that need premium fuel.

There are further aspects to take into account, which we will go over in greater detail in the essay that follows.