Loss of boost

[Gaskintg]

I have a 00 ssei, and I know I have a bad MAF sensor, due to the car not being able to start or even stay started once I put it in drive. Once I unplugged the MAF sensor, my car finally runs, but I noticed tht I am only making 3lbs of boost when i punch it, Plus, gas in Ohio is over 3 bucks a gallon, and to me, its insaine, so I have been running 87 octane, instead of 91. So I do not know what the exact cause of the boost problem, or maybe it is the cause of these factors, oh I am a poor college student. That is why I have not bought a new sensor. lol It sucks sometimes being a Music Education major

[01bonneSC]

You NEED to run premium gas in your SSEi.

[00Beast]

Talk to harofreak00 about a MAF. I bet he has one cheap. I'd replace that, then deal with your boost issue.

Never not run Premium in your SSEi. Engines are expensive to replace.

[Gaskintg]

So why do I have to run premium? I mean my car works and all with 87, why would it ruin my engine, its just running 87 with octane booster. Which you can do in any other engine, ? I am sorry I do not know all of this, I just really appreciate all of your help.

[01bonneSC]

Octane booster is only 1/10 of a point on average so youd need 10 bottles to raise one full octane point. You need to run premium to stop predetonation. Regular fuel ignites much easier than premium. So with the higher cylinder temps do to the heat from the supercharger the regular can ignite before your piston is at TDC pushing backwards on the crank and engine internals. Your PCM is probably reading knock like crazy, pulling timing to try to prevent your engine from blowing a piston.

Fill up with premium and tell us where your boost is at then.

[Gaskintg]

Wow, DId not know that, well, on that note, I will go buy a tank of premium then. I never knew it would blow a piston, I will let you know how my boost it then.

[J Wikoff]

There's a good chance your boost is low because the low octane is creating knock and the PCM is dumping your boost.

[01bonneSC]

There's a good chance your boost is low because the low octane is creating knock and the PCM is dumping your boost.

thats what i was trying to say, sorry if it came by harsh, its just th manufacturers say you have to run it for a reason.

[willwren]

You will also likely find the cost difference between running 87 and premium is cancelled out, as your car will run more efficient on Premium, resulting in higher fuel mileage.

You WILL do long-term engine damage if you don't run the proper fuel. Extreme cases are quite catastrophic. I had ONE tank of fuel pumped incorrectly by an attendant, and it cost me a piston about 10 minutes later. Granted my setup is far more sensitive to octane than yours, but it's an example of the type of damage that can happen. In your case, the ring grooves in your pistons have probably already begun to erode.