I've tried the search function, but was unsuccessful.
The manual for MY10 HSE Sport states:

Quote:

Octane rating

Mid or regular grade gasoline with a CLC or AKI octane rating not lower than 87 should be used.
For optimum performance use fuel with a minimum octane rating of 91 (CLC or AKI). The
vehicle will run on lower grade fuel, but doing so may cause engine knock or pinking.
Note: Occasional, light, engine knock
experienced while accelerating or climbing hills
is acceptable.

Zoey: Most forum members are running on diesel. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

The FL2 system isn't as the old ones where you mechanically put/switch a jumper to specify which octane rating you are using in order to modify the advance.
The advance curves are programmed inside engine ECU and are the same for all fuel grades.
And they are calculated for an as efficient burn process as possible.
More of that, the engine ECU will try to slightly and progresivelly increase de advance to reach an optimum balance between power output and efficiency.
But, with the help of the knock sensors, the system knows when detonation occurs (which is sooner for a low grade type of fuel) and stop there with the increase of the advance. If the detonation still occur, it will decrease the advance even more.
The same with a hot engine. It will start to knock/ping and then the detonation sensors will the tell the engine ECU and the engine ECU will retard the ignition which in turn will reduce the internal temperature.
So it is a self adjusting system which will try to adapt to any fuel grade. This is why you didn't hear the engine pinging.
So you can use any grade of fuel but it is better to not exagerate and follow the instructions.
As for the consumption, yes, the lower the octane grade, the less efficient is the burning process which in turn will translate in a higher fuel consumption for a specific load.
For more informations read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

I have used 87,89,91, and 94 octane gas when available. 89 octane is usually priced OK, but 94 octane can be up to 0.20 cents per liter more than regular 87 octane at the pumps. LR and Volvo representatives have said in the past that the inline 6 cylinder (i6) petrol engine used in the LR2 can run on regular 87 gas. Premium (high Octane) gas is recommend (for normal use) because of mileage and exhaust emissions.

The price? I was only wrong once and thats when I thought I was but wasnt.

2010 Freelander 2 XS Stornaway Grey
2010 Aston DBS Morning Frost
2010 Bentley Continental Brooklands Green

Quote:

Zoey: Most forum members are running on diesel.

So, not only am I one of the few who have a petrol engine, but I'm also the only Yank

Alex: Thanks for the explanation. Quite helpful. I gather that my best bet is to re-flash the ECU with a more conservative curve to improve fuel consumption, and continue to pump plutonium priced fuel into the tank? Yes, compared to what the rest of the world pays for fuel, I should be thankful.

Quote:

The price?

If you want to do it for the consumption, the so called "econotune", then you can.
If you want to do the reflash only for the car to accept the low grade fuel, don't.
As I've said, the car adapts to each type of fuel. More of that, the inconveniences of a low grade fuel are perceived only when you request top power from the engine.
If I were you I will leave it as it is, try to use the low grade a period of time to see how it handles and I would take it easy on the gas pedal... It's the best econotune...

Last edited by alex_pescaru on 25th Jan 2011 8:28 am. Edited 1 time in total

The national avg for

diesel is £1.32 highest £1.46 per litre
Premium diesel £1.40 highest £1.48 per litre

Unleaded £1.28 highest £1.42 per litre
Super Unleaded £1.35 highest £1.45

LPG £0.75 highest £0.86 per litre Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

The econotune is exactly what I am looking for. I've called the dealer three times, but keep being sent to the service managers voice mail.

I talked to the service department today, and they do not do re-flashes, nor do they know of anyone who does.

Sorry for arriving late to the party.

Zoey - go ahead, run the regular 87 and save some $$. That's pretty much all I've been using for the last three years and thirty-five thousand miles with no issues. Mileage is adequate and I've never heard any complaints (pinging) from the engine even when climbing the mountains of West Virginia with the A/C on.

At last fill up I used premium, and according to the computer I'm getting 20.2 mpg. Granted, I've come to the conclusion that the computer is generous by about 1.5 mpg, and that as the tank empties, the average falls.

I can't tell if this is just an anomaly, or if the rising ambient temperatures have something to do with it. We've finally achieved a temperature above freezing.

I use premium and my mileage around town runs between high 19's and 20. My average speed is less than 30 mph. Highway if I keep it under 70 mph and use the cruise control I have gotten above 26 mpg. I have never used anything but premium and would be interested in the results from those using regular.

jaxbeach wrote:

I use premium and my mileage around town runs between high 19's and 20. My average speed is less than 30 mph. Highway if I keep it under 70 mph and use the cruise control I have gotten above 26 mpg. I have never used anything but premium and would be interested in the results from those using regular.