switched to 89 octane for my 2004 dodge RAM 2500

spadoctor wrote:
sounds like a poor design to me. No excuse to design any motor to need more than 87 these days....just look at Ford and Hyundai vehicles

To gain more power engines are designed with higher compression and advanced timing. Both require higher octane. Sure you can make an engine run well on 87 but it will not have the performance that can be gained with an engine designed for 89 or 91.