What gas will you be pumping?

[CaptianSam]

Curious... what octane did forth gens require?
when you get your camaro will you be pumping 91?
what are the bad/good affects of using 10% ethonal fuel...
example sunoco 94 10% ethanol...

[Jeff]

GM states 89 Octane gas is good for all their vehicles. Even the Corvette, so I'm not wasting more money than I have to.

[JaysonAych]

Yeah, whatever the owner's manual calls for is what I'll put in. No more, no less.

[camaro5]

The higher the octane, the slower the combustion burn (less volatile). When you use a higher octane, the engine computer (ECM) can keep pushing the ignition timing advance for more horsepower.

Detonation (pinging) occurs when the combustion burn is too fast and the explosion of combustion slams down on the still coming up piston.

Most GM V8's have been using ESC (Electronic Spark Control) for many years. It uses a piezo-electric microphone to listen for detonation, and when it hears a certain amount (ECM see's this as a voltage from mic) it will back off the advance.

It uses an intricate logarithm you wouldn't beleive.

So, the higher the octane - the more spark advance and horsepower. As long as the engine uses ESC or similar.

We get 93 in Florida, that's all my Camaro will ever see. Ethanol does boost octane ratings, too.

Throw a can 104 octane boost (any auto parts store) in the gas tank and hold on!

Or you can use lower octane (more volatile) - (check owners manual) and save money for less horsepower.

[DGthe3]

I've heard that you can use a lower octane fuel durring winter months. That would help if you drive your Camaro in the witer. I won't, so it doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

[Scotsman]

Whatever makes cents for my annual gas budget.

[CaptianSam]

i know the way octane ratings affect your power and emissions... but will 10% ethanol have a negitive or positive effect...

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by CaptianSam

i know the way octane ratings affect your power and emissions... but will 10% ethanol have a negitive or positive effect...

In terms of performance...it'll be a minor positive effect (Ethanol = 105ish Octane rating, so figure 10% of your fuel is like that). Emissions...well, that 10% will burn with ~30% less emissions than the same quantity of gas - so that's negligible.

In terms of fuel economy, in case you were wondering, you may loose 1mpg.

[CaptianSam]

will it have long term effects on the enigne? if i use it every day...? if th car isnt ethanol compatable...
im not concerned with the performance... but more the reliability and constant usage affects?... are there any long term negatives?

[OzCamaro]

I've found over here in australia you pay more for the higher octane fuel but you get better fuel economy so it really pays for itself. Now I don't use anything else.

[Jay]

Well im used to paying to for higher octane because of driving a german car all the time.... so im just going to stick with it.... and what Oz said above is true as well.... I find that you get better gas milage as well..... in the end i found that you end up paying about an extra 5 bucks tops for higher octane fuel to a tank after it all works out.

So I dont think its that bad. Its sorta like the synthetic oil vs. regular oil in your engine.... both are fine when it comes down to it.

[CamaroSpike23]

everyone has good points about things, but the OP question about octane req for 4th gens. the LT1 was designed to run 91 octane. you can run a lower octane fuel such as 89 and 87 but it will mess up your hp and your overall fuel economy.

with the reverse flow cooling incorporated on the LT1 engine, it allowed for a higher compression ratio which basically required the use of higher octane fuel to operate at peak efficiency

i run nothing but 93 in mine. gets expensive i know, but i like to run strong. lol
on the odd chance that i stop somewhere that doenst have 93, i keep a bottle or 5 of race only octane boost.

[radz28]

I've used 91 octane in both my Zs and 87 in my Jetta and 4Runner. I'll run whatever GM says the engines require

[Bucksbadz]

92 octane is all mine will ever see, weather its a 4th gen to a 09. Only the best for my baby.