PUMP FICTION: REGULAR FUEL vs. PREMIUM FUEL - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SQUALO · 11-04-2012, 08:59 AM

I just wanted to share a story conducted by Marketplace (Canada's Consumer Watchdog) on Regular Fuel vs. Premium Fuel, and if the higher & more expensive grades are worth the money and do what they claim.

I think it's an interesting story and to each their own on what you think about the subject.

Here is the link:

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episod...mpfiction.html

dragon22 · 11-05-2012, 02:31 AM

I saw that episode Sunday morning and I don't know if it was a good comparison using a new car with low miles.

I think over time is where a person would notice the difference. Especially on the internals of the engine. My question is this...if we are tuned by a shop to run on 94 Octane, would we have the same results if we started running 91 Octane or lower?

I have had to do this and I feel that the engine seems to lose power and mileage. Since that time, I carry my tuner with me and switch to the lower Octane if I have to.

It would be interesting to hear from some of the tuner people out there.

But as I said earlier, I think the difference would be seen down the road...in the long run. (IMHO) LOL LOL

Mike Jung · 11-05-2012, 05:38 PM

All I'm going to say is; & let you decide:

My 2009 Pontiac G8 GT has a L76 6.0L small block V8 engine.
Compression ratio is: 10.4:1

GM North America markets that my car only needs 87-octane gasoline.

The powertrain engineers recommend premium gasoline for it.

The manufacturer Holden in Australia recommends 93 octane gasoline.

87 octane = up to 15° of timing retard
Even 91 octane = up to 5° of timing retard
93 octane = no timing retard

*Sourced from an American Tuner on the stock tune.

PS: & when my engine runs with the DoD on (in 4-cylinder mode), the stock tune timing is pretty aggressive.

PPS: & it isn't false knock either.
Someone tried running 91 octane with the knock sensors desensitized.
& they never heard a LS-based engine sound like a can of marbles before, until then

Andrew@SPItuning · 11-05-2012, 06:49 PM

We were approached by the producers of this show about 6 weeks ago to do the testing for them. We came up with some really good testing methods using our dyno and EFI Live. The producers told us that they would only air the show if they could prove that higher octane fuel did NOT provide any benefit what so ever. They wanted to prove the government to be right and the gas companies to wrong. When we hypothesized that we would be able to show improvements in a few areas of testing with higher octane, the producers decided they wanted to go another route.

The testing the show did doesn't prove anything really. I was pretty disappointed that we didn't have the opportunity to complete the testing for the show, but I was not going to do biased testing, or poor experiments. We were going to use two new chevy cruze's for the testing, one N/A and one turbo.

camaro99 · 11-06-2012, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shifted Perceptions

We were approached by the producers of this show about 6 weeks ago to do the testing for them. We came up with some really good testing methods using our dyno and EFI Live. The producers told us that they would only air the show if they could prove that higher octane fuel did NOT provide any benefit what so ever. They wanted to prove the government to be right and the gas companies to wrong. When we hypothesized that we would be able to show improvements in a few areas of testing with higher octane, the producers decided they wanted to go another route.

The testing the show did doesn't prove anything really. I was pretty disappointed that we didn't have the opportunity to complete the testing for the show, but I was not going to do biased testing, or poor experiments. We were going to use two new chevy cruze's for the testing, one N/A and one turbo.

Pappa Joe · 11-10-2012, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SQUALO

I just wanted to share a story conducted by Marketplace (Canada's Consumer Watchdog) on Regular Fuel vs. Premium Fuel, and if the higher & more expensive grades are worth the money and do what they claim.

I think it's an interesting story and to each their own on what you think about the subject.

Here is the link:

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episod...mpfiction.html

I guess i better stop using diesel

SC2150 · 11-10-2012, 09:05 AM

Props to Shifted!! The media and their way of distorting facts never quits.

We show the 3.6DI with 11.3:1 CR makes more power and gets better fuel economy on 93 than 87....yet 87 is in the marketing as a sales point.

willhe64 · 11-10-2012, 01:00 PM

I belong to a another chevy forum for my 6.2l Silverado. There was a long thread about this and every one who ran 91 octane was betting better power and better mileage.
I was previously running mid-grade 89 and I switched to 91. My mileage improved by a few mpg and there is more power for sure. I used to notice a bit of bucking when lugging up hills, gone now.

I don't run anything but chevron 94 in my camaro.

11-04-2012, 08:59 AM	#1
SQUALO Drives: CHEVROLET Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: York Region, ONT. Posts: 4,258 View My Garage	PUMP FICTION: REGULAR FUEL vs. PREMIUM FUEL I just wanted to share a story conducted by Marketplace (Canada's Consumer Watchdog) on Regular Fuel vs. Premium Fuel, and if the higher & more expensive grades are worth the money and do what they claim. I think it's an interesting story and to each their own on what you think about the subject. Here is the link: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episod...mpfiction.html __________________ Frank (Drive Safely & Responsibly) Last edited by SQUALO; 11-04-2012 at 09:17 AM.

11-05-2012, 05:38 PM	#3
Mike Jung Drives: '14 CRT Camaro SS Coupe Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 478	All I'm going to say is; & let you decide: My 2009 Pontiac G8 GT has a L76 6.0L small block V8 engine. Compression ratio is: 10.4:1 GM North America markets that my car only needs 87-octane gasoline. The powertrain engineers recommend premium gasoline for it. The manufacturer Holden in Australia recommends 93 octane gasoline. 87 octane = up to 15° of timing retard Even 91 octane = up to 5° of timing retard 93 octane = no timing retard Sourced from an American Tuner on the stock tune. PS: & when my engine runs with the DoD on (in 4-cylinder mode), the stock tune timing is pretty aggressive. PPS: & it isn't false knock either. Someone tried running 91 octane with the knock sensors desensitized. & they never heard a LS-based engine sound like a can of marbles before, until then __________________ '14 Crystal Red Tintcoat Camaro SS RS coupe Former G8 owner :( RIP Sunday, Oct 6, '13 1 of 3,681 in Panther Black Metallic '09 Pontiac G8 GT (with L76 6.0L small block V8 engine & a 6L80 tranny) 1 of 970 '09 Pontiac G8 GT's in the country (Canada) Last edited by Mike Jung; 11-05-2012 at 05:50 PM.*

11-10-2012, 01:00 PM	#8
willhe64 Drives: 2012 45th Vert, 2011 4x4, 9sec Vega Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2,188	I belong to a another chevy forum for my 6.2l Silverado. There was a long thread about this and every one who ran 91 octane was betting better power and better mileage. I was previously running mid-grade 89 and I switched to 91. My mileage improved by a few mpg and there is more power for sure. I used to notice a bit of bucking when lugging up hills, gone now. I don't run anything but chevron 94 in my camaro. __________________ I feel it only fair to warn you, I have a black belt in CAPS LOCK.

11-05-2012, 02:31 AM	#2
dragon22 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS SIM Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,697 View My Garage	I saw that episode Sunday morning and I don't know if it was a good comparison using a new car with low miles. I think over time is where a person would notice the difference. Especially on the internals of the engine. My question is this...if we are tuned by a shop to run on 94 Octane, would we have the same results if we started running 91 Octane or lower? I have had to do this and I feel that the engine seems to lose power and mileage. Since that time, I carry my tuner with me and switch to the lower Octane if I have to. It would be interesting to hear from some of the tuner people out there. But as I said earlier, I think the difference would be seen down the road...in the long run. (IMHO) LOL LOL

11-05-2012, 06:49 PM	#4
Andrew@SPItuning Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Posts: 211	We were approached by the producers of this show about 6 weeks ago to do the testing for them. We came up with some really good testing methods using our dyno and EFI Live. The producers told us that they would only air the show if they could prove that higher octane fuel did NOT provide any benefit what so ever. They wanted to prove the government to be right and the gas companies to wrong. When we hypothesized that we would be able to show improvements in a few areas of testing with higher octane, the producers decided they wanted to go another route. The testing the show did doesn't prove anything really. I was pretty disappointed that we didn't have the opportunity to complete the testing for the show, but I was not going to do biased testing, or poor experiments. We were going to use two new chevy cruze's for the testing, one N/A and one turbo.

11-10-2012, 09:05 AM	#7
SC2150 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 Camaro RS, RX supercharged Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 6,063	Props to Shifted!! The media and their way of distorting facts never quits. We show the 3.6DI with 11.3:1 CR makes more power and gets better fuel economy on 93 than 87....yet 87 is in the marketing as a sales point.