Is premium grade gasoline really necessary?

[5cents]

Unless he forgot to mention it, when the saleman was explaining things on my new 2011 Camaro 2SS, he never said anything about using premium gasoline. So, I kept using the "regular" 87 octane. I was reading my owner's manual the other day and in there it recommends "premium" with a 91 or higher octane rating.

My Camaro doesn't "ping or knock" using the lower octane, So, my question is, is the higher octane really necessary?

[MS3DALE]

Though its not 100% necessary,its highly recommended.
If you do a search there are a few threads on here that discusses the issue,also if you do start running 91+ octane you'll want to do a "fuse pull" to reset the octane table....http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38964

[bill2129]

You should always use premium if it calls for it. When I run 87 I lose some mpg and even power. With premium gas I get better mpg and even more pep from the car. The computer will adjust to the premium and give you more timing. I would never run 87 in a high performance engine. Really its only like 1.50more

[blufin]

Its not absolutely necessary, but you will get more hp with high octane a d a fuse pull. Why not get all the performance you paid for?

[bill2129]

I can tell if my girlfriend put 87 in my car. You really gotta know your car to feel it

[MS3DALE]

Originally Posted by bill2129

With premium gas I get better mpg.

Thats another benefit,my tuner always gets better MPG by tuning for 91+ octane.
When he tunes full-size GM trucks equipped with the 5.3 V8,his customers can usually get 1 to 1.5 better MPG.
Of course he always likes to say..."you probably won't see it because you'll be in the gas more"!!!

[VADR_H8R]

I read somewhere that the lower octane table is around 10hp lower. So is 10hp worth $3 a tank for premium?

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by VADR_H8R

I read somewhere that the lower octane table is around 10hp lower. So is 10hp worth $3 a tank for premium?

I posted the timing tables for each on here and in certain cells it was 7 degrees versus 20 degrees. This is a big difference.

[slick rick]

It's your car put what you want. I personally put premium

[Blake_GM]

L99 guys running over 6 seconds to 60 on low octane table versus running on the correct high octane table and being able to pull off 5 seconds flat to 60 is a big difference IMO.

[SSDan]

Here is how I think about it. Its not that last 30 cents a gallon that will kill you - it's the first 3.00 - 4.00. So lets say you use 500 gallons a year ( about 8,000 - 10,000 miles a year at 16 - 20 mpg) then the premium will cost you about (500 x .30) $150.00 more for the whole year. I'm paying the extra 150.00 and getting all my SS has to offer. Easy math for me.

[Kite31]

At the moment I am using 89.

[RANGERGOD]

I use 93 in everything I own...and after I put the Diablo tune on it, I will have it set for the 93.

[njdad61]

Originally Posted by 5cents

Unless he forgot to mention it, when the saleman was explaining things on my new 2011 Camaro 2SS, he never said anything about using premium gasoline. So, I kept using the "regular" 87 octane. I was reading my owner's manual the other day and in there it recommends "premium" with a 91 or higher octane rating.

My Camaro doesn't "ping or knock" using the lower octane, So, my question is, is the higher octane really necessary?

The owner's manual says it's necessary in black and white, yet you're still asking? Jesus... Just put the recommended gas in the tank. If you wanted to use 87 and don't care about max performance, you should have bought a V6. If you can't afford to put the right fuel in it, then you can't afford the car.