Octane Ratings? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Icefsh · 07-18-2009, 11:15 PM

Wondering what octane gas to put in my V6? Here in the mountian states the minimum regular gas is 85 octane, midgrade is 87, and premium is 91. When I go to states with lower elevation the octane is higher than here. What difference does elevation make? Did not notice any problem with 85 octane (only 1 tank of gas). But 87 octane seems to run better. Only 730 miles now.

CamaroDreams07 · 07-18-2009, 11:25 PM

I think 87 is recommended, thats the standard minimum most places. If 87 runs better, use it. What is it, $2.00 more per fill up?

fastal · 07-24-2009, 01:09 AM

Stick with regular which for us is 85. Due to the altitude there is less oxygen so less potential energy to be made. Since the Denver area is a mile high we lose roughly 20% of the power the car would make at sea level.

I've got my 2LT/RS and have 1700 miles on it with mostly 85 octane and no problems. Unless you are getting pinging higher octane can cost you power.

SlingShot · 07-24-2009, 12:56 PM

The manual says 87 or better for the V6, 91 for the V8 ....

*mlee* · 07-24-2009, 12:59 PM

The Chevron station I use has 93 so that's my place now...

Bbrock25 · 07-24-2009, 01:15 PM

yea like the good stuff is what .20 more per gallon on 19 gallons if you were dead out its only $3.80 more per fillup.

volleyfan · 07-24-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icefsh

Wondering what octane gas to put in my V6? Here in the mountian states the minimum regular gas is 85 octane, midgrade is 87, and premium is 91. When I go to states with lower elevation the octane is higher than here. What difference does elevation make? Did not notice any problem with 85 octane (only 1 tank of gas). But 87 octane seems to run better. Only 730 miles now.

85 in Colorado is equivalent to 87 at sea level. For cars that recommend 87 or better, 85 is acceptable at altitude. Same for the other octanes. If your car needs 93 or better, 91 is equivalent at altitude. Many people don't know this and waste their money buying mid grade or premium when they don't need it.

Icefsh · 07-25-2009, 07:29 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. Have used 85 octane in all my other vehicles with no ping.

scrming · 07-25-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icefsh

Thanks for the input everyone. Have used 85 octane in all my other vehicles with no ping.

Actually... most modern cars have knock sensors that detect the ping before you can actually hear it and will adjust the timing (retard the timing) to stop the pinging...

JohnnyBfromPeoria · 07-25-2009, 09:00 PM

+1 on the pinging. If you hear it, you've got problems. The V-6 has one sensor for each cylinder - very sophisto...

A small addition to what was said above regarding altitude: it's not just that there's less oxygen at higher altitudes, there's less atmospheric pressure. So compressing air/fuel mixtures at say 5000 feet altitude means that the effective compression ratio yields less cylinder pressure. A lower octane fuel is called for in that case and will work fine. Higher octane fuel would not burn completely and cause fouling and carbon deposits.

Please correct any misstatements above. I sell floorcovering and am not any real mechanic. But my bed is as comfortable as those at a Holiday Inn Express.

John B.

ACE1109 · 03-08-2015, 12:04 PM

I've read that some people use 93 or 95 in the v6 and get better mileage than 87 or 89. Can you use 93? I have a 2015 camaro and was wondering if I should give 93 a try

omgitsmiketuck · 03-10-2015, 12:24 AM

I ran "regular" which I think is 87 in az?... for a good 15...16k before I started running higher octane. These cars don't really need it unless you're highly upgraded or you have a tune. My car ran just fine with "regular" gas with mufflers and CAI intake w/ intake scoop. I got an IPF tune, so I have to run 91 now, but for average bolt on mods, you can run regs.

rtcat600man · 03-10-2015, 05:10 AM

The V6 Camaro is set-up to run just fine on 87 octane, however it pulls timing while doing this too. Which robs you of the precious HP we are all craving.

Many of us run 93 octane to obtain every last HP and keep the timing at bay the best we can.

07-18-2009, 11:15 PM	#1
Icefsh Drives: CGM 2LT/RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Littleton, CO. Posts: 195	Octane Ratings? Wondering what octane gas to put in my V6? Here in the mountian states the minimum regular gas is 85 octane, midgrade is 87, and premium is 91. When I go to states with lower elevation the octane is higher than here. What difference does elevation make? Did not notice any problem with 85 octane (only 1 tank of gas). But 87 octane seems to run better. Only 730 miles now.

07-24-2009, 12:59 PM	#5
mlee CamaroFans.com Drives: ZLE & ZR2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 37,486 View My Garage	The Chevron station I use has 93 so that's my place now... __________________

07-25-2009, 09:00 PM	#10
JohnnyBfromPeoria Drives: 2012 LS M6, Black Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,045	+1 on the pinging. If you hear it, you've got problems. The V-6 has one sensor for each cylinder - very sophisto... A small addition to what was said above regarding altitude: it's not just that there's less oxygen at higher altitudes, there's less atmospheric pressure. So compressing air/fuel mixtures at say 5000 feet altitude means that the effective compression ratio yields less cylinder pressure. A lower octane fuel is called for in that case and will work fine. Higher octane fuel would not burn completely and cause fouling and carbon deposits. Please correct any misstatements above. I sell floorcovering and am not any real mechanic. But my bed is as comfortable as those at a Holiday Inn Express. John B. __________________ 12 LS M6, IPF S/C, ASA GT-5 wheels, VMax PTB 1995 Mitsubishi Montero SR 1987 Dodge Raider Turbo Project 1986 Mitsubishi Montero 2.4l FI Transplant

03-10-2015, 12:24 AM	#12
omgitsmiketuck Drives: 2011 LS V6 (M) & 2019 LS I4 (AT) Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 346	I ran "regular" which I think is 87 in az?... for a good 15...16k before I started running higher octane. These cars don't really need it unless you're highly upgraded or you have a tune. My car ran just fine with "regular" gas with mufflers and CAI intake w/ intake scoop. I got an IPF tune, so I have to run 91 now, but for average bolt on mods, you can run regs. __________________ 2011 Camaro LS (MT) - Vitesse Throttle Controller / Flowmaster 40 Mufflers / CAI Intake / Apex scoop and washer relocate / Epic Engineering Catch Can / SS Stoptech Brake lines / BMR 1.2" Lowering Springs / IPF tune /Magnaflow X-Pipe / 25mm Mace intake spacer / BBK Long Tube Headers with High Flow Cats (Current) 2019 Camaro LS I4 - Vitesse Throttle Controller / Mishimoto intake boot and charge pipes / K&N panel / BMR Sway Bars / GFB DV+ / ZZP Larger Throttle Body

03-10-2015, 05:10 AM	#13
rtcat600man having FUN now 13.66@101 Drives: 2010 2LT IOM Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 9,230 View My Garage	The V6 Camaro is set-up to run just fine on 87 octane, however it pulls timing while doing this too. Which robs you of the precious HP we are all craving. Many of us run 93 octane to obtain every last HP and keep the timing at bay the best we can. __________________ MY BUILD

07-18-2009, 11:25 PM	#2
CamaroDreams07 Drives: Slow V6 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 9,361 View My Garage	I think 87 is recommended, thats the standard minimum most places. If 87 runs better, use it. What is it, $2.00 more per fill up?

07-24-2009, 01:09 AM	#3
fastal Drives: 2010 2SS/RS, 2000 Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 149	Stick with regular which for us is 85. Due to the altitude there is less oxygen so less potential energy to be made. Since the Denver area is a mile high we lose roughly 20% of the power the car would make at sea level. I've got my 2LT/RS and have 1700 miles on it with mostly 85 octane and no problems. Unless you are getting pinging higher octane can cost you power.

07-24-2009, 12:56 PM	#4
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	The manual says 87 or better for the V6, 91 for the V8 ....

07-24-2009, 01:15 PM	#6
Bbrock25 Drives: 2010 1SS/RS Inferno Orange Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Ky Posts: 704	yea like the good stuff is what .20 more per gallon on 19 gallons if you were dead out its only $3.80 more per fillup.

07-25-2009, 07:29 AM	#8
Icefsh Drives: CGM 2LT/RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Littleton, CO. Posts: 195	Thanks for the input everyone. Have used 85 octane in all my other vehicles with no ping.

03-08-2015, 12:04 PM	#11
ACE1109 Drives: 2015 Chevy Camaro Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 8	I've read that some people use 93 or 95 in the v6 and get better mileage than 87 or 89. Can you use 93? I have a 2015 camaro and was wondering if I should give 93 a try

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