V6 fuel switch 87 to a higher grade

[tradosaurus]

The hilarious part about this thread is that the SS owners are doing fuse pulls so they can use 87 octane.

93 octane being 20 cents more I wonder if the extra $4.00 a tank when filling up is worth it?

[Jefe's SS]

Originally Posted by tradosaurus

The hilarious part about this thread is that the SS owners are doing fuse pulls so they can use 87 octane.

93 octane being 20 cents more I wonder if the extra $4.00 a tank when filling up is worth it?

SS owners are doing a fuse pull to reset the timing pull when a low octane is used as the computer will not revert back to the high octane program. There is no need to pull the fuse if you want to use low octane the computer will adjust timing automatically.

[tradosaurus]

Originally Posted by Jefe's SS

SS owners are doing a fuse pull to reset the timing pull when a low octane is used as the computer will not revert back to the high octane program. There is no need to pull the fuse if you want to use low octane the computer will adjust timing automatically.

I'm still laughing.

[Jefe's SS]

Originally Posted by justa25thTA

how does octane ratings relate to fuel quality?

Thay don't. Fuel quality is most affected by the age and debris in the storage tanks. A new, busy station is usually best. Older stations that see low amounts of business should be avoided.

FYI- Stations buy from the cheapest source the day they order fuel. A Conoco may get gas from Chevron, Shell, Total, etc. Some franchises requrie certain "cleaners" or additives to be added to their specs. The Fed Govt. requries a minimum of additives to be added. These are more than ample to keep your fuel and injection system clean.

IOW it's all the same.

[John Shields]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

lol, cracks me up to see someone things this.








Lots of posts about this but basically the higher octane means a slower burn which means have less combustion happening. Some cars are designed for less combustion as they are pushing out more power per combustion. Putting 91 in a car designed specifically for 87 means you are putting out higher power per combustion but you now have less combustions happening which means the over all power is lessoned. GM spent a lot of money over the years designing this motor, and if they felt there was a performance increase they would recommend higher octane. I doesn't hurt the car to do it, just you are taking a performance hit. Now a car designed for higher octane should never have a lower octane in it, not only does it decrease performance but it also can harm the motor.

I guess you failed to read my post. I never said anything about combustion, and I never said anything about performance. I use the higher level fuel because it's cleaner. The unleaded here is crap fuel and often times these stations mix their fuel with other substances. The higher level fuel is usually better quality gas. There was a big stink about this a couple years back when the news did an investigation into what some stations were doing around here with their Unleaded gas.

Last time I gassed up, I paid 2.53 per gallon of Premium where every other place around me was charging 2.85 for Premium and 2.65 for Unleaded. The place I went to (a Conoco, or some other such reputable place) was out of everything but Premium and gave everyone a deal. Along with that, a purchase of a car wash took another .10 off per gallon. Which it needed anyway.

[usa1camaro1969]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

Lots of posts about this but basically the higher octane means a slower burn which means have less combustion happening. Some cars are designed for less combustion as they are pushing out more power per combustion. Putting 91 in a car designed specifically for 87 means you are putting out higher power per combustion but you now have less combustions happening which means the over all power is lessoned. GM spent a lot of money over the years designing this motor, and if they felt there was a performance increase they would recommend higher octane. I doesn't hurt the car to do it, just you are taking a performance hit. Now a car designed for higher octane should never have a lower octane in it, not only does it decrease performance but it also can harm the motor.

Higher octane doesn't equate to slower burn rate, it equates to less likelihood for detonation:
Higher-octane fuel isn't harder to ignite in the usual way (that is, with a spark); the octane rating just indicates how easily the fuel can SPONTANEOUSLY ignite before the flame-front reaches it. "Spontaneous pre-ignition" is just another phrase for "detonation" or "knock"; higher-octane fuels resist knocking better than low-octane fuels.

On a motor such as ours, when detonation occurs we have a knock sensor that pulls timing, which takes care of the detonation but also decreases power output. These motors have a lot of compression for 87 octane, but they have taken the DI and knock sensors and made it all work.

[usa1camaro1969]

Originally Posted by phenixdragon

Lots of posts about this but basically the higher octane means a slower burn which means have less combustion happening. Some cars are designed for less combustion as they are pushing out more power per combustion. Putting 91 in a car designed specifically for 87 means you are putting out higher power per combustion but you now have less combustions happening which means the over all power is lessoned. GM spent a lot of money over the years designing this motor, and if they felt there was a performance increase they would recommend higher octane. I doesn't hurt the car to do it, just you are taking a performance hit. Now a car designed for higher octane should never have a lower octane in it, not only does it decrease performance but it also can harm the motor.

Higher octane doesn't equate to slower burn rate, it equates to less likelihood for detonation:
Higher-octane fuel isn't harder to ignite in the usual way (that is, with a spark); the octane rating just indicates how easily the fuel can SPONTANEOUSLY ignite before the flame-front reaches it. "Spontaneous pre-ignition" is just another phrase for "detonation" or "knock"; higher-octane fuels resist knocking better than low-octane fuels.

On a motor such as ours, when detonation occurs we have a knock sensor that pulls timing, which takes care of the detonation but also decreases power output. These motors have a lot of compression for 87 octane, but they have taken the DI and knock sensors and made it all work.

[melody301]

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

97?! Lucky bastard!

LOL Sorry typo. I meant 93

[John Shields]

Originally Posted by melody301

LOL Sorry typo. I meant 93

Someone around here said they are using 101 octane. I saw that and was skeptical but I guess it exists where someone could be buying it weekly.

[PoorMansCamaro]

Originally Posted by John Shields

Someone around here said they are using 101 octane. I saw that and was skeptical but I guess it exists where someone could be buying it weekly.

we have 100 here in vegas at a few rebel stations. But i wouldn't recommend it without a tune. Plus it's expensive. About $7 a gallon.

[CamaroMiami]

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

we have 100 here in vegas at a few rebel stations. But i wouldn't recommend it without a tune. Plus it's expensive. About $7 a gallon.

100 is down here and expensive also.

In my 92 (V6) camaro, I use higher/better gas (91- 93) and have the feeling of a better benefit. I have no data to support more HP or anything. Just the gut/mental feeling and smile.

[Icefsh]

Originally Posted by jshaf

drove on 87 for the first couple months, then I started putting 93 in it and the performance is almost night and day. sputtering went away, much smoother. People saying it's only in your head, well I know I didn't like the way my car was running and switched the gas and viola it improved instantly. I know what I observed, if you want to save a buck be my guest. I am putting the best in my car!

Same thing happened to me. Only difference is I ran 85 octane. Thought that living at higher alltitude would not require the higher grade of fuel. Sure was surprised with a few tanks of 91. Now I found a conoco that has no ethanol and have noticed even more improvement. If it is in my head I will be happy to pay extra for that high.

[lets_go_bills]

There is no difference. To some it's important but any "difference" they claim to "feel" may be all in thier head. If GM designed the car to run "better" on a higher octane rating, they would recommend the car run on it. The manual says 87 octane is fine to use. Use that.

Octane levels have nothing to do with fuel quality. Always buy your fuel from a reputable company.

Want the added detergents and additives? You don't need higher octane, buy STP fuel cleaners/additives/boosters. They make great products and you only have to use it twice a year ($5/bottle). It'll reduce any knocks, improve fuel economy and restore power/acceleration.

Just my opinion, but anyone who uses anything above 87 in their V6 is being silly and wasting their money.

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by lets_go_bills

The manual says 87 octane. Use that.

Manual actually says use 87 or higher.

Just sayin...