V6 fuel switch 87 to a higher grade

[lets_go_bills]

Originally Posted by E.T.

Manual actually says use 87 or higher.

Just sayin...

Better?

[h2oplay]

Originally Posted by lets_go_bills

There is no difference. To some it's important but any "difference" they claim to "feel" is all in thier head. Truly. 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.

did you try this yourself?

[ghazzi1397]

Originally Posted by stand-al0ne

I need to find the link here, but I remember reading dyno pulls on cars using 87 oct and getting 230-235 to the wheels and cars using 93 were getting 250 or so...

Ive only used 93 oct (the dealership filled my first tank with it) and until someone somehow proves that using 87 is better I'm not switching

+1

[usmc8411]

The DI v6 runs off 87 but in my caddy it says use 91 for the most performance....which means it has probably 2 fuel maps....just like every other performance car. Difference being the v6 was designed for 87 and they probably just tweaked it a bit for 91 as opposed to the SS which was designed for 91 but also has a low octane map.

I dont know why people think higher octane is a better/cleaner gas. It just adds more anti-knock additives such as toulene.

Its not better gas. Adding certain amounts of toulene to 87 octane is (pretty much) the same thing as buying 91.

[gghg]

The other advantage to using the higher octane is it burns cleaner, I notice that the pipes on my 2LT are black with “soot” I look at my brothers Challenger who has been using 93 or Sunoco 94 are clean. Shell claims that their nitrogen enriched fuels helps clean maybe it’s true. Back to the “soot” if the pipes are like that makes you wonder what kind of build is happening in the engine.

[VR Baron]

I run 91 just to get the best response/hp by keeping as much timing as I can. It was a bit noticable off idle but do you feel/know you got more hp, no. I use it as another mod to compliment the headers, exhaust and airaid and these are all I am doing so all help together as a package.It also helps keep power up I would think if any mod makes car run a bit leaner the engine may pull timing so this would negate that but again not real noticable on the street.Scrming had a video of timing being pulled on 87 just cruising around, anywhere from 3-8 degrees I think.On 91-93 no timing pulled or darn little.Could be worth 6-15 hp if 1 degree= 2 hp as it did on my LS1 V8

Nice thing is we can switch back to 87 anytime.

[bulls96]

if i change from 87 to a higher grade, is it better to use up the 87 i have in my tank first? what level can i start filling it up with a different grade?

[DavidCigam]

Originally Posted by bulls96

if i change from 87 to a higher grade, is it better to use up the 87 i have in my tank first? what level can i start filling it up with a different grade?

Idk what my dealer put in my tank but I figure it was 87 and I filled it up at a quarter of a tank with 91, I think filling up at a quarter of a tank left of below should be good enough.

[Murph0408]

ah yes, another 87 octane thread. ladies and gentlemen i recommend you look up the phrase "placebo effect."

"aw dude, i spent more money on gas and my car is totally faster bro, more horses fa sho"

87 octane engine is an 87 octane engine. save your money, brothers

[highline]

what murph said...Total newb here, but are these cars designed to have adaptive fuel maps? The 05-09 mustang (own it, sorry) doesn't have this, and running anything but the owner's manual spec (87*) is a waste, but the 2010+ (also the bullit from 09) has an adaptive "learning" ability (tune) that reacts (pulling timing I'm sure) to the different octane levels...Mine (2009) is not stock nor ford tuned so I only use 93*, but am looking into what's best for my 11 LS...RTFOM I know, but on ly got it Friday and too busy driving to read...will do tonight though

[Jide25]

I've always put 91 or 93 in(what ever is available). I guess that makes me no help, but I just have done it because I figure even if it doesn't do anything performance wise, I'll pay the extra for engine longevity...

[heRS]

I run the Chevron 93 in mine, runs great and very responsive on the throttle.

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by Murph0408

ah yes, another 87 octane thread. ladies and gentlemen i recommend you look up the phrase "placebo effect."

"aw dude, i spent more money on gas and my car is totally faster bro, more horses fa sho"

87 octane engine is an 87 octane engine. save your money, brothers

Scrming (and possibly others) have tested this, and have shown there is a difference.

I've always wondered how much timing, if any, is pulled when using 89 vs 87. I think all the comparison have been between 87 and 91 or 93.

[TooCool5]

Higher octanes have better detergents thus the MPG increase.
You can get the same detergents using 87 Top Tier Gas.