V6 fuel switch 87 to a higher grade

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Originally Posted by chain777

Yeah, but it isn't a 5.0, and Chevy never made such claims. I think you're reading too much into it.

No, but at least one person on this forum has posted logs showing the timing pulled and another posted some dyno info. Take a look at the V6 threads and I'm sure you'll find them.

[scrming]

bottom right hand corner is the "spark retard". With 87 octane you can clearly see the spark retard is very active!



with non-ethanol 93 octane, the spark retard basically stays at ZERO!

[scrming]

Originally Posted by 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

Completely UNTRUE! The Spanish Oak in the S197 is "adaptive". The computer will constantly try to add more timing until the knock sensors kick in and then it will back the timing off a bit. One of the magazines did a write up on this AND I seen this first hand with my OWN 2005 V6 Mustang... In fact we had to disable this part of the tune as it was causing issue with my supercharger...

[spyderbuddy]

Not this again
People y'all need to remember this engine has a higher compression ratio than the V8 engines in the Big Brother 6.2. So it is simple if the big boys need to run premium in the 6.2 then reason would tell you the 3.6 can benifit from the same. I know that the V6 is direct injection and that the general designed this engine to run on 87 octane. I have used 87 and 93 and not that the engine is making more power or even getting better mpg's. My car just seems happier

[esperman]

Originally Posted by gghg

Has anyone switched their V6 from the 87 octane to a higher octane? If so, have you seen any difference in performance and/or fuel economy? Over the summer I switched my Equinox to the mid grade fuel and noticed a performance difference especially when towing a trailer, seemed to manage the hills a littler easier and acceleration seems better. I just switched my Camaro 2Lt over to see if there is a bit of a gain.

OP: c'mon over to the V6 threads...lots of accurate info there.

[RubyCamaro]

I definately felt the difference when I switched. That is all I need to know.

[scrming]

Here in Michigan I run 93 non-ethanol fuel... Here is a run I made on the "good" gas:



Car went 13.78 here in Michigan...

Last weekend I headed to Atco, New Jersey to run the car there... The car should have been noticeably faster than here in Michigan.... instead the car was actually slower! Seems the gas in New Jersey is less than optimal... Check this run from Atco with "bad" gas:



As you can see in the first log, the timing slowly creeps up until it peaks at 36 degrees... there is a dip towards the beginning but that is due to the traction control. So here you can see the computer keeps adding timing...

In the second run you can see that the timing goes up, but not like the first run. It's hard to see but in the second run, instead of the timing going up the spark retard is going up! So here the computer is trying to add timing but my guess is the knock sensors are kicking in! Looks at where this run ends up.. 27 degrees of timing advance with 10 degrees of spark retard... hmmmm.... compare that with the 36 degrees of timing in the first log... that's the difference between 13.7 and 13.9... at least that's how it appears to me! Also appears that the car is going to try and run about 36 to 37 degrees of timing and I can tell you it won't be able to do that on 87 octane!

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by scrming

Here in Michigan I run 93 non-ethanol fuel... Here is a run I made on the "good" gas:



Car went 13.78 here in Michigan...

Last weekend I headed to Atco, New Jersey to run the car there... The car should have been noticeably faster than here in Michigan.... instead the car was actually slower! Seems the gas in New Jersey is less than optimal... Check this run from Atco with "bad" gas:



As you can see in the first log, the timing slowly creeps up until it peaks at 36 degrees... there is a dip towards the beginning but that is due to the traction control. So here you can see the computer keeps adding timing...

In the second run you can see that the timing goes up, but not like the first run. It's hard to see but in the second run, instead of the timing going up the spark retard is going up! So here the computer is trying to add timing but my guess is the knock sensors are kicking in! Looks at where this run ends up.. 27 degrees of timing advance with 10 degrees of spark retard... hmmmm.... compare that with the 36 degrees of timing in the first log... that's the difference between 13.7 and 13.9... at least that's how it appears to me! Also appears that the car is going to try and run about 36 to 37 degrees of timing and I can tell you it won't be able to do that on 87 octane!

Scrming, was the Jersey gas 93 ethonal and or just bad gas?
With this new imfo how do you think our standard 91/ethonal fares?

[ffrcobra_65]

why didnt u guys buy the SS to begin with instead of piece mealing a hp here and there from super-duper Dash Hawk (adds 100hp) , using higher octane than required, etc. etc? makes no sense.
Just wash your car before you take it for a drive, you get the same "it feels faster" feeling.

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

why didnt u guys buy the SS to begin with instead of piece mealing a hp here and there from super-duper Dash Hawk (adds 100hp) , using higher octane than required, etc. etc? makes no sense.
Just wash your car before you take it for a drive, you get the same "it feels faster" feeling.

More typical stupid comments. Why didn't you buy a rocket car instead of supercharging an ss? If thats what you have. And isn't the ss fast enough stock ? Why need a supercharger? And by now I don't think after all the posts on this site that anyone here ss or lt has to explain why we mod the cars or any cars for that matter. Some people just don't get it.

[scrming]

Originally Posted by blackbee

Scrming, was the Jersey gas 93 ethonal and or just bad gas?
With this new imfo how do you think our standard 91/ethonal fares?

Not sure... I was mainly using it as an example... I see the same behavior with 87 octane.. just didn't have a good data log for it... I have the video instead! LOL! But again, the main thing here is you can see the computer trying to add more timing... I have like ONE local gas station that's 100% gasoline and I only use that one station when I head to the dyno or the track...

Some had a good term for this... The car is "over-sparked" and relies on the knock sensors to bring the timing back to the proper level for the given octane...

[scrming]

Originally Posted by blackbee

More typical stupid comments. Why didn't you buy a rocket car instead of supercharging an ss? If thats what you have. And isn't the ss fast enough stock ? Why need a supercharger? And by now I don't think after all the posts on this site that anyone here ss or lt has to explain why we mod the cars or any cars for that matter. Some people just don't get it.

[SIXJAK]

Originally Posted by blackbee

More typical stupid comments. Why didn't you buy a rocket car instead of supercharging an ss? If thats what you have. And isn't the ss fast enough stock ? Why need a supercharger? And by now I don't think after all the posts on this site that anyone here ss or lt has to explain why we mod the cars or any cars for that matter. Some people just don't get it.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by 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.

your opinion is an accurate one!..i agree..the "general" indicates the car requires 87 octane!..if you use a higher octane than is required,then you are experiencing an ''event physcological",in that you ''think" you are noticing an improvement,however,it is "all in your head" as others have reported!