Petro-Can Ultra 94 gasoline

[Mike Jung]

From: PUMP FICTION: REGULAR FUEL vs. PREMIUM FUEL

Originally Posted by Mike Jung

All I'm going to say is; & let you decide:

My 2009 Pontiac G8 GT has a L76 6.0L small block V8 engine.
Compression ratio is: 10.4:1

GM North America markets that my car only needs 87-octane gasoline.

The powertrain engineers recommend premium gasoline for it.

The manufacturer Holden in Australia recommends 93 octane gasoline.


87 octane = up to 15° of timing retard
Even 91 octane = up to 5° of timing retard
93 octane = no timing retard

*Sourced from an American Tuner on the stock tune.

PS: & when my engine runs with the DoD on (in 4-cylinder mode), the stock tune timing is pretty aggressive.

PPS: & it isn't false knock either.
Someone tried running 91 octane with the knock sensors desensitized.
& they never heard a LS-based engine sound like a can of marbles before, until then

I know that the LS3 engines used in the HSV's in Australia, the stock tune recommends 93-octane premium gasoline.

If you were in a jam/emergency/premium gasoline shortage...you could run 87-octane regular gasoline (& hope/pray) the knock sensors work & retard enough timing so it doesn't hurt your engine; but it isn't recommended.

PS: I found BP 93-octane gasoline with ethanol ran better (than my local Costco 91-octane gasoline with no ethanol) when I was going to Norwalk, OH to watch NHRA drag racing last July 4th weekend
When it was 40°C/104°F air temperature outside with about 80% humidity

[Lover of Simone]

Petro-Commie (PetroCanada) sells 94 in some stations because it bought out Sunoco. So the next question is.....if you tune for 94 but can only find 91 where you are, on a trip or something, does that then affect performance?

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by Lover of Simone

Petro-Commie (PetroCanada) sells 94 in some stations because it bought out Sunoco...

Actually...

Suncor Energy bought Petro-Canada.

& they decided to keep the Petro-Canada branding for their gas stations across Canada vs using Sunoco brand gas stations that were only based in Ontario.

Originally Posted by Lover of Simone

...if you tune for 94 but can only find 91 where you are, on a trip or something, does that then affect performance?

Yes, it could retard your timing.
Which causes less performance, & possibly less gas mileage.

[dragon22]

Originally Posted by Lover of Simone

Petro-Commie (PetroCanada) sells 94 in some stations because it bought out Sunoco. So the next question is.....if you tune for 94 but can only find 91 where you are, on a trip or something, does that then affect performance?

It absolutely, 100%, does affect performance AND mileage. As I said previously, I'm tuned for 94 and make sure I take my SCT tuner with me when I travel. That way I can kick it down to a 91 Octane tune if needed.

[dragon22]

Originally Posted by Lover of Simone

Thanks, Mhoskins76, I believe that makes the most sense. I will put premium in even though the manual says it can run on regular. Premium is recommended.

I was sure the manual said premium is preferred although regular can be used but could cause knock. And as for low power, the proof was in the pudding, especially for those with the autos who did the fuse pull to get their power back because 87 Octane had been put in the tank by the dealers.

[Lover of Simone]

That was what the salesperson wanted to do...to cheap out on what, $8!?!

[THUMPER20X]

Im a marine mechanic and all I can tell you is ethanol in fuel is a disaster.

[mhoskins76]

Originally Posted by THUMPER20X

Im a marine mechanic and all I can tell you is ethanol in fuel is a disaster.

How is it a disaster?

[VFR880]

I know i will avoid ethanol as much as possible, i had to replace a fuel pump on my '09 suzuki boulevard motorcycle with 5000kms, cause of failure, ethenol in fuel, i do put stabil over the winter months and do run them a few times in the winter on warmer days, but 1 winter i didn't run the boulevard, i've got 4 other motorcycles that i did not have problems but i started them more often, alot of camaro owners park their cars during winter months, i would avoid ethanol for hybernation, i know esso premium gas doesn't have ethanol.

[dragon22]

Originally Posted by mhoskins76

How is it a disaster?

What I have read...wish I could find the article now and the article did say higher amounts of ethanol in fuel.

If a vehicle filled with gasoline which has ethanol in it sits for a long period of time, the ethanol separates and sits in the bottom of the tank. Upon start up, the pump is pulling straight ethanol and is quite corrosive to the components of the fuel system.

Now...Petrocanada says UP TO 10% ethanol. Would 10% cause a problem? I don't know. I drive my car all year, so it probably won't be a problem for me at the UP TO 10% level.

For us to use E85, that would be disastrous. Ethanol is a corrosive alcohol that will degrade common steel and rubber fuel system parts on conventional vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles are manufactured with synthetic and/or composite fuel system parts that can tolerate high levels of alcohol. Note this is referring to E85 in our tanks. Not 10%.

10%...I'm betting not so much. Except MAYBE if our vehicles sit with a full tank of fuel with UP TO 10% Ethanol in it. Then our pumps could be sucking straight ethanol.

[mhoskins76]

Originally Posted by dragon22

What I have read...wish I could find the article now and the article did say higher amounts of ethanol in fuel.

If a vehicle filled with gasoline which has ethanol in it sits for a long period of time, the ethanol separates and sits in the bottom of the tank. Upon start up, the pump is pulling straight ethanol and is quite corrosive to the components of the fuel system.

Now...Petrocanada says UP TO 10% ethanol. Would 10% cause a problem? I don't know. I drive my car all year, so it probably won't be a problem for me at the UP TO 10% level.

For us to use E85, that would be disastrous. Ethanol is a corrosive alcohol that will degrade common steel and rubber fuel system parts on conventional vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles are manufactured with synthetic and/or composite fuel system parts that can tolerate high levels of alcohol. Note this is referring to E85 in our tanks. Not 10%.

10%...I'm betting not so much. Except MAYBE if our vehicles sit with a full tank of fuel with UP TO 10% Ethanol in it. Then our pumps could be sucking straight ethanol.

For winter storage it is recommended that you fill your gas tank up before storing it and adding fuel stabilizer into the tank. Does the fuel stabilizer prevent the ethanol from seperating?

[mhoskins76]

Originally Posted by VFR880

I know i will avoid ethanol as much as possible, i had to replace a fuel pump on my '09 suzuki boulevard motorcycle with 5000kms, cause of failure, ethenol in fuel, i do put stabil over the winter months and do run them a few times in the winter on warmer days, but 1 winter i didn't run the boulevard, i've got 4 other motorcycles that i did not have problems but i started them more often, alot of camaro owners park their cars during winter months, i would avoid ethanol for hybernation, i know esso premium gas doesn't have ethanol.

Actually it is federal law in Canada to have a minimum of 5% ethanol blended into gasoline, no matter what the grade.

An article I found:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...rticle4197860/

[dragon22]

Good find, good read!

[iceman5730]

If you read the artical more closely they do not have to put it in all octane rating as long as they make up the % elswhere. Here in BC Chevron contains no ethanol in their 94 octane
Quote
"Under federal rules, the average amount of ethanol in gas has to meet the 5 per cent threshold. However, companies can sell gas with no ethanol in some places, provided they make up for it elsewhere in their sales network by adding more"