For all the V6 owners buying a lower grade octane, you are not saving much!

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

I hate everytime I see one of these threads. There are always the guys coming and spoutin off what they think they know and it usually goes like this:

"V6 was designed to run on 87 so why run anything higher....you are wasting your money...blah blabbity blah"

Nobody is saying running running premium automatically adds 50 horsepower. But it has been shown time and time again via dyno runs and on the road monitoring systems that the LLT engine can and will run slightly higher timing more consistently when running on premium fuels.

If you guys can't accept that for whatever reason, being it due to your hard-headedness, or the fact that your SS doesn't do it...sorry.

My point exactly and this can be achieved at a relatively low cost, as I posted.

[MLL67RSSS]

Originally Posted by jtzako

Thats kindof my point in this too. They would not rate the car for 87+ if it would get more power and/or better MPG with premium. Other than high compression engines that have premium fuel requirements from the get-go you shouldnt see much, if any, difference using higher rated gas.

They rate it and designed it to run on 87 octance as a sales incentive. Prospective buyers not buying a top of the line performance vehicle would balk at buying a car that REQUIRES premium fuel. Especially if comparision shopping a car that does and a car that doesn't. The beauty is if you WANT to spend a little more for higher octane fuel it can and will be able to advance the timing a little more and perform a little better.

[GoPaul]

I'm surprised no one has brought up the use of E85 on the V6 yet - likely to be my next mod (well the tune required to run it). Now that will improve your performance -13.5 second 1/4 mile times being recorded.

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

They rate it and designed it to run on 87 octance as a sales incentive. Prospective buyers not buying a top of the line performance vehicle would balk at buying a car that REQUIRES premium fuel. Especially if comparision shopping a car that does and a car that doesn't. The beauty is if you WANT to spend a little more for higher octane fuel it can and will be able to advance the timing a little more and perform a little better.

[tjd24]

My experience with 89 versus 87:

Ran first 9 tanks back in 2009 with 89 travelled 2,989 miles on 133.84 gallons for an average of 22.31 - June through early Sept so the summer months

Ran next 9 tanks with 87 travelling 3,119 miles on 137.51 gallons for an average of 22.68 - mid-September to early December.

So the 87 tanks may have gotten some benefit from cooler weather but not dramatically different.

I didn't feel any difference in performance for the extra 2 octane so I've banked the savings of 87 for mods...

[RSokie]

This kind of reminds me of some of the threads saying dont run ethanol based fuels in these cars because it is bad on them.

Then on the flip side of the coin some say to run the ethanol based fuels as it will keep the engine cleaner, is not harmful to the engine, and will keep the fuel lines from vapor locking by keeping the water in the tank to a minimum.

Has it really ever been proven that higher octane fuels produce better fuel mileage in the cars?

[bandier]

...and I just filled my tank with 87 this morning. Now I gotta wait to clear it out and try 93.

[VR Baron]

Maybe the following will help. Some timing numbers and hp numbers from members and shops on the forum not to be mentioned as I am going by my memory and will not be accurate but close and here just for comparison and only based on 2-3 cars experimented with, therefore no conclusions can be drawn for all cars. ALso weather hot or cold may come into play also.

87 octane stock 22-24 degrees max timing, uneven hp curves on dyno(peaks and valleys) spark retard being hit alot.
91 octane timing in the 27-29 range, hp curve smoothened out(the smoother feeling people get?) On dyno varies but around 4-8 peak hp and 8-10 lb/ft of torque, engine /air temps dependant.
93 octane real gas(no ethonal) up I think to 33-36 degrees timing but in winter air temps.

Your resluts may vary as they say. Do I notice? A little on the response side I think but a change in air temps could cause that also. Gas mileage was to close to tell.

[Mach]

So after using 87 octane for the longest time. I finally tried 93 a couple of days ago. And I must say I notice a difference. The car pulls much harder through the gears. The dead spots are gone. This works well with a vararam intake and vmax tb.

[shadowghost21]

I really can't believe people are getting all bothered by 30 cents. I can't buy anything with 30 cents, hell you can't even buy something with 3 30 centses (that is 90 cents for the Camaro population). If you can afford the car you can afford the gas. Not really sure why you would buy a Camaro for gas mileage I know I didn't. I have noticed that it ran a lot better with extra throttle response to boot. Here in Colorado you get your pick of 85,87, and 91. This community of ENTHUSIAST drivers baffles me. Just reading these posts makes me tear out what little hair I have left.

TLDR; version, buy what ever the hell your cheap ass wants, but the car runs better on premium (91 in colorado)

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by shadowghost21

I really can't believe people are getting all bothered by 30 cents. I can't buy anything with 30 cents, hell you can't even buy something with 3 30 centses (that is 90 cents for the Camaro population). If you can afford the car you can afford the gas. Not really sure why you would buy a Camaro for gas mileage I know I didn't. I have noticed that it ran a lot better with extra throttle response to boot. Here in Colorado you get your pick of 85,87, and 91. This community of ENTHUSIAST drivers baffles me. Just reading these posts makes me tear out what little hair I have left.

TLDR; version, buy what ever the hell your cheap ass wants, but the car runs better on premium (91 in colorado)

right, i swear i hear more about MPG on a camaro forums than other forums i am on.

[shadowghost21]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

right, i swear i hear more about MPG on a camaro forums than other forums i am on.

Well it's all I had to rage on lol. The car really does run better on high octane fuel. Ran like dirt on 85.

[bandier]

3/4 tank to go.

[Dizzy82]

Mine is a daily driver and I crunched my own personal numbers. I drive about 140 miles a day, Mon-Fri, every week. Here's what I figured for a month's worth of commuting:
(87 octane $3.70) 140miles x 20 days= 2800 miles a month/26mpg average = 107.69 gallons a month ($398.45 for 1 month)
(89 octane $3.90) = $419.99 for 1 month
(91 octane $4.00) = $430.77 for 1 month

The difference between 87 and 89 is $24.10 per month = $289.20 per year.
The difference between 87 and 91 is $34.87 per month = $418.44 per year.

This only takes my work commute into account, not weekend use which can add 200 miles per weekend. Or fluctuating fuel prices.

I don't know about the rest of you but that is some significant change to me, suspension upgrade or heck, even a car payment.