Octane? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PatS · 08-07-2013, 07:35 PM

So, I am sure this has been covered many times, what Octane do you use in your V6. I have had to put premium in every car I have owned since 2000. Can I really get by with just regular unleaded? The car is stock. The regular unleaded octane in Colorado is 85 and the manual says to use 87. I am just curious as to what you guys use.

45thCamaro · 08-07-2013, 08:09 PM

There are a ton of threads on this very topic. Just a fore warning, your bound to get someone tell you it's a waste of $ to put 93 in the 6. I have a 6 and I put 93 in because I probably fill it once every few months due to not being my DD. I won't put 87 in unless gas gets really out of control. I like how the car feels and responds. I have not put 87 in it, maybe the dealer put some in when I bought it but since then, all 93. So I really don't know what I can compare it to.

PatS · 08-07-2013, 08:40 PM

Thanks, That is all I needed to know. Premium, here I come.

BullF-16 · 08-08-2013, 01:09 PM

You will actually get better peformance with 85/87 vs 93. the lower octane fuel actually has more energy. You dont need octane unless compression or boost is high. The higher the octane the harder it is to combust the fuel.

But do what makes you feel good

mailclerk · 08-08-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatS

So, I am sure this has been covered many times, what Octane do you use in your V6. I have had to put premium in every car I have owned since 2000. Can I really get by with just regular unleaded? The car is stock. The regular unleaded octane in Colorado is 85 and the manual says to use 87. I am just curious as to what you guys use.

PatS,

In that case just use mid-grade gas. In my newly bought Camaro I use mid-grad most of the time.

Mail Clerk

Joed · 08-08-2013, 05:21 PM

There isn't any benefit to using anything above 87 octane and in your case being you at 6,000 feet above sea level you can use 85 octane. As BullF-16 said 87 octane has more energy.

JohnnyBfromPeoria · 08-08-2013, 11:08 PM

Lower octane gasoline simply lights off more easily, in layman's terms.

At 5280'/1 mile up, you're already down close to 20% on atmospheric pressure, so lower octane is acceptable. Lower atmospheric pressure means less total cylinder pressure means lower octane requirements.

But what do I know, I sell floor covering. And I read stuff.

John B.

Glen e · 08-09-2013, 11:13 AM

I was in Denver doing a training session for a Honda dealer last year and octane came up. Serv mgr said lower octane was not a prob in cars designed for it.

FLGator75 · 08-09-2013, 11:17 PM

Should we do a poll?

The Beard · 08-09-2013, 11:21 PM

37,000 on my V6, before I traded it in, and I used regular. No issues at all.

PatS · 08-10-2013, 02:43 AM

So, I ran the tank almost dry (say 2 gallons or so) and then put premium in it. To me that made a world of difference over the unleaded regular. It could be just me imagining it. The price difference between mid and premium is negligible. So I will just go back to premium.

Thank you guys for not being dicks about the question. I typed in Octane in the search function and got more than 50 different pages, and didn't really want to read through them all.

08-07-2013, 07:35 PM	#1
PatS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pueblo Posts: 167 View My Garage	Octane? So, I am sure this has been covered many times, what Octane do you use in your V6. I have had to put premium in every car I have owned since 2000. Can I really get by with just regular unleaded? The car is stock. The regular unleaded octane in Colorado is 85 and the manual says to use 87. I am just curious as to what you guys use.

08-08-2013, 01:09 PM	#4
BullF-16 USAF retired! Thank God! Drives: 2011 1SS, 1LT red,1LT/RS SGM 98Z28 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 2,799	You will actually get better peformance with 85/87 vs 93. the lower octane fuel actually has more energy. You dont need octane unless compression or boost is high. The higher the octane the harder it is to combust the fuel. But do what makes you feel good __________________ HKE LSX427(Mast blk lbl 305 6bolt LS7heads, PatG231/246 blower cam, RWHP/TQ: 1281/1133 SNL Performance Custom Twin PT6766 BB turbos 4 to 25psi selectable on the Boost Leash controller, Squash dual 400LPH/ID2000s, ALKY 4 gal meth, Autometer AFR/Bst/oilpres/oiltemp/fuelpress gauges, Pedders Justice road crs pkg: All HD bushes, supercar 12kg coil overs, supercar ZL1 sways, camber plates all setup by JusticePete! :Gforce 9" 35spline S-Trac, 1500hp Outlaw axles, 3.5"alum DS, Monster Triple disc; 4xForgeline 19x10.5 4xBridgestone 305/30R19 RE-11, CTS-v calipers/rotors/Cobalt friction XR1/3 pads Last edited by BullF-16; 08-08-2013 at 01:09 PM. Reason: sp

08-08-2013, 11:08 PM	#7
JohnnyBfromPeoria Drives: 2012 LS M6, Black Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,045	Lower octane gasoline simply lights off more easily, in layman's terms. At 5280'/1 mile up, you're already down close to 20% on atmospheric pressure, so lower octane is acceptable. Lower atmospheric pressure means less total cylinder pressure means lower octane requirements. But what do I know, I sell floor covering. And I read stuff. John B. __________________ 12 LS M6, IPF S/C, ASA GT-5 wheels, VMax PTB 1995 Mitsubishi Montero SR 1987 Dodge Raider Turbo Project 1986 Mitsubishi Montero 2.4l FI Transplant

08-09-2013, 11:13 AM	#8
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	I was in Denver doing a training session for a Honda dealer last year and octane came up. Serv mgr said lower octane was not a prob in cars designed for it. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

08-09-2013, 11:21 PM	#10
The Beard Drives: 2013 2SS HWSE M6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South Jersey Posts: 680 View My Garage	37,000 on my V6, before I traded it in, and I used regular. No issues at all. __________________

08-07-2013, 08:09 PM	#2
45thCamaro Drives: 2012 Camaro 45th Anniversary RS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York Posts: 2,418	There are a ton of threads on this very topic. Just a fore warning, your bound to get someone tell you it's a waste of $ to put 93 in the 6. I have a 6 and I put 93 in because I probably fill it once every few months due to not being my DD. I won't put 87 in unless gas gets really out of control. I like how the car feels and responds. I have not put 87 in it, maybe the dealer put some in when I bought it but since then, all 93. So I really don't know what I can compare it to.

08-07-2013, 08:40 PM	#3
PatS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pueblo Posts: 167 View My Garage	Thanks, That is all I needed to know. Premium, here I come.

08-08-2013, 05:21 PM	#6
Joed Drives: Camaro 2SS RS Victory Red Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hurley NY Posts: 52	There isn't any benefit to using anything above 87 octane and in your case being you at 6,000 feet above sea level you can use 85 octane. As BullF-16 said 87 octane has more energy.

08-09-2013, 11:17 PM	#9
FLGator75 Don't Tread on me! Drives: 2017 Yellow Camaro RS/V-6. Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Yulee, FL Posts: 226 View My Garage	Should we do a poll?

08-10-2013, 02:43 AM	#11
PatS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pueblo Posts: 167 View My Garage	So, I ran the tank almost dry (say 2 gallons or so) and then put premium in it. To me that made a world of difference over the unleaded regular. It could be just me imagining it. The price difference between mid and premium is negligible. So I will just go back to premium. Thank you guys for not being dicks about the question. I typed in Octane in the search function and got more than 50 different pages, and didn't really want to read through them all.