premium or regular gas - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

noisemker · 07-09-2014, 11:26 PM

I was hoping someone could explain what would be better to run in a V6 2010 with full exhaust system, intake, throlle body, plenum spacer and tune, Premium gas or regular gas. Will one cause more knock then the other? I believe premium burns hotter than regular making more power, is that right?

Any advice would be great I'm using premium now and don't want to waste money if it's not helping.

Can't_C_Me · 07-10-2014, 04:07 AM

Unless your heavily modified and tuned properly don't waste your money. It increases knock activity and the car wasn't really designed for it. It doesn't hurt to use but like said no big difference other than in your pockets. If you want a difference get a small shot of methanol for a NA engine for those hot days your going to be hot rodding around.

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pgustavson · 07-10-2014, 06:18 AM

I don't believe there is any significant performance gain either unless tuned for it, but since when does using higher octane gasoline increase knock activity? I've always known the opposite to be true. What am I missing???

RubyCamaro · 07-10-2014, 06:43 AM

I beg to differ! I don't know about HP difference, but our cars pull timing if you use lower octane gas. It takes running higher octane for a couple of tanks for the computer to re-set but several folks on here, myself included, have really been able to feel the difference in the butt dyno. I will never feed my baby low octane again. She only gets Top tier 93 octane. Around here Shell is the best.

rtcat600man · 07-10-2014, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgustavson

I don't believe there is any significant performance gain either unless tuned for it, but since when does using higher octane gasoline increase knock activity? I've always known the opposite to be true. What am I missing???

I believe this was a mistake, as we all know higher octane prevents knock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubyCamaro

I beg to differ! I don't know about HP difference, but our cars pull timing if you use lower octane gas. It takes running higher octane for a couple of tanks for the computer to re-set but several folks on here, myself included, have really been able to feel the difference in the butt dyno. I will never feed my baby low octane again. She only gets Top tier 93 octane. Around here Shell is the best.

Ruby is spot on, this was tested and verified a few times over the past few years here on the forum. Yes, we can run on 87 octane and save money, that is what the V6 was designed for, but it does indeed pull timing while doing so, which robs HP. For me only 93 octane to get every little HP I can from my baby V6.

rtcat600man · 07-10-2014, 11:36 AM

Fuse pull does nothing for the V6. That is a V8 fuel map table thing.

jewel25 · 07-10-2014, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

Fuse pull does nothing for the V6. That is a V8 fuel map table thing.

noisemker · 07-10-2014, 01:21 PM

Thanks everyone for the responses but I'm still torn with some of the responses I personally feel a difference with the higher octane on the butt dyno and will most likely continue to use it

DSX_Camaro · 07-10-2014, 01:22 PM

Ah, 87 vs 91/93. We meet again...

It's personal preference. The car runs both. You will have better efficiency, better power, better response with higher octane gas, but it does not HURT to run 87. That's what all the technology in the engine is for. I, for example, only run 93. Have since I got the car, and will until it dies.

"No gain with higher octane" is the modern day equivalent of "flat earth". You can believe whatever you want, but that doesn't make it right.

(Btw, OP, premium gas has a higher octane level, which means that it has more resistance to detonation and allows higher compression. Say gasoline burns hotter than gasoline, well... you get the picture. lol.)

MagnumForceGB · 07-10-2014, 02:41 PM

If you want to reset the ECU you either have to disconnect the battery for a few minutes or reload a tune. I had to do that because my ECU keeps knock retard in the memory, don't know if IPF tuned it that way or if it is from the stock file.

NJBourne23 · 07-10-2014, 02:47 PM

I run 93 or 91 at the minimum. Having extra pull on the chain is not acceptable. For the few pennies more per gallon or about $3-4/tank it is well worth it. Go to the more reliable stations too like HESS, BP, Shell etc and not the mom and pop shops that have more irregularity in their gasses.

Andy-AMSOIL · 07-11-2014, 08:34 PM

low octane pump gas like 87 if knock is caused the ECU will pull timing which means you lose power,, 89 or 91 will be spicy enough to hold detonation from occurring.

If you have a turbo or blower the game changes, you do benefit from 93 pump or race gas 100 or 110 OCT

KMPrenger · 07-11-2014, 09:14 PM

This is the oldest debate when it comes to the V6.

Bottom line is, there is not a huge difference. Running premium is not going to unlock an extra 50 HP.

But it will reduce knock activity, which means you should be getting a happier, slightly stronger (even if you can't feel a huge difference) engine.

cjcamaro10 · 07-13-2014, 08:51 AM

I notice with my ac on from a second gear start. I have tried all the ratings and seem to feel no difference from 89-93, but do feel a difference from 87 to 89. I drive a lot mixed city and expressway for work and higher octane is more responsive at lower rpms for sure on my car. My car never sees over 3500 so if couldn't tell you about top end,

07-09-2014, 11:26 PM	#1
noisemker Drives: RY 2LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Niagara Falls ONT. Posts: 457	premium or regular gas I was hoping someone could explain what would be better to run in a V6 2010 with full exhaust system, intake, throlle body, plenum spacer and tune, Premium gas or regular gas. Will one cause more knock then the other? I believe premium burns hotter than regular making more power, is that right? Any advice would be great I'm using premium now and don't want to waste money if it's not helping. __________________ Airaid Intake And Solo CatBack Solo Highflow Cats

07-10-2014, 04:07 AM	#2
Can't_C_Me Don't Sleep on My V6 Drives: 2016 C7 1LT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Oxford, GA Posts: 3,596 View My Garage	Unless your heavily modified and tuned properly don't waste your money. It increases knock activity and the car wasn't really designed for it. It doesn't hurt to use but like said no big difference other than in your pockets. If you want a difference get a small shot of methanol for a NA engine for those hot days your going to be hot rodding around. Sent from my iPad Mini 2 Retina using Tapatalk HD __________________

07-10-2014, 06:18 AM	#3
pgustavson Stop writing "vert", ffs! Drives: 2011 2LT Convertible Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Gambrills, MD Posts: 1,341 View My Garage	I don't believe there is any significant performance gain either unless tuned for it, but since when does using higher octane gasoline increase knock activity? I've always known the opposite to be true. What am I missing??? __________________ Vararam \| Vmax Ported TB \| Ported IM \| Vmax Black ICE-olator

07-10-2014, 06:43 AM	#4
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,225 View My Garage	I beg to differ! I don't know about HP difference, but our cars pull timing if you use lower octane gas. It takes running higher octane for a couple of tanks for the computer to re-set but several folks on here, myself included, have really been able to feel the difference in the butt dyno. I will never feed my baby low octane again. She only gets Top tier 93 octane. Around here Shell is the best. __________________

07-10-2014, 11:36 AM	#6
rtcat600man having FUN now 13.66@101 Drives: 2010 2LT IOM Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 9,230 View My Garage	Fuse pull does nothing for the V6. That is a V8 fuel map table thing. __________________ MY BUILD

07-10-2014, 01:21 PM	#8
noisemker Drives: RY 2LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Niagara Falls ONT. Posts: 457	Thanks everyone for the responses but I'm still torn with some of the responses I personally feel a difference with the higher octane on the butt dyno and will most likely continue to use it __________________ Airaid Intake And Solo CatBack Solo Highflow Cats

07-10-2014, 01:22 PM	#9
DSX_Camaro Drives: 2013 SW 2LT/RS LFX/AY6 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,741	Ah, 87 vs 91/93. We meet again... It's personal preference. The car runs both. You will have better efficiency, better power, better response with higher octane gas, but it does not HURT to run 87. That's what all the technology in the engine is for. I, for example, only run 93. Have since I got the car, and will until it dies. "No gain with higher octane" is the modern day equivalent of "flat earth". You can believe whatever you want, but that doesn't make it right. (Btw, OP, premium gas has a higher octane level, which means that it has more resistance to detonation and allows higher compression. Say gasoline burns hotter than gasoline, well... you get the picture. lol.) __________________ K&N CAI, 1LE Strut Tower Brace, Elite Engineering Catch Can and Clean Side Separator, Apex Scoop w/ Washer Relocation Kit, CTS Front Calipers and Rotors, JacFab Ported Intake Manifold, JacFab Intake Manifold Spacer, 80mm Overkill Throttle Body, SS Brake Lines, Ideal Garage Master Cylinder, Monster Twin Disc Clutch, NPP Retrofit w/ Magnaflow Resonated X, ARH Catless Downpipes, JRE Built 3.45 Diff, 1LE Axles, 1LE Hubs, Overkill Tuned, BMR Anti Wheel-hop Kit Stage I, ACS TL1 Hood Insert, ZL1 Spoiler

07-10-2014, 02:41 PM	#10
MagnumForceGB Drives: Fastest 2010 Camaro V6 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle, OK Posts: 3,571 View My Garage	If you want to reset the ECU you either have to disconnect the battery for a few minutes or reload a tune. I had to do that because my ECU keeps knock retard in the memory, don't know if IPF tuned it that way or if it is from the stock file. __________________ Camaro V6 = 11.268 @ 120.11

07-10-2014, 02:47 PM	#11
NJBourne23 Master of Nothings Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: PA Posts: 692 View My Garage	I run 93 or 91 at the minimum. Having extra pull on the chain is not acceptable. For the few pennies more per gallon or about $3-4/tank it is well worth it. Go to the more reliable stations too like HESS, BP, Shell etc and not the mom and pop shops that have more irregularity in their gasses. __________________ 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT/RS

07-11-2014, 08:34 PM	#12
Andy-AMSOIL Drives: bicycle Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Digging for oil Posts: 375	low octane pump gas like 87 if knock is caused the ECU will pull timing which means you lose power,, 89 or 91 will be spicy enough to hold detonation from occurring. If you have a turbo or blower the game changes, you do benefit from 93 pump or race gas 100 or 110 OCT

07-11-2014, 09:14 PM	#13
KMPrenger Drives: 16 Camaro SS, 15 Colorado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 13,943	This is the oldest debate when it comes to the V6. Bottom line is, there is not a huge difference. Running premium is not going to unlock an extra 50 HP. But it will reduce knock activity, which means you should be getting a happier, slightly stronger (even if you can't feel a huge difference) engine. __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS - 8-speed - NPP - Black bowties 2010 Camaro 1LT V6 (Sold. I will miss her!)

07-13-2014, 08:51 AM	#14
cjcamaro10 Drives: 2010 LS 6M Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lombard Posts: 184	I notice with my ac on from a second gear start. I have tried all the ratings and seem to feel no difference from 89-93, but do feel a difference from 87 to 89. I drive a lot mixed city and expressway for work and higher octane is more responsive at lower rpms for sure on my car. My car never sees over 3500 so if couldn't tell you about top end,