What Octane do you use?

[FryZ]

We have 93 here, but it's 10% ethanol...I ran that in my H/C/I GTO for years. Last year 2 stations started selling 91 ethanol-free so I use that in the Camaro. These stations sell alot of that 91, all of the classic car guys, boaters, 2-stroke users go there to avoid the ethanol issues.

[Rob3D]

Can we please get back to the 103 octane fuel? I really wanna hear more about that!

[DagoCountyGee]

89 in my v6. I don't care if you guys say it's a waste of money. It's only 10 cents more for a whooping total of $1.20 more over 87. Last time I put 87 I got horrible gas mileage.

[spyderbuddy]

Originally Posted by SnowyCamaro

I'm a little confused by this statement above. I'm just reading this whole thread and just wanted to point out that I think you are both right. But what they are saying makes sense, calm down and think about it... if the motor can modify timing to prevent knocking. Why wouldn't GM also add in the ability to advance timing for the people that want to use higher octane? If the car can retard timing then it could most likely advance it, right? Then the car can handle running the cheap stuff for the people that want to save a buck and generate a little bit more power for the people who want to shell out a few extra. Best of both worlds right? Seems like a perfectly plausible argument to me.

Again I don't have extensive research on the subject. But just from reading through this thread I think I understand pretty well. And like you I have lots of experience with motorcycle motors but I learned when it comes to automotive motors it seems like they are capable of a lot more advanced things when it comes to timing since the motorcycle industry isn't exactly as concerned with mileage as the automotive. Just my opinion though

Yes

[SnowyCamaro]

Originally Posted by Rob3D

Can we please get back to the 103 octane fuel? I really wanna hear more about that!

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/

I don't know about cars, but when I run av gas in my dirtbikes the exhaust seems to smell pretty cool

[Bagsby]

I try to run ethanol free 93. But never run under 93.

[chain777]

Originally Posted by SnowyCamaro

I'm a little confused by this statement above. I'm just reading this whole thread and just wanted to point out that I think you are both right. But what they are saying makes sense, calm down and think about it... if the motor can modify timing to prevent knocking. Why wouldn't GM also add in the ability to advance timing for the people that want to use higher octane? If the car can retard timing then it could most likely advance it, right? Then the car can handle running the cheap stuff for the people that want to save a buck and generate a little bit more power for the people who want to shell out a few extra. Best of both worlds right? Seems like a perfectly plausible argument to me.

Again I don't have extensive research on the subject. But just from reading through this thread I think I understand pretty well. And like you I have lots of experience with motorcycle motors but I learned when it comes to automotive motors it seems like they are capable of a lot more advanced things when it comes to timing since the motorcycle industry isn't exactly as concerned with mileage as the automotive. Just my opinion though

On the engines designed to run on high octane (the V8's), they definitely retard the timing and reduce the power when using lower octane fuel than GM recommends. But I've never seen anything in the GM manuals stating the V6's gain any power by using higher octane fuel.

Has anyone ever put a V6 on the dyno and done back to back pulls showing a power increase by switching from the recommended 87 octane to something higher?

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by chain777

On the engines designed to run on high octane (the V8's), they definitely retard the timing and reduce the power when using lower octane fuel than GM recommends. But I've never seen anything in the GM manuals stating the V6's gain any power by using higher octane fuel.

Has anyone ever put a V6 on the dyno and done back to back pulls showing a power increase by switching from the recommended 87 octane to something higher?

I've never seen a dyno pull as you mention it, but some relief may be found in the variable quality of gasoline's found at different locations...

Not all fuels are blended equally... A car may ping with 91 octane from one station, and not from another...

Power may be felt or perceived if some of the fuel used was sketchy and the car was pulling a degree or two of timing... without the driver realizing it... thinking all is well... Then change stations or octane ratings and for some reason and over a couple of days or weeks the car feels more responsive... The car may have just gone back to a condition of not pulling any timing to prevent detonation... It will pull timing instantly.. but it will not necessarily give it back that quickly...

The software is written so that over a period of time, if no knock is detected it will slowly revert back to the higher octane spark tables...

This is the advantage of a fuse pull on the V-8 Camaros... I'll have to defer to others as to whether or not there is a similar procedure on the V-6 Camaros... GGG would know...

[phntmss]

V8- 91 or better

[ChevyShark10]

I always use 93 octane from Shell for my V6. I've tried all fuel grades and 93 is definitely the best although not a crazy huge difference. I've just noticed the exhaust pops a little more when idling and 91/93 seems to last me an extra day or two. Plus I think it burns a little cleaner. I'm content spending an extra couple of bucks for premium... it's not much more expensive anyway.

[i2disturbedSS]

That was a good debate - but it was getting off topic for the thread
...
Voted other 91 no E

[Baba]

I switched to 93 Oct. within 4 months of having bought my 'vert. It certainly gives my V6 much better get-up-and-go performance than the 87 Oct. ever did.