what gas are you using? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

steallife904 · 03-30-2010, 07:26 AM

Had a question to everyone with the v6... What gas are you using or do you recommend? 87,89,93??? Since i had my car i have only filled up twice and put 89 in both times. Is that fine? Should i use 93 or go down to 87? let me know

67 Convertible · 03-30-2010, 07:34 AM

No need to use anything but 87 Octane in your V6, anything more will be a waste of your money. I have never used anything but 87 oct., runs perfect with over 10k miles. Using 87 Oct. in the V6 is clearly stated and recommended in your owners manual.

89 won't do any harm, but there's no advantage either.

cschmidt1956 · 03-30-2010, 07:34 AM

I've been using 87 octane but have FEW miles on my car (1500 since Oct 31). My average is near 23.5 for all fills and I've not yet done my oil change to Mobil1. It pulls well with 87, but I've seen that some people feel that a higher octane "MIGHT" do better for this car/engine due to performance.

I drive spirited and use the handling of the car more than the speed of the car.

I want to maximize my MPG while still having fun. So far I am VERY pleased with mine running 87 octane which is recommended.

scrming · 03-30-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67 Convertible

No need to use anything but 87 Octane in your V6, anything more will be a waste of your money. I have never used anything but 87 oct., runs perfect with over 10k miles. Using 87 Oct. in the V6 is clearly stated and recommended in your owners manual.

89 won't do any harm, but there's no advantage either.

Simply not true... this has been beat to death... You need to understand how knock sensors work and that our V6's seem to be "over-sparked"... yes, your car will run fine on 87 octane but only because the knock senors are detecting the "knock" before you actually hear it... With 87 octane the knock sensors are reducing your timing thereby reducing performance... All this is happening without you knowing it... so while your car runs fine on 87 octane, it is not living up to it's full potential. Put higher octane in and the knock sensor are a lot less active, therefore the car runs more timing, resulting in more performance...

PieNsky · 03-30-2010, 09:56 AM

I dynoed mine with 87, uggh.

ron10 · 03-30-2010, 10:02 AM

i use shell 93 octane.what ever you use,i would go by the "top tier" gas listed in your owners manual.

scrming · 03-30-2010, 10:11 AM

Forgot I made this video... Bottom right hand corner is the "Spark Retard"... this is the amount of timing the knock sensors are causing to be pulled (retard). The higher the number, the less overall timing you are running, the less performance you get...

This is with 87 octane:

When I run premium that number stays at 0....

Kaoz · 03-30-2010, 10:48 AM

There's also the fact that in Canada Midgrade and Premium are ethanol free at most stations, which gives way better mileage/performance.

steallife904 · 03-30-2010, 10:59 AM

so you think i should go up, from 89 to 93?

scrming · 03-30-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steallife904

so you think i should go up, from 89 to 93?

That is really going to be up to you... you aren't hurting anything running 87 or 89... run a couple of tanks of 93 and see if it's worth the extra money to you....

devildoc · 03-30-2010, 11:10 AM

Wait so ethanol is in someway hurting the performance of the car?

SDCamaro10 · 03-30-2010, 11:13 AM

I ran premium for a while but it started to get pretty expensive here in san diego. I went back to mid grade and i'll probably stay there unless i take it in for a dyno, or to the track, in that case i'll put premium in it. Its up to you on what you use, you probably wont be able to tell a difference, performance wise, using your butt dyno, but scrming is right when it comes to the knock sensors. I'd say go with what you can afford.

Mankind · 03-30-2010, 11:45 AM

If you chose to run the mid grade be sure to check the inspection and calibration date on the pump. Refineries don't actually make 89 octane fuel. It is mixed from 87 and 93 at the pump. If the calibration is pretty old you really can't be sure what the actual octane number is. you might be getting higher or you might not. I only use 93 for this reason.

cschmidt1956 · 03-30-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devildoc

Wait so ethanol is in someway hurting the performance of the car?

Ethanol evaporates very quickly and has less BTU output than that of a conventional 87 octane. This fuel get's blended when they load the truck in most cases. It is a SUB GRADE of 85.5 octane for the most part. 10% ethanol is added to bring it up to 87 octane.

One GOOD thing about ethanol blended fuels is that you no longer need to put any gas-line freeze stuff in because ethanol is all that is anyway.

03-30-2010, 07:26 AM	#1
steallife904 Drives: 2010 iom camaro 2lt Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 192 View My Garage	what gas are you using? Had a question to everyone with the v6... What gas are you using or do you recommend? 87,89,93??? Since i had my car i have only filled up twice and put 89 in both times. Is that fine? Should i use 93 or go down to 87? let me know

03-30-2010, 07:34 AM	#2
67 Convertible Drives: 67 Camaro Convertible Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MA Posts: 1,721	No need to use anything but 87 Octane in your V6, anything more will be a waste of your money. I have never used anything but 87 oct., runs perfect with over 10k miles. Using 87 Oct. in the V6 is clearly stated and recommended in your owners manual. 89 won't do any harm, but there's no advantage either. __________________ _____________________________________________ 2LT/RS RJT, Blk Rally Stripes, Beige Interior, Sunroof Placed order at dealer 4/24/09 1100 - 4/28/09 2000 - 5/01/09 2500 - 5/05/09 3000 - 5/05/09 3300 - 5/30/09 3400 - 6/05/09 3800 - 6/18/09 4000 - 6/18/09 4B00 - 6/18/09 4200 - 6/22/09 5000 - 7/01/09 6000 - 7/01/09 It's Home!! 0000 - 7/14/11 Traded in with 24,000 miles. Currently 5th Gen less

03-30-2010, 10:11 AM	#7
scrming Red Brick of Vengeance! Drives: 12 Second Brick Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: at my pulpit Posts: 7,745	Forgot I made this video... Bottom right hand corner is the "Spark Retard"... this is the amount of timing the knock sensors are causing to be pulled (retard). The higher the number, the less overall timing you are running, the less performance you get... This is with 87 octane: When I run premium that number stays at 0.... __________________ 2011 Ford Flex EcoBoost Limited - 12.727 @ 109.790 MPH

03-30-2010, 10:48 AM	#8
Kaoz Drives: Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 107	There's also the fact that in Canada Midgrade and Premium are ethanol free at most stations, which gives way better mileage/performance. __________________ Rally Yellow 2LT/RS 2000 - 06/03 - Moved to "Placed" status 2500 - 06/23 - Preferenced 3000 - 06/24 - Ready to schedule 3100 - 07/23 - Scheduled 3300 - 07/23 - Sequenced for production 3400 - 07/25 - Broadcast 3800 - 08/03 - VIN

03-30-2010, 11:10 AM	#11
devildoc Drives: '12 Toyota Tacoma Dbl Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 1,275 View My Garage	Wait so ethanol is in someway hurting the performance of the car? __________________ MRT V2\|Trifecta Tune\|Airaid\|ARH LTs\|Eibach Sways STANDING 1/4MI: 13.948@99.87 6600RPM HP/TQ Gains - 30.54HP/24.3TQ (NOT PEAK)

03-30-2010, 07:34 AM	#3
cschmidt1956 Drives: Too Little time to drive.... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nowhere Posts: 268 View My Garage	I've been using 87 octane but have FEW miles on my car (1500 since Oct 31). My average is near 23.5 for all fills and I've not yet done my oil change to Mobil1. It pulls well with 87, but I've seen that some people feel that a higher octane "MIGHT" do better for this car/engine due to performance. I drive spirited and use the handling of the car more than the speed of the car. I want to maximize my MPG while still having fun. So far I am VERY pleased with mine running 87 octane which is recommended.

03-30-2010, 09:56 AM	#5
PieNsky Drives: Victory Red 1LS Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Louisville,KY Posts: 1,929 View My Garage	I dynoed mine with 87, uggh.

03-30-2010, 10:02 AM	#6
ron10 Drives: 2010 2SS IOM L99 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: LOUISVILLE,KY.. Posts: 7,545	i use shell 93 octane.what ever you use,i would go by the "top tier" gas listed in your owners manual.

03-30-2010, 10:59 AM	#9
steallife904 Drives: 2010 iom camaro 2lt Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 192 View My Garage	so you think i should go up, from 89 to 93?

03-30-2010, 11:13 AM	#12
SDCamaro10 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT RJT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,951	I ran premium for a while but it started to get pretty expensive here in san diego. I went back to mid grade and i'll probably stay there unless i take it in for a dyno, or to the track, in that case i'll put premium in it. Its up to you on what you use, you probably wont be able to tell a difference, performance wise, using your butt dyno, but scrming is right when it comes to the knock sensors. I'd say go with what you can afford. __________________

03-30-2010, 11:45 AM	#13
Mankind Whats a Millwright? Drives: 2LT/RS SIM, 05 Wht Denali Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Holden, LA Posts: 410	If you chose to run the mid grade be sure to check the inspection and calibration date on the pump. Refineries don't actually make 89 octane fuel. It is mixed from 87 and 93 at the pump. If the calibration is pretty old you really can't be sure what the actual octane number is. you might be getting higher or you might not. I only use 93 for this reason.

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