[silentownage001]

Originally Posted by Ecchi667

BTW, don't feel bad that we don't get such high octanes over here in the USA. When I was buying fuel in the UK it was probably working out to about $12 a gallon (it's gotten cheaper since I left, but is still at least $6 a gallon). Driving in the USA is beautifully cheap.

You don't have higher octane fuel in the UK. It's measured using RON there and AKI here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

[TSloper]

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

I am pretty sure the V8 and T4 are tuned for premium. Read the owner's manual. 87 CAN be detrimental to them. Here it is from the owner's manual
If the vehicle has a 2.0L L4 turbo or
a 6.2L V8 engine, use premium
unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher can be used,
but acceleration and fuel economy
will be reduced, and an audible
knocking noise may be heard. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 91 octane rating or
higher, the engine needs service.

Also from my understanding, which I admit may be flawed, there is no "indexing" the car adjusts it's own timing based on signals from knock sensors. This is a form of tuning to the octane you put in the car.

There are knock thresholds that if they get crossed will cause the ECM to incrementally skew the timing towards the lower octane table. It will keep heading closer to the low octane values until the KR stops.

[Ecchi667]

Originally Posted by silentownage001

You don't have higher octane fuel in the UK. It's measured using RON there and AKI here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

Well that's good to know, thanks! That just makes gas here in the USA even more of a bargain!

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by Ecchi667

Anybody got knowledge of octane boosters? For instance, if one were to use 87 but then add a booster which puts it at 93 (ish), could that work out cheaper than just getting 93? And would it even be worth the extra hassle?

You are asking the right questions. Most octane boosters use MMT, which is a potent octane booster, but also not widely considered safe for spark plugs, O2 sensors, and catalytic converters. And these boosters are most effective at boosting only the lowest AKI to higher grades. The main problem is the more you boost the more you increase fuel density which slows combustion and decreases power. And, as zeke.malvo pointed out, each can raises AKI by only 0.3 or so. Small gains at $10/can.
In short, it is more cost effective and performance effective to buy premium at the pump.

[PWPhoto]

All I ever ran in my gen 4's was 91 to 93, depending on what brand it was. I mainly stuck to Amoco 93 or BP 93, which are both one and the same now. I had a '94 LT1 Z28, '98 LS1 Z28 and a '01 WS6 Trans Am. I actually ran 100 unleaded in my '98 for 4 years. I raced it for 4 1/2 years. Street sleeper. A lot of unsuspecting pony boys got their feelings hurt going to Myrtle Beach quite a few times. I'd play with them for a bit to give them hope, then when my 200hp of gas hit,

Right now here in SC, premium is roughly $2.40ish. Local station that sells 100 octane unleaded has it for like $3.85. There is a station near the drag way that sells 105 octane unleaded when he can get it. It's a little hight though. It was $5.50 last time I got any of it. My '98 loved that stuff. I had cold plugs in it so I didn't have to worry about them burning up.

[MovieGuy]

I took my Camaro out for a drive yesterday, first time since filling up with ethanol free 91 octane. And I must say, it does seem to pull me back in the seat noticeably harder. I will admit this could be entirely a placebo effect as I have never done any 0 to 60 runs to quantify it. It also could be because it never reached 80 degrees yesterday when I have been driving the car in the 90s all summer. There are so many variables. But in the grand scheme of things I don't fill up often enough for the price difference to amount to much, so I am going to stick with the gas that I think makes my car more fun.

[enzia35]

I run what I want.

[whiteboyblues2001]

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

I took my Camaro out for a drive yesterday, first time since filling up with ethanol free 91 octane. And I must say, it does seem to pull me back in the seat noticeably harder. I will admit this could be entirely a placebo effect as I have never done any 0 to 60 runs to quantify it. It also could be because it never reached 80 degrees yesterday when I have been driving the car in the 90s all summer. There are so many variables. But in the grand scheme of things I don't fill up often enough for the price difference to amount to much, so I am going to stick with the gas that I think makes my car more fun.

If you have an OBDII reader that can display the timing, you can put in 87 and see how much timing gets pulled. Then do the same for premium gas. This will tell us if running premium is worth it.

[MovieGuy]

Originally Posted by whiteboyblues2001

If you have an OBDII reader that can display the timing, you can put in 87 and see how much timing gets pulled. Then do the same for premium gas. This will tell us if running premium is worth it.

That is an excellent idea. Unfortunately I don't have one. But it wouldn't hurt to look into getting one, they are not a bad idea to have for when various problems come up.

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

I took my Camaro out for a drive yesterday, first time since filling up with ethanol free 91 octane. And I must say, it does seem to pull me back in the seat noticeably harder. I will admit this could be entirely a placebo effect as I have never done any 0 to 60 runs to quantify it. It also could be because it never reached 80 degrees yesterday when I have been driving the car in the 90s all summer. There are so many variables. But in the grand scheme of things I don't fill up often enough for the price difference to amount to much, so I am going to stick with the gas that I think makes my car more fun.

Good to know. I was wondering which would be more beneficial for my SS..... premium unleaded or ethanol-free? Unfortunately, around here, the typical top tier premium unleaded is only 91 octane. Or, I did see Ethanol-Free gas the other day too at Wawa, but it was only 89 octane. Hmmmm, probably best to run the 91 octane stuff I bet.

[TSloper]

Originally Posted by blazzin1

Good to know. I was wondering which would be more beneficial for my SS..... premium unleaded or ethanol-free? Unfortunately, around here, the typical top tier premium unleaded is only 91 octane. Or, I did see Ethanol-Free gas the other day too at Wawa, but it was only 89 octane. Hmmmm, probably best to run the 91 octane stuff I bet.

Run at least the 91. The ethanol free cost difference probably won't make it worth while. Performance wise it brings nothing to the table here.

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by TSloper

Run at least the 91. The ethanol free cost difference probably won't make it worth while. Performance wise it brings nothing to the table here.

Thanks for the advice!

[Whis]

Originally Posted by enzia35

I run what I want.

Thanks for this post

[mgwarlock]

You can run whatever you wanted but at what cost in the end?
50k car are willing to take the chance for a few cents.

If you can afford insurance buy as much as you can because you never know,