Tune for lower octane? (due to availability)

lewisd · 09-28-2018, 05:35 PM

I'm planning to get a 2019 (trading in my '16 SS) and am contemplating a ZL1. My main reason (other than price, hah) for not getting one is the octane requirement. Where I live (Vancouver, BC) Chevron is the only gas station that has 94. Everywhere else tops out at 91. That's tolerable, I can work with that. The problem is, once I leave the city for the barren wilds (lol) of BC, it can be a long way between Chevrons, and it could limit where I can go.

So, long story short: Is it possible to have the car re-tuned to safely run on 91 even with spirited driving, without voiding the warranty?

I've not really seen any conclusion to the "is it safe to run 91 octane regularly, and drive hard?" question, so it seems like the only really safe option would be a retune?

Mcmillion · 09-28-2018, 05:41 PM

91 octane? I'm in the desert so mine runs fine on 91 oct. My other cars run better with some e85 mixed in to raise the octane, can't wait to log this one and test it out.

Gunkk · 09-28-2018, 05:45 PM

Why not keep your warranty and use Race gas?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Race-Gas/814/...hoC4QcQAvD_BwE

Airfuel · 09-28-2018, 05:53 PM

91 will be fine but what about a little octane boost when you have to fill up with regular?

lewisd · 09-28-2018, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Why not keep your warranty and use Race gas?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Race-Gas/814/...hoC4QcQAvD_BwE

Uh, so I already explained why 94 octane is a problem... why on earth do you think suggesting race gas is going to help the problem?

lewisd · 09-28-2018, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airfuel

91 will be fine but what about a little octane boost when you have to fill up with regular?

Yeah, I suppose that's a workable option. Still curious if there's a way to detune while keeping the warranty though.

Gunkk · 09-28-2018, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewisd

Uh, so I already explained why 94 octane is a problem... why on earth do you think suggesting race gas is going to help the problem?

Perhaps you missed my point? You can carry it with you and then mix it into the tank when you need to fill up with 91 between Chevrons.

Based on the table a single 16oz can would give you 93 octane on a 16gal fillup of 91.

Mcmillion · 09-28-2018, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewisd

Yeah, I suppose that's a workable option. Still curious if there's a way to detune while keeping the warranty though.

The cars are smart these days the ecm has it's own low octane tables already in there when it needs them.

lewisd · 09-28-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcmillion

The cars are smart these days the ecm has it's own low octane tables already in there when it needs them.

My understanding (which could be way off) of how that works is that it detects the lower octane by detonation. Would that mean that every now and then it's re-advancing the timing (or whatever it's adjusting) to see if the octane is "ok" now, and causing detonation briefly? How bad for the engine is that going to be over the long term? And would running 91 void the warranty anyway?

lewisd · 09-28-2018, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Perhaps you missed my point? You can carry it with you and then mix it into the tank when you need to fill up with 91 between Chevrons.

Based on the table a single 16oz can would give you 93 octane on a 16gal fillup of 91.

Ah, so it's as workable as the "carry some octane booster" solution. Workable, but still a long-term pain in the butt.

avalonandl · 09-28-2018, 06:22 PM

91 is perfectly fine for the ZL 1. In fact these cars can run on 87 because GM understands that sometimes people will save $ sometimes.

FringBirdAloha · 09-28-2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewisd

I'm planning to get a 2019 (trading in my '16 SS) and am contemplating a ZL1. My main reason (other than price, hah) for not getting one is the octane requirement. Where I live (Vancouver, BC) Chevron is the only gas station that has 94. Everywhere else tops out at 91. That's tolerable, I can work with that. The problem is, once I leave the city for the barren wilds (lol) of BC, it can be a long way between Chevrons, and it could limit where I can go.

So, long story short: Is it possible to have the car re-tuned to safely run on 91 even with spirited driving, without voiding the warranty?

I've not really seen any conclusion to the "is it safe to run 91 octane regularly, and drive hard?" question, so it seems like the only really safe option would be a retune?

In Arizona we don’t even have 94 available. It works great on 91.

jjgi5150 · 09-28-2018, 09:12 PM

Hi all,

I started using a mix of Sunoco unleaded 100 octane to reach a 93 Octane. In my SoCal desert, the car seems to run a good bit smoother, with less off-idle stumble, and also feels like it has more in the mid range. It is a good bit more costly for sure, at $10.00 per gallon, but relatively easy to add and mix. I fill a six gallon can and use three gallons per fill up, on a quarter tank of 91 octane. Using available on-line charts for mixing, it has made a noticeable difference.

I only drive the car occasionally, and any longer trips I might take will not empty the tank on my driving style. I think I may try a TM TB, based on a lot of input from other ZLE owners. I think that may be about all I'll do to this car, along with the already installed Green filter.

Seems to be worth it for me...

JJ

Markoz28 · 09-28-2018, 09:37 PM

91 is fine for everyday driving. I do think that if you have to drive a distance without 91 and let’s say 89 or even 87 octane a couple of cans of a booster would not be too costly to have on hand for long trips and easy to store/carry due to their size. Some guys swear by (Torco).

09-28-2018, 05:35 PM	#1
lewisd Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Canada Posts: 79	Tune for lower octane? (due to availability) I'm planning to get a 2019 (trading in my '16 SS) and am contemplating a ZL1. My main reason (other than price, hah) for not getting one is the octane requirement. Where I live (Vancouver, BC) Chevron is the only gas station that has 94. Everywhere else tops out at 91. That's tolerable, I can work with that. The problem is, once I leave the city for the barren wilds (lol) of BC, it can be a long way between Chevrons, and it could limit where I can go. So, long story short: Is it possible to have the car re-tuned to safely run on 91 even with spirited driving, without voiding the warranty? I've not really seen any conclusion to the "is it safe to run 91 octane regularly, and drive hard?" question, so it seems like the only really safe option would be a retune? __________________ Current stable: 2019 Camaro 2SS (same as 2016 but 10AT) 2014 Subaru WRX (Satin White Pearl, Kenwood Carplay headunit) Past stable: 2016 Camaro 2SS (8AT, NPP Dual Mode Exhaust, Magride, sunroof, Summit White, black metallic center stripe, Adrenaline Red interior trim) 1990 Mazda Miata (too many mods to list) 1988 Mazda 323 Wagon (With 323 GTX motor!) 1987 Monte Carlo SS (Grey on grey, gunmetal-grey painted GTA wheels, lowered, dual exhaust, and much more) 2006 Subaru Impreza 1981 G20 Van (3-tone brown, shag/velvet interior)

09-28-2018, 06:22 PM	#11
avalonandl Drives: 2019 ZL-1 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Troy, MI & Naples, FL Posts: 2,019	91 is perfectly fine for the ZL 1. In fact these cars can run on 87 because GM understands that sometimes people will save $ sometimes. __________________ 2019 ZL-1 Acquired 4/23/21 at 6300 miles. Riverside Blue, A10, PDR. Traded in 2017 2SS with 6M and 32k miles. Continental Extreme Contact Sports. Now has 10,000 miles... 2012 Yukon XL Denali w/ 6.2 AWD

09-28-2018, 09:12 PM	#13
jjgi5150 Drives: 2022 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: AZ Posts: 257	Hi all, I started using a mix of Sunoco unleaded 100 octane to reach a 93 Octane. In my SoCal desert, the car seems to run a good bit smoother, with less off-idle stumble, and also feels like it has more in the mid range. It is a good bit more costly for sure, at $10.00 per gallon, but relatively easy to add and mix. I fill a six gallon can and use three gallons per fill up, on a quarter tank of 91 octane. Using available on-line charts for mixing, it has made a noticeable difference. I only drive the car occasionally, and any longer trips I might take will not empty the tank on my driving style. I think I may try a TM TB, based on a lot of input from other ZLE owners. I think that may be about all I'll do to this car, along with the already installed Green filter. Seems to be worth it for me... JJ __________________ 2018 ZL1 1LE, NGM, Nav, PDR, born 11/22/17 SOLD 2022 ZLE, MH3, WCT, Nav, PDR, born 10/21-5/22!!! 2021 F-250 FX4 2023 Hyundai SF Calligraphy

09-28-2018, 05:41 PM	#2
Mcmillion Drives: 2018 ZL1 1998 SS 1992 Typhoon Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: RR Posts: 262	91 octane? I'm in the desert so mine runs fine on 91 oct. My other cars run better with some e85 mixed in to raise the octane, can't wait to log this one and test it out.

09-28-2018, 05:45 PM	#3
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,975 View My Garage	Why not keep your warranty and use Race gas? https://www.jegs.com/i/Race-Gas/814/...hoC4QcQAvD_BwE

09-28-2018, 05:53 PM	#4
Airfuel Drives: '19 2SS M6. Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: CT Posts: 340	91 will be fine but what about a little octane boost when you have to fill up with regular?

09-28-2018, 09:37 PM	#14
Markoz28 Drives: 18 ZL1 nightfall grey A10 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: RGV Texas Posts: 1,527	91 is fine for everyday driving. I do think that if you have to drive a distance without 91 and let’s say 89 or even 87 octane a couple of cans of a booster would not be too costly to have on hand for long trips and easy to store/carry due to their size. Some guys swear by (Torco).

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