LFX engine gas octane

[KillerBomb24]

I have had a 2012 v6 camaro for the past year and have been putting 93 in it. The reason being is that the original owner money shifted the original engine and replaced it with another lfx engine. He told me to put 93 in it but I see no reason to do so. Would putting basic 87 cause any problems? I have put 87 in it once and didn't notice and difference in performance or sound but I just don't want to cause any damage.

[Greenhornet2]

it requires 87 octane no need to run more than 87. Even the SS's have a low octane table set up so it will run on 87. Top tier fuel is recommended though, has detergents to help keep from carbon buildup.

[redcoats1976]

i have used 87 and 89 in my LFX,and there is no real difference.i just have a hard time putting lawn mower gas into my car so i prefer the 89.only reason you would need 93 is if the car had been custom tuned to run on higher octane.

[Greenhornet2]

Running Higher octane than is required is actually detrimental to an engine. Higher octane resists combustion. When the tuning is set up to run 87, running higher octane will lead to a less complete burn and more carbon deposits and actually less power.

[ChibiBlackSheep]

There's tons of threads and topics on this and you will get both sides of the spectrum on this.

When I owned my v6 and data-logged, the low octane tables were awful. They pulled so much timing and used knock sensors like crazy. The car ran much better on 93 octane.

Eventhough this is "just a v6" it's also a high-compression, direct-injected, DOHC engine with a lot of sophistication. The LS3/L99 is old technology, so you can't really use the v6 vs v8 debate on these two engines in my opinion.

I recommend high octane for the v6.

[KillerBomb24]

Originally Posted by redcoats1976

i have used 87 and 89 in my LFX,and there is no real difference.i just have a hard time putting lawn mower gas into my car so i prefer the 89.only reason you would need 93 is if the car had been custom tuned to run on higher octane.

I do believe the car was tuned before I had it. Is there any way to find out without going to a tuner?

[KenKat]

I ran 93 in mine for a few months and didn’t see any performance or fuel economy differences although I also know others have had different results. I just run 87 nowadays.

[redcoats1976]

Originally Posted by KillerBomb24

I do believe the car was tuned before I had it. Is there any way to find out without going to a tuner?

mines bone stock,but some of the other people here might know how to tell...i see you also live in hot and humid florida,thats one reason i like to use 89 instead of 87 octane.

[spyderbuddy]

dead horse

[redcoats1976]

but...what do you feed a dead horse?

[spyderbuddy]

mine gets premium 93 feed

[AlanRubin]

Run the higher octane when ambient temperatures are above 60 degrees.
If you feel the timing being pulled in hot weather, use higher octane. I can tell when
the timing is being backed off. When I change to higher octane, that doesn't happen.
I can feel the timing pulls in 2nd gear.

Winter, I run 87 or 88, but when the summer comes around, you need the higher
octane level to prevent timing pulls.

Believe it or don't, but I can tell the difference. I know how to make my engine
knock and ping while going up a hill, in "M" 5th. There is a specific hill I run up,
and press the pedal almost all the way to the floor, and when it hits a certain
point I can hear the clattering. When I run with 91 or higher octane, it doesn't
happen. Running higher octane also increases fuel mileage, from 15 gallons to
14.5, and with the intake now ~13.5 per 380 miles. I run the same 380 miles 3-4
days a week, so I test all the fuels, in all the temperatures, so I got it down pat.
I fill the tank with 88 till the pump shuts off, then I squeeze 2 more gallons of E85
on top if it. Did the round trip back to the same gas station, it took ~13.5 gallons.

[PaulsSS]

My v6 runs terrible on 87 but of course it does because it has a premium gas tune in it. Like Chibi mentions up above the low octane tables are horrible. If I put regular gas in the car runs so bad you never put it in again.

My Subaru calls for regular but there are times I can hear it pinging and pulling timing. you can feel the reduced power. The Camaro on the other hand just flat out won't go it pulls that much timing on 87.

[xstuntman]

Originally Posted by ChibiBlackSheep

There's tons of threads and topics on this and you will get both sides of the spectrum on this.

When I owned my v6 and data-logged, the low octane tables were awful. They pulled so much timing and used knock sensors like crazy. The car ran much better on 93 octane.

Eventhough this is "just a v6" it's also a high-compression, direct-injected, DOHC engine with a lot of sophistication. The LS3/L99 is old technology, so you can't really use the v6 vs v8 debate on these two engines in my opinion.

I recommend high octane for the v6.

Agreed.
Motors around 11.5:1 compression and detonation is the enemy. Will it run on 87? Sure. It would run on retreads and dino oil too. Never saw the point of being cheap on fuel, oil or filters myself.