[Boo]

So im at a Cadi dealer waiting for wifes xt5 to get finnished. A salesman is explaining to me that my ZL1 may run better with No Ethanol fuel...even though it is only 89 octane. Anyone hear this or try this? He says he has built several dragsters over the years and the additives in our typical 93oct just help "gum up" the engine. I explained we are supposed to use 93 top tier but he is adamant....i must try no ethanol 89 gas next time i work my fuel tank down...any thoughts??

[Oddspyke]

Sounds like a smart salesman. Gets you to put marine 89 octane in your car, suddenly you're in the market for a new car! Genius.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Oddspyke

Sounds like a smart salesman. Gets you to put marine 89 octane in your car, suddenly you're in the market for a new car! Genius.

Ya im skeptical lol but this dude is swearing the car ought to perform better

[BlueinTN]

Did he tell you little kids in China are starving cause were using ALL the corn for fuel. Thats my favorite.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by BlueinTN

Did he tell you little kids in China are starving cause were using ALL the corn for fuel. Thats my favorite.

His thing is that Premium gas is a scam and 0 ethanol doesn't have the thick syrup the high octane stuff has. I use 0 ethanol for my lawn equipment but not my LT4. So im curious if anyone has tried this in rheir cars...

[BlueinTN]

Originally Posted by Boo

His thing is that Premium gas is a scam and 0 ethanol doesn't have the thick syrup the high octane stuff has. I use 0 ethanol for my lawn equipment but not my LT4. So im curious if anyone has tried this in rheir cars...

Thick syrup....thats gonna go on the "quote of the week board" here at work.


Thank you.


You will just have to do your own research. there are ALOT of threads right here on this web site for you to look at.


I do have some vehicles that I run E85 one creeping up on 10 years. I let it sit 3 months and just started and been driving it this week. I cant seem to have any of the problems that have been reported mostly by your salesmen.

[Wilka_SS]

Just LOL. I really hope you aren't naïve enough to even consider that.

[KingLT1]

These cars are tuned for 10% ethanol from the factory. Running Ethanol free gas would throw of the fueling some because the ECU's stoich value is set to 14.07 which is stoich for E10.... so the sales man is full of shit.

[sengli]

There is a local gas station near me that just opened recently. One product they had was 90 octane... no alcohol gas. Tried it in my ZL1 , and it really didnt seem as snappy as the 93 octane I get at sunoco. Which I am sure has alcohol in it.

[Heartbreaker]

Originally Posted by Boo

His thing is that Premium gas is a scam and 0 ethanol doesn't have the thick syrup the high octane stuff has. I use 0 ethanol for my lawn equipment but not my LT4. So im curious if anyone has tried this in rheir cars...

I use 93 octane pure gas. The car loves it.

[EDFHOBBIES]

Originally Posted by Heartbreaker

I use 93 octane pure gas. The car loves it.

So does my weedeater!

[Revalot]

Originally Posted by sengli

There is a local gas station near me that just opened recently. One product they had was 90 octane... no alcohol gas. Tried it in my ZL1 , and it really didnt seem as snappy as the 93 octane I get at sunoco. Which I am sure has alcohol in it.

Here in Texas sunoco 93 is ethanol free. I've tried 93 no ethanol, and 93 with ethanol, I cant tell the difference. Leave the 89 octane alone. Gas cover says 90+, 92-93 is what I run only.

[Oddspyke]

I don't want to turn this into a lecture, but just in case anyone stumbles into this thread and gets the wrong idea...

Octane is basically a knock resistance rating. Higher octane is not a gimmick, it actually prevents knock (pre detonation) in high compression / forced induction cars. If you put a lower octane fuel in your car, the ECU will have to retard timing to protect the engine, thus reducing torque. In extreme cases, putting a lower octane fuel than your car is rated for in it can actually damage the engine.

Where this guy probably got his idea from is that ethanol does have lower energy content than good old fashioned dinosaur juice, but modern ECUs have that factored in and simply inject more fuel to compensate (a good ECU uses lambda not AFR, since AFR changes with the ethanol content of the fuel; I don't know if Chevy uses lambda targets, but the European cars do). Ethanol also has a huge cooling effect in the cylinder on DI cars, which is why people tune for high E blends; you can run crazy timing and make lots more power because the cooling also prevents knock.

Short version - that salesman is wrong

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Oddspyke

I don't want to turn this into a lecture, but just in case anyone stumbles into this thread and gets the wrong idea...

Octane is basically a knock resistance rating. Higher octane is not a gimmick, it actually prevents knock (pre detonation) in high compression / forced induction cars. If you put a lower octane fuel in your car, the ECU will have to retard timing to protect the engine, thus reducing torque. In extreme cases, putting a lower octane fuel than your car is rated for in it can actually damage the engine.

Where this guy probably got his idea from is that ethanol does have lower energy content than good old fashioned dinosaur juice, but modern ECUs have that factored in and simply inject more fuel to compensate (a good ECU uses lambda not AFR, since AFR changes with the ethanol content of the fuel; I don't know if Chevy uses lambda targets, but the European cars do). Ethanol also has a huge cooling effect in the cylinder on DI cars, which is why people tune for high E blends; you can run crazy timing and make lots more power because the cooling also prevents knock.

Short version - that salesman is wrong