Intercooler2

iTrader: (24)

I haven't really played on a dyno with a NA car or experimented at the track to see. I know forced induction it can make a good difference. For a NA car that is say tuned on a dyno with 93 octane does it make any sense to spike the mix at the track with 104 or 110 unleaded? Would it pick up any or could it hurt things?

second_2_none

iTrader: (6)

I couldnt tell you what it really does. But a couple years back I mixed in some 110 octane with 93 and went to the track. It fouled out one of my o2 sensors and I didnt really see a difference in ET.

Intercooler2

iTrader: (24)

You probably used the leaded version which will do that. Our track has 104/110 in unleaded but don't know if it helps or not.

SWeiser31

iTrader: (9)

The way I understand it, is you want to use the lowest octane you can without getting detonation. The higher the octane, the harder it is to ignite the fuel. So to answer your question, no a higher octane will not help unless it's needed.

03 BUSA

iTrader: (25)

You would run a higher octane to run more timing. More timing you can get without detonation = more power to a certain extent. Just running a higher octane is going to do nothing for you. Your tune dictates what fuel to run. I run a high compression motor on 93 pump gas with a conservative timing tune. That is my choice. I could run q16 and bump the timing up considerably and pick up et.

custm2500

iTrader: (11)

Running any more octane then you are tuned for is pouring money in your tank and pissing it out the tail pipe. It is a complete and total waist of time to run anything more then 93 octane. It will only hurt you by effectively pulling some timing do to the slower burn. It probably won't hurt your et or mph but it will not help you and will be waisting money.

If you are still considering this then send me the extra money for fuel and i will pencil in the extra mph and a 1/10 off your e.t. on your slip. Then we both win.

358chevycamaro

iTrader: (10)

If you are tuned to run max effort on 93 I can tell you what effect my car had when trying higher octane. I was running late and forgot to grab some extra 93 for the car so after I unloaded it at the track I was forced to run 110. The car dropped nearly 2 tenths as what it ran in the same DA and track conditions the day before. Keep in mind I bracket raced the car at the time and could tell you down to .02 seconds what the car would run before making the first pass.

Running a slower burning fuel (ie. higher octane) without running additional timing will do nothing but slow your car down if it is truly tuned to its potential on 93, and I am not talking about pushing the envelope at all either. Just safe and fast.

custm2500

iTrader: (11)

WOW .2 I can't believe was compleatly related to the 110 but i could be wrong. I certainly agree it will only slow you down and foul the motor.

htownws6

iTrader: (1)

I had the same experience. Ran 110 octane (when I normally run 93) and dropped at least 2 tenths.

Doug G

Yes, higher octain burns slower to reduce knock. So higher octain will/can slow you down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating
Octane rating does not relate to the energy content of the fuel (see heating value). It is only a measure of the fuel's tendency to burn in a controlled manner,

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

Correct. Waste of $$$ if the higher octane isn't needed.

Derek

krissoto

iTrader: (3)

so then is doing this with nitrous a whole different story? not trying to hijack the thread, but when running a standalone is that not advisable or does this only apply to NA?

Doug G

If your nitrous system has its own fuel system, it can be a safeguard and/or make more power.
Resistance to knock will help if your tune is lean. (to a point)
Higher octain with the higher cylinder pressures and oxygen content might make more power also.

krissoto

iTrader: (3)

^^^^^Thank you sir.

Oldass

GM High Tec did a fuel test a while back. They started with a boosted Vette tuned on 93 octane fuel. They got a baseline pull of 838 hp. Then they drained the 93 octane rule and replaced it with 100 octane fuel. Without making any changes to the tune it lost 8 hp and 6 ft/lbs of torque. They went on to tune it and it picked up hp. So I'd say run what the car is tuned for.

deangoodin

iTrader: (1)

Wow ...you guys are blowing my mind!!!!are all you guys talking about non nitrous runs on low compression???,i want to save little $$$ but do you not have up the fuel to run nitrous to keep it from burning up some pistons ????

Doug G

No.
sorry for the late reply.