Downside of running high octane gas?
#1
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: orlando, fl
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Didn't quite know where to post this.. so I figured I'd post it on the FI board considering most of you run 100+ octane.
I was thinking about this the other day after a friend of mine was explaining how he runs a very high octane gas in his grand prix gtp. The car has some work done to it, and it's running a fairly high amount of boost.. He runs a mixture of 93 octane, 110 octane, and 118 octane (paint thinner) He literally buys the 'thinner' by the drum from a Sherwinn Williams paint store.
I understand that he must run high octane to curve detonation with the high amount of boost he's using, but what is the downside to this.. There *has* to be some negative effect on the engine...
If I remember correctly, the higher the octane, the slower it burns, right? So, wouldn't that high of an octane not burn fast enough?
Something doesn't make sense...
<small>[ June 18, 2002, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: Bottled GTA ]</small>
I was thinking about this the other day after a friend of mine was explaining how he runs a very high octane gas in his grand prix gtp. The car has some work done to it, and it's running a fairly high amount of boost.. He runs a mixture of 93 octane, 110 octane, and 118 octane (paint thinner) He literally buys the 'thinner' by the drum from a Sherwinn Williams paint store.
I understand that he must run high octane to curve detonation with the high amount of boost he's using, but what is the downside to this.. There *has* to be some negative effect on the engine...
If I remember correctly, the higher the octane, the slower it burns, right? So, wouldn't that high of an octane not burn fast enough?
Something doesn't make sense...
<small>[ June 18, 2002, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: Bottled GTA ]</small>
#2
9 Second Club
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech20year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
here we go..... first of all if hes running leaded fuel he can kiss his o2 sensor good bye and his cat if he has one. he has detonation for a lot of reasons, mainly the lack of intercooler on that car. the only downside of running high octane unleaded fuel is cost. timing equals power the more timing you can safely run without detonating the better.
#3
TECH Resident
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I do know that your car will perform worse ( due to the slow burn ) if your setup doesn't warrant that much octane . . . but if he needs it, there really is no downside that I'm aware of ( from the high octane itself ).
- Dug
- Dug
#4
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Bottled GTA:
<strong>Didn't quite know where to post this.. so I figured I'd post it on the FI board considering most of you run 100+ octane.
I was thinking about this the other day after a friend of mine was explaining how he runs a very high octane gas in his grand prix gtp. The car has some work done to it, and it's running a fairly high amount of boost.. He runs a mixture of 93 octane, 110 octane, and 118 octane (paint thinner) He literally buys the 'thinner' by the drum from a Sherwinn Williams paint store.
I understand that he must run high octane to curve detonation with the high amount of boost he's using, but what is the downside to this.. There *has* to be some negative effect on the engine...
If I remember correctly, the higher the octane, the slower it burns, right? So, wouldn't that high of an octane not burn fast enough?
Something doesn't make sense...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. You sacrifice power and gas milage ..IF.. you don't need the octane. (again... IF you don't need it).
2. Money
If you DO need the higher octane, the only downside I see is money.
<strong>Didn't quite know where to post this.. so I figured I'd post it on the FI board considering most of you run 100+ octane.
I was thinking about this the other day after a friend of mine was explaining how he runs a very high octane gas in his grand prix gtp. The car has some work done to it, and it's running a fairly high amount of boost.. He runs a mixture of 93 octane, 110 octane, and 118 octane (paint thinner) He literally buys the 'thinner' by the drum from a Sherwinn Williams paint store.
I understand that he must run high octane to curve detonation with the high amount of boost he's using, but what is the downside to this.. There *has* to be some negative effect on the engine...
If I remember correctly, the higher the octane, the slower it burns, right? So, wouldn't that high of an octane not burn fast enough?
Something doesn't make sense...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. You sacrifice power and gas milage ..IF.. you don't need the octane. (again... IF you don't need it).
2. Money
If you DO need the higher octane, the only downside I see is money.