87 Octane gas in LS1
#61
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Don't some of the 98's have an issue where the knock sensors are overly sensitive, therefore the car may actually be running on the low octane maps regardless of what octane is put in the car? This would explain how some people see no difference in the grades of gas. But how would you test it..... ? Does a knock sensor register on an obd-2 scanner?
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Just so we are all clear - this is a direct quote from the 2000 Camaro owners manual -
"If you have the 5.7L V8 engine (VIN Code G), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher for best performance. You may use middle grade or regular unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be slightly reduced."
Is my acceleration slightly reduced - according to this yes.
Another quote same manual...
"...don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means you have a problem."
Very straight forward. There is no magic. 87 octane pulls some timing - plain and simple. If you are not knocking - you are not doing damage.
For me - I don't need performance "on the edge". I am perfectly happy not being the first one away from the stoplight most of the time. I have a daily driver.
Still want to call me a cheap ***? OK. But please don't say that it is causing damage to the motor - cause GM says otherwise.
"If you have the 5.7L V8 engine (VIN Code G), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher for best performance. You may use middle grade or regular unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be slightly reduced."
Is my acceleration slightly reduced - according to this yes.
Another quote same manual...
"...don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means you have a problem."
Very straight forward. There is no magic. 87 octane pulls some timing - plain and simple. If you are not knocking - you are not doing damage.
For me - I don't need performance "on the edge". I am perfectly happy not being the first one away from the stoplight most of the time. I have a daily driver.
Still want to call me a cheap ***? OK. But please don't say that it is causing damage to the motor - cause GM says otherwise.
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MeentSSo2 is simply trying to say...WHATS THE POINT OF HAVING AN AWESOME ENGINE IN AN AWESOME CAR IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN IT HARD AND GIVE IT WHAT IT LIKES?!!! Just get a civic if you want a daily driver that gets good gas mileage. As for the majority on here, we'll have our cake and eat it too.
I have a CRX now for the winter. 40mpg for $875. It beats 10mpg in the V10 F250SuperDuty.
But, SpeedRacer in NC, if you want to drive like an idiot all the time...if it makes you feel like SomeBody special, well fine, go right ahead. Some of us, however, are grownups now and don't feel like they have to be that way all the time.
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My question to people that use 87 is do you actually get the same mileage out of 87 as 93? I certainly didn't and it cost more in the end to put 87 in. Even if I wanted to use 87 in mine, theres nothing but disadvantage to me and my car. Less mpg and less power that costs me more in the end. I'm not flaming or anything, I'm just curious if you get the same mileage in your cars using 87 as opposed to 93.
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i was considering this. it is winter now but since my car is my dd I have to drive it. Its too cold out and usually too wet out to drive it hard anyhow so I might as well use 87 b/c I am flat broke. I figure I'll just watch the rpms, grandpa shift, and it should be fine. Lets see, its like 20 cents more per gallon and the tank is like, 16 gallons or so. Fill up on 87 saves me 3.20. So at the current rate of fuel pricing, every 13-16 fill ups i get one free! wow, those savings kinda suck. Oh well, it is winter.
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My question to people that use 87 is do you actually get the same mileage out of 87 as 93? I certainly didn't and it cost more in the end to put 87 in. Even if I wanted to use 87 in mine, theres nothing but disadvantage to me and my car. Less mpg and less power that costs me more in the end. I'm not flaming or anything, I'm just curious if you get the same mileage in your cars using 87 as opposed to 93.
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I will have to find out if super improves it once I establish a baseline.
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My question to people that use 87 is do you actually get the same mileage out of 87 as 93? I certainly didn't and it cost more in the end to put 87 in. Even if I wanted to use 87 in mine, theres nothing but disadvantage to me and my car. Less mpg and less power that costs me more in the end. I'm not flaming or anything, I'm just curious if you get the same mileage in your cars using 87 as opposed to 93.
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Now with that said - yes it is recommended because of the motor's compression ratio. As stated above, these things considered the mileage factor may just offset the cost. But... because of the computer's ability to pull timing to compensate - in the absence of knock - no harm no foul.
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It does turn out to be almost a wash, but the 87 worked out a tad better for costs. I got a tiny bit less mpgs from 87 compared to 91.
But 87 isn't going to harm your engine if you put it in and drive like a normal person.
The key phrase being, "Not like a NASCAR wanna-be."
But 87 isn't going to harm your engine if you put it in and drive like a normal person.
The key phrase being, "Not like a NASCAR wanna-be."
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i left out one small detail, you cant run it at WOT and expect it to run good, it will ping like a **** and thats not good. I made the mistake of not watching the gas station attendent and he put 87 in my car. It ran fine on the way to philly, since i was in 6th gear the whole time @ 2k rpm. but the next day when i was coming home and jumped on it while merging onto the highway, it was pinging horribly. what a bad sound that metallic rapping is, also known as spark knock.
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My car is not a daily driver for me so I only put in 93. From personal experience with many vehicles while driving them to and from work I get the best bang for the buck with 89 octane.
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After about 10 gallons of 87, I got about 17.8 mpg compared to around 18 with 93. But the acceleration did suck. I figure I will just put 93 unless im really low on money.
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My 98 z is still pretty much stock, I run 87 all the time and have no knock or performance loss at all. I do get a few more mpg when i run 94 however..or shell v-power. v-power smells funny when I use it thought. I wonder why???
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Octane is the fuels resistance to knock. The higher the number, the more resistance. Every engine is designed to run on a certain octane fuel. Our LS1's were designed for 91-93, but have the advantage of tuning to be able to run lesser octane fuels. High compression motors need the high octane. Stock motors are able to run on 87 without causing signifigant damage. Generally, the higher octane fuels are cleaner (that is why they sell at a Premium price) and will promote better fuel combustion.
Always look to your owners manual to se what the "recomended" octane fuel is for your car. Just because it is redomended, doesn't mean that is all you have to put into the car. My sister has a chrysler sebring designed for 87. She recently switched to 89 due to getting better milage out of it. It was enought to offset the cost differance.
Me? I always run 92-94 in my camaro because that is what the motor was designed for. If i ever have to put 87 into it, I will not be worried about damaging the motor.
Always look to your owners manual to se what the "recomended" octane fuel is for your car. Just because it is redomended, doesn't mean that is all you have to put into the car. My sister has a chrysler sebring designed for 87. She recently switched to 89 due to getting better milage out of it. It was enought to offset the cost differance.
Me? I always run 92-94 in my camaro because that is what the motor was designed for. If i ever have to put 87 into it, I will not be worried about damaging the motor.