AtHomeSoda

I knew I had to go 150 miles to deliver a soda dispenser (yes it fits in the Vette. that's why I have the Coupe), and I was on empty... so I, for the first time put 89 in instead of 91.... All I can say is, it ran great, no ping on hard pull uphill.. I did the mountain pass. Also it feels like I have more low end power... is this possible? For All the people who asked... Yes I sell Real Soda Dispensers like restaurants have, for your home... See :cheers: :seeya :chevy :skep: :leaving:


[Modified by AtHomeSoda, 11:53 PM 11/4/2003] http://www.AtHomeSoda.com


[Modified by AtHomeSoda, 8:35 PM 11/11/2003]

HurricaneZ

Lower octane WILL produce more power provided your car doen't pull timing. In the cold months of the year, running lower octane is deffinately possible. I wouldn't try it in the summer though.

kewlbrz

just expounding a little on what hurrcane said. Octane has nothing to do with developing power directly. Its just a measure of a fuels ability to not predetonate under heat or pressure. Too much octane will actually act like timing retard because the flame speed/burn rate of the fuel is slower and will decrease power. Not to mention, the more room you make for octane enhancement in the fuel, the less room you have for more explosive fuel mixture. With that said however, too little octane can cause the knock sensors to pull timing if there is knock present, which will reduce power. You want just enough octane without getting pinging.




[Modified by kewlbrz, 11:37 PM 11/17/2003]

c5chris

I hate going to full serve pumps coz one time an attendant put 89 octane in my turbo car- after i instructed him to put premium. I was waiting for it to ping like crazy but the cold winter air prevented it.

AtHomeSoda

Well it was pretty cold today.... and tonight.... I will tell you I have the blackwing, and ZO6 exhaust Cat back... the tires were lighting up by accident, I just gave it a little too much gas...the car feels lighter... must be the cold weather... but this winter I guess I will save 10 cents a gallon... lol :party: :iagree: :auto: :hurray: :chevy :skep: :thumbs:


[Modified by AtHomeSoda, 5:42 AM 11/5/2003]

Patman

I always drop back to 89 octane in my LT1 for the winter months, and scan tool testing has verified it's safe to do (no spark retard)

So when temps consistently get below 40 degrees in your area, you should be safe to use 89 in an LS1.

fast2000vette

OK, I will play devils advocate.....You are not saving any real money so why really do it???
:seeya

indyblue98

I have read that Your actual mileage will improve also. :D but I just don't want to take the chance of needing full throttle power and having ping. :nono:

sasunlover

I'm in Texas where it's really hot, a lot of the time and all I ever use is 89. Tried the higher octane but haven't noticed a difference, just the price.

C5 Curmudgeon

It's my understanding that using lower octane fuel helps cut down on carbon deposits in the combustion chamber.

Lil Red

I'll second that, although I will admit that it does slightly reduce performance. And it will save more $$$ than you might initially think just after a few fill ups.

AtHomeSoda

Well, money was not what made me try it, I read the article on fuel, and the higher octane has less fuel in it...so with 89, more fuel, more power. The timming is controled by the computer, and It seems that I have had no ping. I went from 200 ft to 4000 ft elevation... and on the really steep part, I mashed the gas and hit a buck 10, and no ping... I also feel more power from a standing start, so maybe the timming has stayed the same, and the fuel burns quicker, and is richer... Ok, maybe in the summer in high heat it will change the ping point... But this is California, and cold is 58 degrees...
:auto: :hurray: :steering: :thumbs: :skep: :leaving:

Vetteman Jack

I have run the lower octane gas in mine when the premium price got rediculous. Never had it ping and performance did not suffer. The owners manual states that you can use lower octane and that if it pings, go back to a higher octane.

ScottZ

Anybody know or have experience with this in the LS6?

Cirrus8

It is interesting how this forum ocillates!! Some time back member -MARKER- stated that he was running 87-89 octane in his 01 and was flamed by the replies. I believe every reply said "why" would anyone do such a thing to a high performance car like a Vette. Today, however, almost everyone is in favor of lower octane. :D :D

AtHomeSoda

Well, in my 1972 Vette, I have a ZZ4 motor with 100 shot of N20... I set the timming, not the computer... so I can set it to ping point, and back off a hair. But on the C5... I don't have much control over, and if it does not ping... it is all good, and so far... I feel it has more power... :steering: :auto: :hurray: :skep: :leaving:

BT-01-vette

If your computer pulls the timing back with a lower octane (should that be the case), would it bump the timing back to were it should be if you went back to super unleaded?

6 speed Sid

This is confusing. Seems like just a few days ago someone had a post showing 15HP more on the dyno using premium over the other grade? Sid.

Mike Mercury

Yes, Every time you add 5 gallons or more - the PCM recalibrates to 93 octane "settings" (regardless of the octane you are filling with). Then as you start to drive, the PCM (using its sensors) will make adjustments... matching settings to the engines operation using it's sensors.

The ping sensors are sensitive. They detect pinging early. You may never hear the pinging leading up to reduced timing because they correct so quickly.

As mentioned before, OCTANE is not a catalyst. Many confuse octane with Nitromethane that's used in alcohol fuel based cars. Nitro is a catalyst, octane is an inhibitor.

NVR BRNG

You might be able to get away with it now (cooler weather), but I would bet you a tank of Premium that you will get KR during the warmer / hotter months running 89 in CA.

In Aug. of '03, my Vette club had a "dyno day" and 9 cars made 2 runs each on a Dyno Jet. The cars that were running 89 fuel, had SIGNIFICANT KR at more than 1 spot on the dynograph, overall lower TQ & HP and anybody with a clue at all could hear the ping during the dyno runs.

IMHO the LS1 and LS6 were made for 91 or higher octane fuel and wouldn't run 89 octane.