An idea
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 24
An idea
with the price of premium going higher combined with the failure of ethanol would it be dumb to buy octane booster and use regular.
its been awhile since ive priced octane booster so if this is dumb show mercy
its been awhile since ive priced octane booster so if this is dumb show mercy
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Don't believe all the "hype" behind the octane booster adds.
As 65Z01 mentioned, make sure your car really needs the higher octane first.
My LT4 owners manual says mine requires premium of 91 or higher. The LT1 recommends premium of 91 or higher for best performance. But you may use regular or mid grade, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
Not sure what the L98 manual says.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 24
Is this true gents?
The LT1 recommends premium of 91 or higher for best performance. But you may use regular or mid grade, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
thx
The LT1 recommends premium of 91 or higher for best performance. But you may use regular or mid grade, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
thx
If your car "requires" premium it would be cheaper to buy that grade of fuel, than to buy regular grade and add octane booster. The reason is you would need multiple cans in order to raise the octane enough to matter.
Don't believe all the "hype" behind the octane booster adds.
As 65Z01 mentioned, make sure your car really needs the higher octane first.
My LT4 owners manual says mine requires premium of 91 or higher. The LT1 recommends premium of 91 or higher for best performance. But you may use regular or mid grade, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
Not sure what the L98 manual says.
Don't believe all the "hype" behind the octane booster adds.
As 65Z01 mentioned, make sure your car really needs the higher octane first.
My LT4 owners manual says mine requires premium of 91 or higher. The LT1 recommends premium of 91 or higher for best performance. But you may use regular or mid grade, but your vehicle may not accelerate as well.
Not sure what the L98 manual says.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 779
Likes: 10
From: O'Fallon MO
2016 C4 of the Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
Been using midgrade in my 94 for 2 years with no problems
on wood.....
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena Maryland
The LT-1 has knock sensor, it will (HEAR) the knocking/pinging and take some timing out of the engine. That is why it will not accelerate as fast. The higher octane number is more resistance to knock, not more energy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,619
Likes: 1
From: Salem Oregon
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Good info in post #7. 
I never put anything but the best in the car, as I want it to perform well, and not have problems down the road. If I have to go to regular gas because I can't afford it, I think I would park it instead of running regular.
I never put anything but the best in the car, as I want it to perform well, and not have problems down the road. If I have to go to regular gas because I can't afford it, I think I would park it instead of running regular.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
I also have an LT1 and have found that using less than the recommended octane for an LT1 also hurts mileage a bit, so you really don't save any money. Regular won't hurt the car because of the knock sensor, but sluggage performance with lower MPG does not appeal to me.
Even if the MPG were the same, the savings per year from using regular might be $4-$5 per tankful, or at most $100-$200/year if yours is a DD. Considering what people on this Forum invest to get a few extra HP......
Even if the MPG were the same, the savings per year from using regular might be $4-$5 per tankful, or at most $100-$200/year if yours is a DD. Considering what people on this Forum invest to get a few extra HP......
+1
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
1) Just one bottle of octane booster will make a tank of mid grade more expensive than a tank of premium.
2) Octane booster will not improve anything significantly.
3) I have read where some booster/fuel system cleaners may actually cause damage to our fuel injectors.
Furthermore, I have tried using midgrade in my lt4. While I did not have any real troubles with knock or the like, I did notice that my mpg's decreased. Thus I was paying the same anyway.
Better off just biting the bullet and getting premuim. I have accepted the fact that I just need to cut back on joy riding
2) Octane booster will not improve anything significantly.
3) I have read where some booster/fuel system cleaners may actually cause damage to our fuel injectors.
Furthermore, I have tried using midgrade in my lt4. While I did not have any real troubles with knock or the like, I did notice that my mpg's decreased. Thus I was paying the same anyway.
Better off just biting the bullet and getting premuim. I have accepted the fact that I just need to cut back on joy riding
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,066
Likes: 3
From: Milpitas ca
Cost wise you will lose out. I have seen octane boost from 8-12 dollars.
If you fill your tank with 15 gallons (using 1 bottle of 10.00 octane boost) thats like adding .65 per gallon. The difference between premium and midgrade is not close to that.
If you fill your tank with 15 gallons (using 1 bottle of 10.00 octane boost) thats like adding .65 per gallon. The difference between premium and midgrade is not close to that.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
The place I buy gas has preium (93 octane) and when I'm down about 1/2 a tank, I'll fill up with the mid-range gas (89 octane) that gives me 91 which is what the owner's manual calls for. I've had to buy some low octane (85) in Colorado and it didn't knock, but I could tell the car didn't run as good. Really didn't see any loose of mileage.