100 Octane...Would it make a difference?
Thread Starter
Gr8Corvette
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 2
From: Indian Harbour Beach Florida
100 Octane...Would it make a difference?
I just noticed today that a local Sunoco station has one pump labeled 100 octane. It mentions something about street legal and for racing. The cost is $4.459 per gallon. I never race, I rarely ever go above speed limits. My quest for power is limited to pulling out into traffic. O.K. I am a wimp when it comes to driving my Z06, but I still enjoy it.
My question is this: Would I notice a difference if I put a full tank of 100 octane in my Corvette? Would it hurt my Corvette?
My question is this: Would I notice a difference if I put a full tank of 100 octane in my Corvette? Would it hurt my Corvette?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
What octane is and does is misunderstood by many. Octane in itself does not increase horsepower. In fact, too high an octane can have a detrimental effect on an engine's performance for its given compression ratio.
Here are a few links to some web pages that speak to what octane is and does:
What is octane?
What does octane mean?
As long as the 100 octane is unleaded gasoline, it shouldn't hurt your car. However, it would be a waste of money and you could actually see a slight decrease in performance using it in you car. The owner's manual recommends 91 octane or higher for the stock LS1/LS6 engines. You should only need to go to a higher octane if you are getting some detonation (engine knock) with the octane you're using. Even then, one might consider changing to a different brand of gasoline first.
Hope this helps.
Here are a few links to some web pages that speak to what octane is and does:
What is octane?
What does octane mean?
As long as the 100 octane is unleaded gasoline, it shouldn't hurt your car. However, it would be a waste of money and you could actually see a slight decrease in performance using it in you car. The owner's manual recommends 91 octane or higher for the stock LS1/LS6 engines. You should only need to go to a higher octane if you are getting some detonation (engine knock) with the octane you're using. Even then, one might consider changing to a different brand of gasoline first.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by GrayC5; Jul 30, 2005 at 05:02 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Only time I use 100 octane is in the summer if I start to get some detonation (my CR is ~10.8). I'll put in a proportional mixture too - not the full tank. Just enough to raise the composite octane to squelch the detonation.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,061
Likes: 266
From: Slower than a speeding bullet................ Fort Lauderdale, FL
The main difference you will notice is less cash in your wallet.
It won't run any better, and may actually run worse as the combustion may not occur at the correct times.
It won't run any better, and may actually run worse as the combustion may not occur at the correct times.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,522
Likes: 0
From: Sterling VA
Unless there is some way to advance the timing in the engine, increased octane won't help much. On my old mustang, I installed a timing adjuster which enabled me to advance or retard the timing (like we used to do by rotating the distributor...distributor? What's that?), and when advanced, it definitely needed premium. However, even then there were limits as to how much you could advance the timing without negatively affecting performance.
