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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:55 PM
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Default What happened?

v I have a 2009 Vette with the Z51 package and stick trannie. My car has never really been fast ,but suddenly my car fells like it gained 50 more horses.The acceleration has increased.I haven't done a thing to the car.It is stock with no mods.I can't figure it out Any suggestions?:fla g:

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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 06:15 PM
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What have you done different from before, or even recently? Think of gas brand, miles on car, anything at all replaced just as the car picked up the "approx. 50 hp"?
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 07:02 PM
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A better low friction wax???
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 10:58 PM
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Default Changed gas

Originally Posted by AORoads
What have you done different from before, or even recently? Think of gas brand, miles on car, anything at all replaced just as the car picked up the "approx. 50 hp"?
Yes,I changed the brand of gas I was using. Iwent from Mobil to Standard,But I wouldn't think that would make that kind of difference. Thanks to all the guys that responded to my question.Rod

Last edited by ROD BROWN; Feb 22, 2017 at 12:31 PM.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by ROD BROWN
Yes,I cthe brand of gas I was using. Iwent from Mobil to Standard,But I wouldn't think that would make that kind of difference. Thanks to all the guys that responded to my question.Rod
That is so funny. I had a similar situation with my car and I've been thinking that it was psychological! Mine is a 2008 convertible, six speed, Z51. Just turned 29000 miles and for the last 2000 miles the car has been driving like never before. It does feels like it gain a bunch of hp, all of a sudden. I did order some LT headers and X pipes but I haven't receive them yet! LOL The only thing I've done different is start using 93 octane exclusively. Before I used different octanes, I didn't think and still not sure that the gas can make such a dramatic difference. I can't wait to get the headers installed.
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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Nelson765
That is so funny. I had a similar situation with my car and I've been thinking that it was psychological! Mine is a 2008 convertible, six speed, Z51. Just turned 29000 miles and for the last 2000 miles the car has been driving like never before. It does feels like it gain a bunch of hp, all of a sudden. I did order some LT headers and X pipes but I haven't receive them yet! LOL The only thing I've done different is start using 93 octane exclusively. Before I used different octanes, I didn't think and still not sure that the gas can make such a dramatic difference. I can't wait to get the headers installed.
Octane makes a big difference in these cars. Octane controls the burn or ignition. It keeps the gas from igniting under pressure or due to hot spots. The engine is designed to retard the timing at the first sign of spark knock (pre-detonation due to compression or hot spots).When you run low octane under spirited driving, the timing stays retarded due to the knock causing loss of power. Now with the good gas, the car isn't knocking so the timing isn't being retarded therefore more power.
You should never run anything but 91 or higher octane preferably nothing less than 93.

Average cars have lower compression ratios so they can run the cheap gas. There's not enough compression in those engines to cause pre-detonation, or at least not enough to hurt anything

Pre-detonation will bust a piston or worse if its bad enough
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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 01:54 PM
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did you move and change altitude?
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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by rabrooks
Octane makes a big difference in these cars. Octane controls the burn or ignition. It keeps the gas from igniting under pressure or due to hot spots. The engine is designed to retard the timing at the first sign of spark knock (pre-detonation due to compression or hot spots).When you run low octane under spirited driving, the timing stays retarded due to the knock causing loss of power. Now with the good gas, the car isn't knocking so the timing isn't being retarded therefore more power.
You should never run anything but 91 or higher octane preferably nothing less than 93.

Average cars have lower compression ratios so they can run the cheap gas. There's not enough compression in those engines to cause pre-detonation, or at least not enough to hurt anything

Pre-detonation will bust a piston or worse if its bad enough
I didn't know or ever imagine such a difference I will never use low octane again. It feels like a totally different car. Thank you for the information.
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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 02:21 PM
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Did the weather change?? Mine feels like it picks up 30ft/lbs when the temp drops here.
Cold air=more power
Cold tires=less traction

Also, running w/o A/C helps a little bit. haha
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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 12:29 PM
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Default 91 octane

Originally Posted by ROD BROWN
Yes,I cthe brand of gas I was using. Iwent from Mobil to Standard,But I wouldn't think that would make that kind of difference. Thanks to all the guys that responded to my question.Rod
Here in L.A. most gas stations sell 91 octane gas. I think that octane no. is correct.I haven't seen any stations selling a higher octane of gas. I am going to look around and see if I can locate a station selling a higher octane fuel. i was beginning to think i was going crazier then I am .Rod

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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 10:59 AM
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You can also mix in a couple of gallons of racing fuel to boost the octane. Below is a link stations selling race fuel at the pump.

http://www.davebarton.com/Unleaded_Racing_Fuel_in_SoCal
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Nelson765
I didn't know or ever imagine such a difference I will never use low octane again. It feels like a totally different car. Thank you for the information.
If you felt the difference using 93 fuel from the pump...You can try using 93 NON ETHANOL fuel. I've been doing that in my 2013 Grand Sport. There's a machine shop near to me started selling 93 Sunoco non ethanol race fuel. It makes a big difference.
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by dmoneychris
If you felt the difference using 93 fuel from the pump...You can try using 93 NON ETHANOL fuel. I've been doing that in my 2013 Grand Sport. There's a machine shop near to me started selling 93 Sunoco non ethanol race fuel. It makes a big difference.
Thanks for the info and advice. Is it safe for the engine? I live 5 minutes from a popular race track but I an not aware of any station selling race fuel but I haven't been looking for it. I guess I need to start searching
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 10:25 PM
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Do you need a tune to use race fuel?
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Nelson765
Do you need a tune to use race fuel?
Yes you can run more aggressive timing and make more power if you tune for the available octane in race fuel.

If you run race fuel without a tune it won't make any more power unless the fuel you normally run is really poor / low octane.

Last edited by Suds; Mar 1, 2017 at 11:02 PM.
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 11:04 PM
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If it picked up power don't fix it lol.
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Old Mar 3, 2017 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Nelson765
Thanks for the info and advice. Is it safe for the engine? I live 5 minutes from a popular race track but I an not aware of any station selling race fuel but I haven't been looking for it. I guess I need to start searching
> http://www.sunocoracefuels.com/

The one that I get from the Machine Shop is a 93 octane version of the Optima Sunoco fuel (0 ethanol ) My car was tuned on a fresh tank of 93 Shell pump gas.
If I can keep my foot off the pedal so much, I get better gas mileage using the non-ethanol. (More energy contained in the fuel I'm guessing? BTU or whatever it's called)

Last edited by dmoneychris; Mar 3, 2017 at 09:58 PM.
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