ZR1 Less than 900 RWHP on Dyno, but we found out why
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 841
Likes: 1,108
From: California
ZR1 Less than 900 RWHP on Dyno, but we found out why
A little FYI lesson for all…
In this video I take the ZR1 to the Dyno to see how much power this monster is making. The numbers caught me off guard till we figured out the cause.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 484
From: Corrales NM
First dyno I’ve seen of ZR1 on 91 octane. Definitely makes a difference vs 93 octane. For us poor souls in the western states with 91 only there is a workaround. I fill my ZR1 with 91 octane non ethanol (sorry CA you are screwed) then drive about 30 miles and add 2-2.5 gallons of E85. Voila, 93.5+ octane at 15% ethanol, meeting GM’s max ethanol specifications. Goes like hell. I’m averaging 14.5 MPG with mostly around town driving. I get 18 MPG highway at 75 mph. I could care less about mileage.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 109
Likes: 67
From: Toronto
First dyno I’ve seen of ZR1 on 91 octane. Definitely makes a difference vs 93 octane. For us poor souls in the western states with 91 only there is a workaround. I fill my ZR1 with 91 octane non ethanol (sorry CA you are screwed) then drive about 30 miles and add 2-2.5 gallons of E85. Voila, 93.5+ octane at 15% ethanol, meeting GM’s max ethanol specifications. Goes like hell. I’m averaging 14.5 MPG with mostly around town driving. I get 18 MPG highway at 75 mph. I could care less about mileage.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 288
Likes: 181
We have 91 octane here except one gas station carries 100 unleaded at the pump. I have a bone stock 26 ZR1. I filled it up with 8 gallons of 91 and 8 gallons of 100 unleaded and by the time i got home my car threw a CEL and died in my driveway. It then putted around making the absolute worst sounds and kept dying every few miles until i burned off about half the tank and then filled it up with 91, and everything went back to normal.
I used the same mixture in my bone stock 24 z06 countless times without any problems whatsoever. Anyone know why?
I used the same mixture in my bone stock 24 z06 countless times without any problems whatsoever. Anyone know why?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 288
Likes: 181
Also, I pumped 4 5 gallon jugs of the stuff as well and put some in my AMG GLC63 to test it and there were no problems. I'm too scared to put it in my ZR1 again for now.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 288
Likes: 181
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 109
Likes: 67
From: Toronto
Expensive car to be playing those mad scientist games with buddy ... You trying to put GM warranty to the test ?
I think one can of VP octane boost per tank will raise you up to 94-95 octane and the car will be happy.
I think one can of VP octane boost per tank will raise you up to 94-95 octane and the car will be happy.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 841
Likes: 1,108
From: California
We have 91 octane here except one gas station carries 100 unleaded at the pump. I have a bone stock 26 ZR1. I filled it up with 8 gallons of 91 and 8 gallons of 100 unleaded and by the time i got home my car threw a CEL and died in my driveway. It then putted around making the absolute worst sounds and kept dying every few miles until i burned off about half the tank and then filled it up with 91, and everything went back to normal.
I used the same mixture in my bone stock 24 z06 countless times without any problems whatsoever. Anyone know why?
I used the same mixture in my bone stock 24 z06 countless times without any problems whatsoever. Anyone know why?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 455
Another possible theory is that the 100 octane was achieved by heavily mixing in ethanol and that threw off the cal enough to cause you issues. The car compensate for e15, maybe e20 on stock boost- but anything over that she's likely to run out of injector. To get base 91 to 100 you're looking at e30-e40. Probably not enough injector to compensate for that
Racer
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 392
Likes: 347
From: Camp Hill, PA
Hope fully not an issue here in PA. We have both 93 and 94 available. When I took my C8 to SEMA last year I struggled getting octane boost in the Vegas area as my C8 was modified with twin turbos and tuned for 93 octane.