What Octane will the SS be rated?

[Mr_Draco]

Yes as of yesterday when I filled up regular was $4.19 at the cheapest place in town and premium was $5.99, but it's also the 1st time I've seen any premium since Ike. Before Ike, premium was about 40 cents more so hopefully it will come down.

[MCPOAJ]

word of warning don't put sludge in your car. if i don't put 91 in ALL 2.4's knock so if they recomend it then guess what you should do it /thread

[CamaroSSforme]

Myths are hard to overcome. You can run regular just fine with the only consequence being slightly worse mileage, and slightly less power. You'd have to find out if the economics of it are worth it by testing how far your mileage drops when using regular versus the premium you pay for premium gas, then weigh in the performance drop. Also, you aren't going to hurt anything by mixing it up - doing premium, then mid-grade etc.

I currently have a premium only turbo, and can still mix it up. The LS3 is a premium recommended, not premium only (which is just "even more recommended"), so should be no reason other than those I listed for not using regular if you so chose.

[Jamestwilliams]

Originally Posted by CamaroSSforme

Myths are hard to overcome. You can run regular just fine with the only consequence being slightly worse mileage, and slightly less power. You'd have to find out if the economics of it are worth it by testing how far your mileage drops when using regular versus the premium you pay for premium gas, then weigh in the performance drop. Also, you aren't going to hurt anything by mixing it up - doing premium, then mid-grade etc.

I currently have a premium only turbo, and can still mix it up. The LS3 is a premium recommended, not premium only (which is just "even more recommended"), so should be no reason other than those I listed for not using regular if you so chose.

You definitely hit the nail on the head about mixing grades of fuel. In case anyone is wondering gas stations don't have mid grade tanks, they just mix premium and low grade fuel to get mid grade.

Although running an engine on too low a grade of fuel can cause problems and severe ones at that. You won't find low grade enough fuel in north america, you have to travel to find those types of fuel.

[Blackwolf]

Knock sensors in the engine will allow the engine management system to make the necessary adjustments that will allow you to run lower grade fuel without immediate damage to the engine. But, dependent on several conditions, you will likely suffer some loss of power and lower fuel economy when compared to using the recommended higher grade fuel under the same conditions. What you might save at the pump will likely be wiped out by poorer fuel mileage.

They built the engine to perform at it's peak using the premium fuel. I'm going to believe the engineers knew what they were talking about when they recommended premium fuel. Mine will never see anything less then 91.

[99b4c]

Both my GM cars say premium fuel and I only use 87, my Camaro has 140k and GTP 125k. No problems, performance or mileage. I will use 87 in my new SS, the computer will adjust.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by 99b4c

Both my GM cars say premium fuel and I only use 87, my Camaro has 140k and GTP 125k. No problems, performance or mileage. I will use 87 in my new SS, the computer will adjust.

the computer will adjust and you will lose performance and possibly gas mileage.

not running the proper grade of fuel will cause the computer to pull timing.... all the time, which will not allow the engine to run at peak performance.

[erasedgod]

All I know from experience is that when I put regular or even mid in my Trans Am, it knocked like a son of a bitch. Went right back to premium.

[OldTimer]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

Yes as of yesterday when I filled up regular was $4.19 at the cheapest place in town and premium was $5.99, but it's also the 1st time I've seen any premium since Ike. Before Ike, premium was about 40 cents more so hopefully it will come down.

This sounds almost unbelievable, but, it is a result of hurricane Ike. The pipeline that takes mogas to that part of the country were almost empty when the refineries in Houston went down. No gas being made so no gas to put into the pipeline and pump to you guys. It will get better as most of them are back up and running now. My guess is they had to raise the price so high so only those who really needed it would buy it. That will go away very soon and you will have the normal spread between grades like the rest of us.

[MajorTom]

Yeah, here in Missouri we have the lowest prices in the country thank god. 2.79 for 87 and 3.09 for premium. I buy premium even though I've heard all the stories about how you can get away with 87.

Like Camarospike says. It'll pull timing and i bought a 400hp car to have 400 hp. And I'm not going to give it up for a few bucks a tank. Not to mention if I'm losing gas mileage I'm probably nixing any savings made by paying 30 cents less by having to fill up more often.

[Jamestwilliams]

You also have to remember you get better mileage with higher octane fuel, is it enough of an improvement to make up for the price difference? I don't honestly know but it makes up some of it, and the extra ponies can justify the difference.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by Jamestwilliams

You also have to remember you get better mileage with higher octane fuel, is it enough of an improvement to make up for the price difference? I don't honestly know but it makes up some of it, and the extra ponies can justify the difference.

you dont always get better mileage... most time you do.

say if you have a car that was rated for 87 and you put 93 in it all the time, you might not gain mpg. just like the misnomer that going with a higher octane nets you power...

well, not really. it does in a vehicle requiring premium when compared to the same vehicle running regular, but you arent really gaining power, just restoring it... or not limiting it.

and trust me detonation sucks.

[erasedgod]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

just like the misnomer that going with a higher octane nets you power...

Which is kind of like the misconception that "misnomer" is the same as "misconception".

But you're right, putting higher octane in may not add power or mileage, but lower octane fuel is more prone to detonation and in a high-compression car, that could be really bad. That's not a risk I'm willing to take to save $3 a tank.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by erasedgod

Which is kind of like the misconception that "misnomer" is the same as "misconception".

But you're right, putting higher octane in may not add power or mileage, but lower octane fuel is more prone to detonation and in a high-compression car, that could be really bad. That's not a risk I'm willing to take to save $3 a tank.

I agree, except that the computer can detect whether you are using 93 or 87. There is a tune for each, and the 87 tune doesn't perform quite as well. If you pit 2 Camaro V8s against one another at the track, and only one uses premium, I guarantee you that the premium Camaro SS will win by a small margin.