Jusa31Sonic
LVC Member
I know it is suggested to run 91+.......however has anyone run 89 with any issues, assuming you dont beat the crap out of it?
LS V8 Octane
- Thread starter Jusa31Sonic
- Start date
In the long run what you save at the pump will be eaten up in lower mpg as the computer will retard the timing to make up for the lower octane. Stick with 91+.
Frasch
Well-Known LVC Member
has anyone put in a octane booster to make it a higher octane at the pump? Just curious what would happen...
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
I see you are new - this topic comes up at least once a month.
if you search on the word 'octane' you will see all the past discussions....
if you search on the word 'octane' you will see all the past discussions....
Jim Henderson
Dedicated LVC Member
91 is safest to use. But some of us including me use 89 or gasp even 87 octane fuel in our cars.
Mine is a daily driver, 70% freeway, 15% stop and go, 15% streets. 60 miles round trip.
With 89 I rarely have any knock or ping, especially in winter or wet weather. With 87 it runs fine in cool weather but my ping under hard acceleration in warm weather. There is a noticable decrease in power with 87 versus 91.
Interestingly I get the best mileage with 89. But I get mileage spikes when I change from 91 to 87. The mileage is significantly better for one tank full and then drops back down to about normal.
I have about 76,000miles now of which I have owned it for about 61,000. I have shifted back and forth with fuel octane since I bought it. Until the $4+ gas prices of last year I would guess I was running 70% of my tanks with 89, 20% with 91 and 10% with 87. After the gas got expensive I went to more like 80% running 87, and 20% with 89.
The cost savings were something like a buck or two per tank and really not worth it. But I am cheap and since most of my driving is pretty tame, the low octane works for me.
Weather and engine condition will affect how much variation in octane you can run with. Cool or wet weather is forgiving while hot weather requires more octane. Also, if you car is a short trip car, it may "carbon up" which requires more octane.
As always, the manual recommendation of 91 is the safest. But most modern engines will not explode with lower octane, unless you flog it mercilessly all the time.
Similar experience with an 89 SHO(11? compression) and a 96 Impala SS(10.5 compression, and designed to run on regular), 94 F250 with 460(87 octane for normal, 91 to tow in hot weather or mountains)
Just my opinion,
Jim Henderson
Mine is a daily driver, 70% freeway, 15% stop and go, 15% streets. 60 miles round trip.
With 89 I rarely have any knock or ping, especially in winter or wet weather. With 87 it runs fine in cool weather but my ping under hard acceleration in warm weather. There is a noticable decrease in power with 87 versus 91.
Interestingly I get the best mileage with 89. But I get mileage spikes when I change from 91 to 87. The mileage is significantly better for one tank full and then drops back down to about normal.
I have about 76,000miles now of which I have owned it for about 61,000. I have shifted back and forth with fuel octane since I bought it. Until the $4+ gas prices of last year I would guess I was running 70% of my tanks with 89, 20% with 91 and 10% with 87. After the gas got expensive I went to more like 80% running 87, and 20% with 89.
The cost savings were something like a buck or two per tank and really not worth it. But I am cheap and since most of my driving is pretty tame, the low octane works for me.
Weather and engine condition will affect how much variation in octane you can run with. Cool or wet weather is forgiving while hot weather requires more octane. Also, if you car is a short trip car, it may "carbon up" which requires more octane.
As always, the manual recommendation of 91 is the safest. But most modern engines will not explode with lower octane, unless you flog it mercilessly all the time.
Similar experience with an 89 SHO(11? compression) and a 96 Impala SS(10.5 compression, and designed to run on regular), 94 F250 with 460(87 octane for normal, 91 to tow in hot weather or mountains)
Just my opinion,
Jim Henderson
oandtmaster
Well-Known LVC Member
i can't find 91 by me. its either 89 or 93. so i go 93. currently 2.269 per gallon. i live just outside of philly, and use wawa gas. (i'm pretty sure they just buy the cheapest gas they can find.)
TrickVert
Active LVC Member
Octane boosters are a joke. "Raises octane up to 3 points" means you (might) go from 90 to 90.3.
Save your money, and buy the next grade of fuel.
Andy
And yes, this has been hashed and re-hashed dozens of time. Bottom line, the car's computer will adjust for the lower octane, pulling timing (usually), but it will not blow up. If 91+ was "required" the owner's manual would state "REQUIRED," not "RECOMMENDED."
My $.02, worth less than that due to inflation.
Andy
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
if your not going to put in, what the people who designed and built this car say you should put in, then you might as well save your self some more money by using maple syrup for your next oil change
dtangerini
Active LVC Member
Around here maple syrup is more expensive than oil.
TrickVert
Active LVC Member
Higher octane reduces the likelihood detonation and, therefor, allows the computer to run timing for maximum performance, so if I constantly had my foot in it, or lived in the mountains, I'd probably stick with 92 premium. However, under normal driving conditions, the engine will typically not throw a rod, blow a piston, pop a plug, or crack a muffler bearing if you don't.
As for oil vs maple syrup, I don't think you'd save much money (have you priced that stuff lately?), but the exhaust would sure smell sweet 'til the motor seized (which, BTW, also will probably not happen if you run 89 octane fuel.)
Andy
Jusa31Sonic
LVC Member
Thanks to all - i just bought the car to drive to work........so its pretty much highway driving. I know it wont "blow up" but i thought it would be interesting to see what everyone had to say......
I have found a lot of good information on this site I appreciate it.......
I have found a lot of good information on this site I appreciate it.......
TrickVert
Active LVC Member
The 3.0SHO was a fairly low-compression engine, IIRC, around 8.5:1. It was also calibrated to run on 87, despite the "Premium Recommended" label on the dash.
FWIW, the Owner's Guide recommends 91+, but a bulletin from Ford said that 91+ is required. YMMV.
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
and although knock sensors may pull back the timing - so goes your mileage.... you do not come out ahead - worse performance and worse mileage