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Which Octane?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave14
  • Start date Start date Mar 17, 2004
D

Dave14

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Sep 18, 2002
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Calgary, Canada
Mar 17, 2004
#1
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #1
My friend just bought a 96 GT with 30,000miles on it. The previous owner said he has never run anything other than 91 octane. Is this necessary? Does it actually add any HP? I was told that it didnt make a difference on lower compression engines.


Thanks
 

Sleepy1

Founding Member
Jun 10, 2002
807
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Chicago, IL
Mar 17, 2004
#2
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #2
Unless his timing is advanced I wouldn't bother putting the more expensive stuff in. More octane reduces detonation (or knock), but I don't think he has that problem.
 
D

Dave14

Founding Member
Sep 18, 2002
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Calgary, Canada
Mar 17, 2004
#3
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #3
Thanks for the reply
 

rdgdawgGT

New Member
May 6, 2003
77
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Atlanta, GA
Mar 17, 2004
#4
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #4
Sleepy1 said:
Unless his timing is advanced I wouldn't bother putting the more expensive stuff in. More octane reduces detonation (or knock), but I don't think he has that problem.
Click to expand...

Ditto... it's just a waste of $$$.. especially these days!!!!
 

Bone Racing

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Sep 7, 2003
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Long Island, NY
Mar 17, 2004
#5
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #5
on a stock car...regular 87 is fine, but i would use 89

91 has no effect on a stock car
 

WRXracer

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Feb 28, 2003
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Mar 17, 2004
#6
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #6
hehe

I use 93 octane..
 

StangJonGT

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Jun 2, 2001
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Seattle
Mar 17, 2004
#7
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #7
Like what has already been posted, higher octane is used to prevent detonation and preignition in engines. It is NOT used to "get more hp" or "clean the engine". Engines that run higher internal temperatures due to increased carbon build up, poor (lean) air:fuel mixture, higher compression, advanced timing, forced induction or other issues will need to run a higher octane to prevent knock (detonation).

Jon
 
R

Roush21

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Dec 31, 2003
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Mar 17, 2004
#8
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #8
For your car (or friends car or whatever) regular gas is fine but if you start modifying any futher you should probably step it up some. Especially if he advances the timing or decides to run a power adder he's gunna need premium gas then.
 
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Xanax

New Member
Mar 13, 2004
103
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Mar 17, 2004
#9
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #9
Octane

Dave14 said:
My friend just bought a 96 GT with 30,000miles on it. The previous owner said he has never run anything other than 91 octane. Is this necessary? Does it actually add any HP? I was told that it didnt make a difference on lower compression engines.


Thanks
Click to expand...
First of all 30K miles on a 96 GT is super low mileage
your lucky you have such a young engine it is probaly less prone to
detonation/pinging.A good rule of thumb is to run the lowest octane
possible without detonation/pinging!If you aren't running a power adder
or have your timming advanced I don't see why you wouldn't run 87
octane At the most I would run mid-grade 89 octane because
91 octane burns so,slow it mite hurt performance.Also I have a 96 GT
just like you Dave and I have always ran 89 octane(mid-grade).When
I first bought my 96 GT I ran 87 octane and for some reason my stang
didn't run good.At higher rpm's I could hear a very slight pinging coming
from the bottom end so,I ran 89 octane in my 96 GT and the very slight
pinging went away so,as long as I own my 96 GT I will run 89 Octane in
it.Also I only run the best gas Chevron or Texaco! I never once got a
bad tank of gas from them that's why I only run Chevron/Texaco! Don't
get gas at a gas station if you see the gas trucks because you can get
a bad tank of gas.Good Luck!
 

StangJonGT

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2001
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Seattle
Mar 17, 2004
#10
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #10
Xanax, what is your reasoning for your gas comments? You are aware that Chevron and Texaco are the same gas, right? You are also aware that the exclusive gas chosen by Ferrari is Shell, right?


Jon
 

wms004

Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,864
2
49
Los Angeles
Mar 17, 2004
#11
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #11
Dave14 said:
My friend just bought a 96 GT with 30,000miles on it. The previous owner said he has never run anything other than 91 octane. Is this necessary? Does it actually add any HP? I was told that it didnt make a difference on lower compression engines.


Thanks
Click to expand...
with your timing adjuster you should run 91
 
X

Xanax

New Member
Mar 13, 2004
103
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Mar 17, 2004
#12
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #12
wms004 said:
with your timing adjuster you should run 91
Click to expand...
I agree Dave if you have your timming advanced on your
timming adjuster I would run 91+ octane because if you
don't you will get detonation/pinging and hurt your engine!
 

RysRed96GT

I like it FURRY!!!
Founding Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,207
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56
Pasadena, MD
Mar 18, 2004
#13
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #13
mine must have carbon buildup because mine detonates on anything under 91/93
 

StangJonGT

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2001
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36
Seattle
Mar 18, 2004
#14
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #14
You could also be running lean, rysred.


Jon
 

RysRed96GT

I like it FURRY!!!
Founding Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,207
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56
Pasadena, MD
Mar 18, 2004
#15
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #15
StangJonGT said:
You could also be running lean, rysred.


Jon
Click to expand...
i hardly have any mods to it though. it's been that way with a stock setup also.

if so, is there any way to richen it out without a reflash?
 

wms004

Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,864
2
49
Los Angeles
Mar 18, 2004
#16
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #16
RysRed96GT said:
mine must have carbon buildup because mine detonates on anything under 91/93
Click to expand...
with the stock tune and before my intake mods my car pinged and detonated hardcore with 91 octane.. I feel a lot safer after getting a dyno tune set to 91 octane.

-wade
 

RysRed96GT

I like it FURRY!!!
Founding Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,207
0
56
Pasadena, MD
Mar 18, 2004
#17
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #17
wms004 said:
with the stock tune and before my intake mods my car pinged and detonated hardcore with 91 octane.. I feel a lot safer after getting a dyno tune set to 91 octane.

-wade
Click to expand...
how much was that tune? any power difference?
 

wms004

Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,864
2
49
Los Angeles
Mar 18, 2004
#18
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #18
RysRed96GT said:
how much was that tune? any power difference?
Click to expand...
It was about 310 for the chip and 120 for the tune. Power gain was 4rwhp and 4rwtq throughout the entire band.. Reason i got it was to stop detonation, turn off rear o2 sensors for themidpipe, and to make my speedometer perfect since i got 3.73's.
 

StangJonGT

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2001
1,329
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36
Seattle
Mar 18, 2004
#19
  • Mar 18, 2004
  • #19
I assume by reflash you mean re-setting the computer. If that is what you meant, than no, that will not richen it. If you really are running lean, you could get an AFPR or custom chip burnt.


Jon
 
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