Which Octane?

[Dave14]

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]

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.

 

[Dave14]

Thanks for the reply

 

[rdgdawgGT]

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.

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

 

[Bone Racing]

on a stock car...regular 87 is fine, but i would use 89

91 has no effect on a stock car

 

[WRXracer]

hehe

I use 93 octane..

 

[StangJonGT]

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

 

[Roush21]

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.

 

[Xanax]

Octane

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

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]

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]

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

with your timing adjuster you should run 91

 

[Xanax]

with your timing adjuster you should run 91

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]

mine must have carbon buildup because mine detonates on anything under 91/93

 

[StangJonGT]

You could also be running lean, rysred.


Jon

 

[RysRed96GT]

You could also be running lean, rysred.


Jon

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]

mine must have carbon buildup because mine detonates on anything under 91/93

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]

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

how much was that tune? any power difference?

 

[wms004]

how much was that tune? any power difference?

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]

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