What octane gas is safe to use?
09-27-01, 11:57 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Valparaiso
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What octane gas is safe to use?
I was wondering if it was safe for me to put 92 octane and that NOS octane boost in my 88 GXL. The man at the car dealership said that I couldn't put anything but 87 octane and I should never put any kind of fuel additives in it. Is this true?
09-27-01, 12:04 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Alberta
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The dealer is right (that's a first), if your '88 GXL is stock (or close to it) then you do not need anything more than 87 Octane (premium). Only the turbos really benefit from higher octane.
However, a N/A setup running NOS would be best with higher octane (100+) to prevent detonation.
Octane doesn't really do much for an N/A
However, a N/A setup running NOS would be best with higher octane (100+) to prevent detonation.
Octane doesn't really do much for an N/A
09-27-01, 08:30 PM
#3
...
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ONLY run 87 in your NA. The myth of higher octane = more power is total BS
higher octane only burns more efficiently. It doesn't ADD power. its best use is in ram-air racing applications where detonation is a major concern. In fact, i've heard that 87 is B E S T for an NA... FC3S.org back me up here?
higher octane only burns more efficiently. It doesn't ADD power. its best use is in ram-air racing applications where detonation is a major concern. In fact, i've heard that 87 is B E S T for an NA... FC3S.org back me up here?
09-27-01, 09:17 PM
#4
OG
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, there are a few different answers from me on this one. First let me quote what Jason wrote originally:
Now in that statement, there are things that are not true. First you can run any octane gas you want to in an N/A. You will infact get better HP numbers from 87 octane. 91+ octane will NOT hurt your engine though. Also, the octane boost addatives will not do anything for you just like the higher octane gas will do nothing. In a TII application, it can do alot of good to prevent pinging/detonation.
PraxRX7 was also correct in saying that higher octane with the use of nitrous will indeed help prevent detonation. The use of 91 or 92 octane is fine though unless you are running over 100 shot dry or 150 shot wet.
Overall, dre_2000 hit the nail on the head...87 is best for N/A's unless you have a ton of mods and a large streetport or larger port.
I was wondering if it was safe for me to put 92 octane and that NOS octane boost in my 88 GXL. The man at the car dealership said that I couldn't put anything but 87 octane and I should never put any kind of fuel additives in it. Is this true?
PraxRX7 was also correct in saying that higher octane with the use of nitrous will indeed help prevent detonation. The use of 91 or 92 octane is fine though unless you are running over 100 shot dry or 150 shot wet.
Overall, dre_2000 hit the nail on the head...87 is best for N/A's unless you have a ton of mods and a large streetport or larger port.
09-28-01, 06:34 AM
#5
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe the owner's manual for my 89 Vert recommends 89 octane, which I currently use.
Don't think I'm passing on new info here, but octane is merely an ignition retardant. High octane gas is in no way "better" than low octane gas. It just doesn't ignite as readily.
In high compression engines, the pressure inside the combustion chamber may cause the fuel/air mixture to detonate before the plug fires (spontaneous combustion due to pressure/temperature/fuel to air ratio, etc). This phenomenon is also known as pinging.
Many things may increase the pressure inside the combustion chambers, such as forced induction (supercharger/turbocharger), more agressive timing, etc. Higher octane allows an engine to run with a higher compression without premature ignition/pinging.
The statement above that using a higher octane than necessary will not hurt your engine is probably correct. But the fact is that you are injecting fuel into your chambers that is more resistant to ignition. So I'm not certain of this.
Bottom line: use the octane that the owner's manual recommends (for stock cars), unless you ping - then go higher. For modded cars, you have to figure it out for yourself!
Good luck!
Dave
Don't think I'm passing on new info here, but octane is merely an ignition retardant. High octane gas is in no way "better" than low octane gas. It just doesn't ignite as readily.
In high compression engines, the pressure inside the combustion chamber may cause the fuel/air mixture to detonate before the plug fires (spontaneous combustion due to pressure/temperature/fuel to air ratio, etc). This phenomenon is also known as pinging.
Many things may increase the pressure inside the combustion chambers, such as forced induction (supercharger/turbocharger), more agressive timing, etc. Higher octane allows an engine to run with a higher compression without premature ignition/pinging.
The statement above that using a higher octane than necessary will not hurt your engine is probably correct. But the fact is that you are injecting fuel into your chambers that is more resistant to ignition. So I'm not certain of this.
Bottom line: use the octane that the owner's manual recommends (for stock cars), unless you ping - then go higher. For modded cars, you have to figure it out for yourself!
Good luck!
Dave
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rotor_veux
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
3
09-28-15 09:25 PM
