This is thread is exactly why I think this board is one of the worst ones out there.

There are more ********, than actual helpful members

 

theres lots of helpful members.
but theres about 20 threads on this topic already....discussing it in detail.
just about any site on google youll find will explain why 87 octane is junk in a F/I engine, or at the very least will suggest you follow manufacturer suggestions.
the vehicle manual explains it....
you are warned when you purchase stage 2
Im a big proponent of asking any question. no matter how silly it may sound.
but this is beyond a silly question.
this is ignoring mountains of evidence to try and save a buck or 2.

It would be nicer if we could avoid the personal insults. but expecting anything less than disgust from a car forum for abusing your engine like this to save a ******* dollar is naive.

 

Ok, if you actually read the manual, it recommends premium...but regular can run in our cars. The manual does say it will knock, but it says it is fine.

Before you all start flaming me, I run premium all the time, so don't waste your time.

 

knock, and fine, should not be used in the same sentance.

and he has stage 2.
stage 2 knocks with 91 premium!

 

Regardless of whether or not it makes sense, I'm just telling you what the manual says.

As far as stage 2, I don't have one, my comment was more directed to everyone screaming about how premium is required in the 2.0.

 

I think the manual should be changed. If for some reason you do not have access to premium fuel, you could substitute 89 octane and you would be fine as long as you are STOCK, and you don't use it all of the time.

With stage II you shouldn't run any less than 91 or you will damage your engine.

 

I'm sure you're right. All those damn engineers at GM, ****** morons, they're always wrong. They should definetly trust a bunch of people who work at pizza places and grocery stores, just because they post on an internet forum for the SS/SC. Fire them all, hire the people on the internet. Jesus guys...the manual, written by the people who made the damn car, says regular is alright. Not recommended, but alright. So the kid comes on here looking for a little advice and gets ripped apart. Way to go. He likes 87, ****** run 87. If he wants to **** in his tank, let him, it's his damn car. He asked for some advice, not to get chewed the hell out. Give him advice, recomend he run premium, and be done with it. Damn, here I was thinking people on here were helpful.

 

What are you talking about? How did I rip him apart? I just gave straight facts and I never criticized the GM engineers. I just think that some people take what the manual says too literally that's all.

You need to calm down.

Edit: BTW, don't use my post as a representation of what everyone said in this thread. I never insulted the guy or anything at all, I just said the manual misrepresents (To some people) what GM means when they say you CAN use 87 octane followed by; it will create slight knock.

 

Lock this. Im pretty sure the poster got the point awhile ago.

 

That reply was to everyone who's been posting. I just quoted yours because I'm pretty sure GM engineering knows what the engine needs, and if they say regular is alright, then chances are they know more than you, or anyone else in here, does.

I've just been reading this and I am shocked at how this guy is getting treated for asking a question. My dad has worked for GM for the last 20 years. He suggested I use regular because I don't drive hard enough to need premium most of the time. Do I take that advice and use regular? No. But the point is, if the manual, and everyone at GM, seems to think the car will run on regular, chances are it will.

 

It's not a question of IF the car will run on regular, it is a question of SHOULD the car run on regular. I never said the manual was wrong, I said that it is misinterpreted.

Guaranteed, if we didn't have advanced computers controlling the ignition etc., then we couldn't run 87. That is why the car CAN run 87, because the engine has a knock sensor and will detect knock and retard the timing. The engineers didn't build the car to run on 87, it simply has the ability to.

 

I completely agree. And the manual doesn't say it should, just that it can. Everyone else saying that it has to, and he's gonna blow his engine, and all new cars must run premium...no, not at all. It's just ridiculous how everyone is jumping this guy for asking a question.

 

I agree I think they are being harsh on him as well. But, the thing is, he didn't ask if he could run 87 stock, he asked if he could run it with stage II; I do agree it's almost such an asanine question that it appeared someone was playing a joke.

And it's true, if you run 87 with stage II you will blow your engine.

 

Alright, well I apologize then. I'm stock, and didn't know that about the stage 2. I would just hope that someday when I have a stupid question i can come here and get some honest help, without the attacks, and this thread hasnt given me much hope of that.

 

OK so I asked a Question and got ripped for it So to all of the you who actually helped with my question THANK YOU!! To the rest of the IDIOTS who did nothing but Bitch about the question and give me ****, BLOW ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And No I did not ask the question because I am too cheap to buy Premium Gas, If that was the case I would have retuned my Silverado months ago, It gets 8 mpg on Premium.

So again Thank You to Everybody for the positive input, It is no wonder people post 2 or 3 times and bail on the Forum, some of you guys are ********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I agree^^^^^^ morons!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You can put me on the top of that ******* list of yours. You got the answers you deserved.

You can't expect us to take it easy on you when you ask an obvious question like that.

 

you can probably get away with running 87 octane for a few thousand miles if your not hard on it.

but if your stingy on cash, fill up with 87 then get the $10 nos race octane booster....depending on your area, it will save you money.

 

Have you ever looked inside of an engine? It is true, there are different variables depending on where you get gas as well but the higher octane gas does burn cleaner. It will be a debate for ever, just many that tell you that you are wasting money there are just as many that will tell you other wise professionally. I am just speaking from my own findings with all the engine tear downs and rebuilds that I have done. As far as wasting money, I just haven't had that kind of experience with the higher octane. I put it in a GEO Metro that I owned and I am not shitting you I got 5 more miles per gallon on every tank. I noticed I little increase in power and throttle response. I have owned 3 Cavaliers and ran 93 in all of them and to me it made all the difference in the world. My in town gas millages were higher than ever. Maybe it will only reap benefits on cars with computers that will allow for the adjustments better than others but I am not sure. I am just speaking from my experiences and am not trying to bust anyones *****.

 

How will the octane booster save you money?

$10 a bottle! or you can fill up for the extra $2.50 a TANK! That's a guaranteed Premium fuel!

 

How much is your gas out there?


I was lookin upwards of $45ish for my 12 gallon tank...the fiance gots a base model, and her low octane only costs $28 to fill up....

28(low octane) + $10 (octane boost) = $38 vs $45 for 93.


Ya...

 

I tend to agree with you, the higher octane's burn cleaner and hotter as well!!

 

sigh....

 

12 Gallons x 3.05 = 36.60 (87)

12 Gallons x 3.25 = 39.00 (Premium)



Now I wonder how the Octane booster will make up for 4-6 octane numbers, and why a $10 bottle makes sense, when the $3.40 difference for a full tank makes more sense.

 

No higher octane does not burn hotter. No it doesn't get better gas mileage. No the octane rating isn't how much cleaning agents are in your fuel. No higher octane doesn't give more horsepower. These are true facts. No open debate. If you understand how octane ratings are given you will see what I'm talking about. If you are just seeing #'s like 87/89/93 then you have no idea. I'm not trying to bust anyone's ***** either, but I really hate seeing this getting thrown around the internet everyday. YES I have torn down MANY many engines. I haven't just torn them down, I've built them. I'm no new guy to the car scene and I always question what's going around to come to my own conclusions. So please don't take this the wrong way. On a side note, don't ever waste your $$ on so called octane boosters. If they say "Raises your octane by 3 points!" that means your 93 is not 93.3. If it's 10 points you now have 94 and so on.

6.13 Can higher octane fuels give me more power?

On modern engines with sophisticated engine management systems, the engine
can operate efficiently on fuels of a wider range of octane rating, but there
remains an optimum octane for the engine under specific driving conditions.
Older cars without such systems are more restricted in their choice of fuel,
as the engine can not automatically adjust to accommodate lower octane fuel.
Because knock is so destructive, owners of older cars must use fuel that will
not knock under the most demanding conditions they encounter, and must
continue to use that fuel, even if they only occasionally require the octane.

If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more
power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at
optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management
system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same. The higher
octane fuel costs more, so you are just throwing money away. If you are
already using a fuel with an octane rating slightly below the optimum, then
using a higher octane fuel will cause the engine management system to move to
the optimum settings, possibly resulting in both increased power and improved
fuel economy. You may be able to change octanes between seasons ( reduce
octane in winter ) to obtain the most cost-effective fuel without loss of
driveability.

Once you have identified the fuel that keeps the engine at optimum settings,
there is no advantage in moving to an even higher octane fuel. The
manufacturer's recommendation is conservative, so you may be able to
carefully reduce the fuel octane. The penalty for getting it badly wrong,
and not realising that you have, could be expensive engine damage.

This is an exerpt of a great fuel FAQ. If you have time to read it as it's VERY VERY VERY long check out the link: Gasoline FAQ
Enjoy