High octane.
Not a Sebring
Joined: 02-22-07
Posts: 12,863
Likes: 2
From: Northern VA
It would create alot of knock and your car would run like *******........but I mean its your car.....do what you wish with it. But whats the point of buying a "performance" car if your just gonna treat it like a Geo Prizm?
Stick to premium. Trust me. I only run premium in my 2.4SS.
Stick to premium. Trust me. I only run premium in my 2.4SS.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-20-07
Posts: 916
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
I wont hurt the motor if you are stock. If you plan on modding the car, premium is a must. I would still recommend premium for the stock car. The car will run better and it barely costs much more per tank.
Banned
Joined: 12-18-05
Posts: 17,838
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
Senior Member
Joined: 03-24-08
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, Wv
Wow.. Why wouldn't you use Premium, I mean you buy a performance car and you don't want to put the highest grade gas in it? it only comes out to about 2-3 bucks extra a fill up. I use it and I have a little 2.2.
Banned
Joined: 12-18-05
Posts: 17,838
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
there's no benefit to running premium in a 2.2 unless you're tuned for it. in this case, you can just use regular.
Joined: 12-30-07
Posts: 14,079
Likes: 197
From: NEPA
please run premium fuel in the SS/SC !!!!! in your manual it says run 91 or higher .... 87 can be used in a stock SS/SC, but you will feel a great decrease in performance. Why buy a performance car that recommends premium and use regular ??? Since day 1, I have never used anything but Sunoco Ultra 93 in my SS/SC.
Joined: 12-30-07
Posts: 14,079
Likes: 197
From: NEPA
you think the stock suspension in the ss/sc is a weak point ??? you are wrong my friend .... there was countless hours of testing at race tracks to develop that suspension.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-10-08
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 0
From: Richmond
91+ ONLY!
ummmmmmmm....
ummmmmmmm....
Last edited by red06SC; Mar 20, 2009 at 11:09 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Senior Member
Joined: 07-24-06
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
The dealership filled mine with 87 octane when I bought it. Since then I only run premium unless I have the money for a tank of 100 octane. that stuff smells great when its burning lol. USE ONLY PREMIUM GAS IN A SS/SC.
Member
Joined: 10-01-08
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
From: Vegas, Baby!
So many people still don't understand the difference between fuel grades and when to use what. It makes me sad. So here's a gentle reminder for the sake of posterity...
PREMIUM FUEL IS IN NO WAY SUPERIOR TO REGULAR FUEL OF THE SAME BRAND!!!!!!!!!!! IT JUST BURNS SLOWER!!!!!!!! THAT'S IT!!!!!!!! NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope the people in back were able to hear that.
For the stubborn, it's like this: If your motor isn't specifically tuned for higher octane fuel, THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO USING IT - IT ACTUALLY HURTS PERFORMANCE!! So to the guy running premium in his 2.2 - you're spending more money for less power and mileage. Sorry - 'tis the truth. Dude in the 2.4 - same deal. Mid-grade MIGHT make sense in a 2.4 as it's fairly high compression, but in all likelihood regular is probably fine.
Likewise, if your car is SPECIFICALLY tuned for premium, you MUST use premium or you will damage the car over time.
Some cars can, in fact, use either - and these cars won't be hurt by regular, but WILL perform better on premium. The LSJ cars fall into this category - the computer is smart enough to recognize when lower octane fuel is present and adjust for it - but you'll lose power and efficiency - and if it's hot out, it'll knock anyway.
So to review:
If your car says "Regular unleaded", use just that!! MAYBE midgrade if you run it high into the revs frequently or live in a very hot climate.
If your car says "Premium fuel only", you will damage the car by running lower octane more than a couple of hopefully accidental times - it will knock like a Mormon missionary who knows you're home.
If your car says "Premium recommended", use premium! Lower octane will NOT damage it; but you're not getting what you paid for out of the car, either. And again - if you run it hard or in high heat conditions, it WILL let you know that it wants you to stop being a cheap bastard at the pump.
Class dismissed.
PREMIUM FUEL IS IN NO WAY SUPERIOR TO REGULAR FUEL OF THE SAME BRAND!!!!!!!!!!! IT JUST BURNS SLOWER!!!!!!!! THAT'S IT!!!!!!!! NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope the people in back were able to hear that.
For the stubborn, it's like this: If your motor isn't specifically tuned for higher octane fuel, THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO USING IT - IT ACTUALLY HURTS PERFORMANCE!! So to the guy running premium in his 2.2 - you're spending more money for less power and mileage. Sorry - 'tis the truth. Dude in the 2.4 - same deal. Mid-grade MIGHT make sense in a 2.4 as it's fairly high compression, but in all likelihood regular is probably fine.
Likewise, if your car is SPECIFICALLY tuned for premium, you MUST use premium or you will damage the car over time.
Some cars can, in fact, use either - and these cars won't be hurt by regular, but WILL perform better on premium. The LSJ cars fall into this category - the computer is smart enough to recognize when lower octane fuel is present and adjust for it - but you'll lose power and efficiency - and if it's hot out, it'll knock anyway.
So to review:
If your car says "Regular unleaded", use just that!! MAYBE midgrade if you run it high into the revs frequently or live in a very hot climate.
If your car says "Premium fuel only", you will damage the car by running lower octane more than a couple of hopefully accidental times - it will knock like a Mormon missionary who knows you're home.
If your car says "Premium recommended", use premium! Lower octane will NOT damage it; but you're not getting what you paid for out of the car, either. And again - if you run it hard or in high heat conditions, it WILL let you know that it wants you to stop being a cheap bastard at the pump.
Class dismissed.