Fuel Discrepency

[91CamaroRS]

my dad's been yellin at me recently for "wastin my money on medium grade gas". How much of a difference does running regular instead of medium make? Does the higher octane just burn cleaner and provide better fuel economy? Whats the deal here?

[Fin]

Both the 3.4L & 3.8L V6's call for 87 unleaded octane fuel, so unless you're running a custom program that requires higher octane, or a power adder of some sort, you're best sticking to 87, since higher octanes tend to burn slower, & our engines don't burn them like higher-compression motors (such as the LT1 & LS1) do.

[91CamaroRS]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Fin:
[QB]Both the 3.4L & 3.8L V6's QB]<hr></blockquote>

well mines a 3.1, but i dont suppose that makes too much a difference. thanks for the input

[Fin]

Won't make much of a difference, since the 2.8, 3.1, & 3.4 are quite similar.

[navyblue2000]

for me a step up to 89 octane made a difference...the power difference isn't really that much, barely noticeable if ever, but i get 2 and a half more mpg with 89

[Patrick Javert]

After i did my intake mods, I tried 89 octane and found that I had i little more power/pull when I floored it. maybe cuz if the extra air going in.

[unleaded]

This has been a huge debate with many cars. I don't really know about the 3.1 but on my 3.8 using medium grade fuel made a bigger difference than i thought it would. With 89 or 92 my car does pull harder. I know this because i used to race with 87 octane and i lost to cars i thought i could beat. Then i started putting in 92 and i started to waste those same cars. I have done a lot of research about this and asked technitions. My post would be too long to state the reasons why so just e-mail me at clebaron1@aol.com to see what ive come up with.

[99Camaro99]

there is no difference...psychologically you may be "looking" for a difference that just really isn't there...think about it...higher octane...HARDER to burn. 87 is nicer since it burns easier.

[Gregg Thompson]

I am one of those whom believe that its a waste of time to burn anything higher then recommended. However, my 94 3.4 runs much quiter and gets about 2 miles more per gallon on 89. I get slight pinging with 87. Its probably the crappy KY gas we have here in Louisville...

[OnixV6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 91CamaroRS:
my dad's been yellin at me recently for "wastin my money on medium grade gas". How much of a difference does running regular instead of medium make? Does the higher octane just burn cleaner and provide better fuel economy? Whats the deal here?<hr></blockquote>

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question90.htm

[navyblue2000]

the 3800 runs on 9.4:1 compression. that's awful high to be running 87 octane. but what do i know? but i do know that with intake mods, you will get more air flowing in than stock...so maybe better fuel...

[99Camaro99]

Gregg...once a car gets older it seems to like the higher grade gas...so I know that once I pass 75,000mi this car will never see the light of 87 octane again. Also if pinging is found w/87, then don't use it.

[Gregg Thompson]

Yea I agree. New the car would burn Miller Light but now its a bit picky!

[99Camaro99]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gregg Thompson:
Yea I agree. New the car would burn Miller Light <hr></blockquote>

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] :D

hmm...beer [img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[OneQuickV6]

In addition to higher octane burning SLOWER like many point out to be a bad thing, it in turn burns HOTTER as I recall from physics class. Even my mom's Intrepid runs better and gets better fuel mileage with better than 87 octane, Chrysler recomends 88 or better in that one. To each his own, I will never run less than 88 again, and I won't run other than Chevron if I have a choice.