So I was reading the FAQ's on MadZ28 and I read something I didn't know, and am Slightly confused about.

So if I have my car tuned by them, and I want maximum performance they will tune it so the car will only work with premium gasoline. Or I can get a tune and not have the car set for premium gasoline, but get less power out of my tune.

Is that right? What if I wanted to run premium when on the track, but regular on the street, would I have to sacrifice for the tune with less performance?

 

You should run premium all the time in an LT1/LS1

 

You should email Madz and ask about it.

 

I had my car tuned by him last yr.and i requested the power tune option w/the premium fuel needed.I run 90 octane(w our alt. it is 91+) or even mix 92 sometimes and at track i run 94(only 1/4-1/2 tank)Btw i have a LT1 scanmaster so i can watch for kr,but since i have a dying opti i have kr anyhow so this yr.i will have a better read on octane no.needed.Hope this helps you out.

 

So the car would run on regular unleaded? Did it seem to run just as good?

At the track I would plan on using Premium, but with the way gas prices are going up, I'd hate to have to buy that all the time as the car is also my daily driver.

 

Like Shoebox said, you really should email Ion (MadZ28) and ask him a detailed question. Let him know where you live and drive including altitude and what high octane gas is availible in your area.

Just so you know, he did a high octane tune for me, and it will run on regular unleaded so long as the I'm easy on the throttle and I'm on flat land. When I moved from FL to upstate SC, I now have to run Premium all the time.

 

in order to run regular gas you'll have to have that "type" of tune....which means you will not get as much power. however other things can be tuned regardless of gas....shift points, rev limit, torque management, fan settings, etc...which are all still beneficial.

you can have a premium tune and run regular. but you will likely get detonation...resulting in knock retard...in the upper rpms. this will likely only occur when under load...racing or pulling up hills. the computer can adjust for the knock/detonation...but that doesn't mean its good for your car.

you can probably run a premium tune...and drive on a road trip with regular gas with no problems. since you'll be at low throttle and constant speed for long times.

your other option if you REALLY want to drive on regular...is pick up a 2nd ECM. have on tuned for regular and one tuned "hot" for the track. may not be a bad option.

 

The whole reasoning behind different octanes of gas is to avoid pre-detonation, or knock. The LT1/LS1 engines are high compression engines, so they need a higher octane to avoid the compressed gas detonating before the spark plug goes off. And just like teke184 said, your car will run on regular, but you will probably get a lot of knock in the higher RPM's.

 

i ONLY run premium in my 93 z28 along with Mobil 1 oil. i have to admit for a mostly stock engine, it is quick as hell with a cold air intake and better exhaust. i also only use platinum or better plugs. can't beat an ls1 yet, but they respect me after we run.

 

Premium fuel is recommended by Chevrolet for an LT1... run premium. Most manufacturers recommend premium for their higher performance cars.