Hey guys. I probably just made a pretty dumb mistake. I recently purchased my new LS1 from a private seller. The seller said that his car ran better on regular gas and that when he used premium the engine would run a little rich and deposit some soot on the exhaust tips. I took his word for it and put some regular in even though the manual says to use premium. Well, the car feels sluggish now. No pings or anything like that, but I feel a loss of power. Anyway, I did a search and it seems my computer changed my timing and in turn decreased my horsepower? Will everything be ok if I put 91 in at the next fill up? Thanks.

-Adam

 

Everything should be fine man. Just remember to put 93 in next time.

 

i always flip out when someone almost puts 87 in my car


ps.. i'm in jersey where its against the law to pump your gas.

 

They won't let you pump your own gas? What is that some sort of safety issue? I would trust myself more than those pothead gas attendents that work at the gas stations I go to. I just hope my baby is ok.

-Adam

 

its mostly ahmed's and habibs around my way maybe thats just a trenton thing I dunno if its illegal or not ive pumped my own and nobody's come at me with a broom lol

lata
Bill

 

87 octane won't kill your LS1. I ran 87 pretty much all last winter (at the time, the extra $5 per tank seemed like a big savings?!) and due to the colder temperatures, I could get away with running a lower octane gas without noticing any pinging at all. Only under a few conditions would I ever notice slight, momentary pinging, but the computer would pick it up and retard the timing.

If everyone would take a second to read the Owner's Manual, it does actually state:
"...use premium unleaded gasoline (91 octane or higher) for best performance..." but also:
"you may use middle grade or regular gasoline rated at 87 octane, but your vehicle's acceleration may be slightly reduced".

 

We had a gas shortage here a couple months ago, and the only thing available was low grade stuff. My acceleration decreased dramatically ... but after a couple tank refills of the good stuff she went back to where she use to be and everything was cool

PS, what the hell is with the not being able to pump your own gas thing?

 

the car will be fine when you refill it. if it's too annoying, stop by the parts store for a bottle of octane boost till you finish the tank. Federal law requires that a OEM's product be able to run on 87 octane, that's why we have knock sensors. it may not run its best, but it will safely run.

 

all i've ever put in mine was 89 mabe i should stop

 

Only if you want to go faster.

 

There's 3 states in the USA which require an attendant to fill up the gas: Oregon, New Jersey and another which I can't remember.
I believe it has something to do with safety

 

My last two fill-ups have been with 87. I honestly could not feel any difference. No pinging, noithing. And it accelerated the same as with 93 or 94 Sunoco.

 

It would take numerous bottles of octane boost to make up the difference in octane.. do a search.

 

yeah i used to run 87 when i first got the car, because i had alot of bills to pay and thought i was saveing money. But, i did notice alot of carbon build up on the tail pipes and my car did ping. My car will ping a lil even with the 89 octain too. But runs alot better then the 87 its like night and day.

 

Nope.. nothing to do with safety.. Its about jobs..

I actually moved from NJ to Oregon.. In my own way, I was surprised that I couldn't pump my own gas, again... after driving thousands of miles across the US.. lol