Sunoco 94 octane

8579 Views 47 Replies 20 Participants Last post by wytltng, Jul 9, 2010

CapriSSish

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2009

So Sunoco has decided to drop Ultra 94 in this area (Dayton, Ohio) I have been running it the whole time since I've been modding the Caprice and ain't sure what is the next best fuel I can or should be running. The next best "pump gas" is either Sunoco 93 or BP 93.
Have I been wasting my time trying to get 94 and will I loose any power with 93 octane?
Anybody had experience with this situation? Thoughts, Ideas?
I'm not running any cats and the track sells real race gas and I could "add" a few gallons to the tank but I sure wouldn't run it "straight"

1 - 20 of 48 Posts

1FAST94

· #2 · Oct 24, 2009

93 should be fine with what you have. The only way you could lose power is if the knock senors pick up a reading and retard the timing. The race gas they sell at kil-kare is leaded. Good luck Mr. Gibbs, see ya tomorrow

yoko

· #3 · Oct 24, 2009

they pulled it here in toledo too

Impalexss

· #4 · Oct 24, 2009

They pulled it like 5 years ago in Philly. Except we do have one sunuco that sells 100 octane!!

KW Baraka

· #5 · Oct 24, 2009

CapriSSish said:
So Sunoco has decided to drop Ultra 94 in this area (Dayton, Ohio) I have been running it the whole time since I've been modding the Caprice......

OK............so why do you need 94 (or 93) octane fuel???

KW

94roadiewagon

· #6 · Oct 24, 2009

all chicago has is 91

VTXRider

· #7 · Oct 24, 2009

Unless you are tuned to run premium you are just throwing your money away. Higher octane does not mean more HP unless your engine is tuned for it. If you are running regular gas with no pre-detonation then you will gain nothing by running premium gas. If you do have a premium tune you should be fine running 93, race gas would definately be a waste and could harm your motor. But it would smell GREAT!

Bob with 3 Bs

· #8 · Oct 24, 2009

VTXRider said:
...race gas...could harm your motor.

Care to elaborate?

CapriSSish

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 24, 2009

OK............so why do you need 94 (or 93) octane fuel???

KW

I'm not tellin'

The car has gone 13.teens but usually in the 13.20s low .30s...
Mikey (1 fast94) See ya at the track, it's the last points race but my semi retirement this summer really put a hurt in my quest to be track champ'een in the sportsman class. Hey I did better in your class last time I raced running both street & Pro but without an electric fan to get her cooled quicker she sure don't like to be hot lapped between runs.
Time to get "Grampa's Limozene" ready for battle.

VTXRider

· #10 · Oct 24, 2009

Bob with 3 Bs said:
Care to elaborate?

Running higher octane (slower burning) gas can lead to unburned fuel fouling plugs. Running leaded gasoline, as it was stated his race gas is, is also not recommended in a stock LT1.

SSandman

· #11 · Oct 24, 2009

VTXRider said:
Running higher octane (slower burning) gas can lead to unburned fuel fouling plugs. Running leaded gasoline, as it was stated his race gas is, is also not recommended in a stock LT1.

I never really got the idea that race fuel 'burns slower'. Higher octane resists detonation better than lower octane, that is what octane is essentially a measure of. But how does that have any affect on burn speed? I always figured perhaps this is flatout untrue, as octane rating itself, as defined, has nothing to do with burn speed, but maybe lead vs unleaded affects the burn speed?

Gregg-O

· #12 · Oct 24, 2009

KW Baraka said:
OK............so why do you need 94 (or 93) octane fuel???

KW

Please....for the 3rd time.....answer this question.

tlynch

· #13 · Oct 24, 2009

Gregg-O said:
Please....for the 3rd time.....answer this question.

As stated above, you only need it if you have had your car tuned for it. That means not just engine mods, but also you had your computer programmed for it.

In otherwords, if you have a stock car, you're fine with 85 octane. You will NOT see any benefit with running a higher octane.

Stupid me, just before the gas prices jumped had PCMForLess tune my computer to 91 octane. Sure, I get a bit of a performance boost and a bit better mpg... But the cost per gallon offsets the increase in MPG. If I could go back, I would.

KW Baraka

· #14 · Oct 24, 2009

CapriSSish said:
OK............so why do you need 94 (or 93) octane fuel???

KW

I'm not tellin'
The car has gone 13.teens but usually in the 13.20s low .30s...

Those times indicates that you're not running much static or dynamic compression; and as such, 94 octane could be doing more harm to you engine (and wallet) than good.

SSandman said:
I never really got the idea that race fuel 'burns slower'. Higher octane resists detonation better than lower octane.....

It does that by......ok.......ready for this.......burning slower

.

KW

Bob with 3 Bs

· #15 · Oct 24, 2009

VTXRider said:
Running higher octane (slower burning) gas can lead to unburned fuel fouling plugs.

Once the air/fuel mixture ignites, it explodes. Tell me more about these 'slow' explosions.

VTXRider said:
Running leaded gasoline, as it was stated his race gas is, is also not recommended in a stock LT1.

VTXRider said:
...race gas...could harm your motor.

I know lead is bad for catalytic converters (which he claims he is not running) and oxygen sensors, but what would it harm in his motor?

As has been asked several times before, why does he need 93 or 94 octane fuel? Or race gas? I get no spark retard at the track with my 11:1 383 using 93 octane unleaded.

Bob with 3 Bs

· #16 · Oct 24, 2009

KW Baraka said:
It does that by......ok.......ready for this.......burning slower . KW

You too KW. Explain the concept of slower burning fuel.

KW Baraka

· #17 · Oct 24, 2009 (Edited)

Bob with 3 Bs said:
You too KW. Explain the concept of slower burning fuel.

In a way, is the same combustion principle (hi-octane vs lo-octane) as gasoline vs diesel.

It's not about the 'explosion' as you incorrectly phrased it......it's about what it takes to ignite and burn the fuel.

Read and learn.......these explain it a lot better than I have the patience to.....

http://www.wanderings.net/notebook/Main/IsHighOctaneGasWorthTheMoney

http://www.performancecar.co.nz/art...ffect-ignition-and-what-fuel-should-i-use-137

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/question90.htm

http://www.petrolprices.com/about-fuel.html

KW

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Mean SS

· #18 · Oct 24, 2009

Bob with 3 Bs said:
Once the air/fuel mixture ignites, it explodes. Tell me more about these 'slow' explosions.

you get knock when it explodes what you want is "rapid flame propagation"

QuoteWarz

· #19 · Oct 24, 2009

I really wish we could get 94 octane at the pump in So Cal. The best is always 91 octane which sucks.

KW Baraka

· #20 · Oct 24, 2009

QuoteWarz said:
I really wish we could get 94 octane at the pump in So Cal......

Why?

What makes you think that YOU need 94 octane?

KW

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