Octane help

[youngmanvr4]

If you have read any of my other threads you should know by know when i get my GST/GSX i'll be modding it (turbo, intake, exhaust, ect).I read on another thread that when modded like this only to use 92 and up octane.Oh yea...the "for all of you who want to turbo a GS, RS" or whatever to thread says by RST...thats where i got it from.But anyways...what octane should i use?One thing i might add is i leave in Kansas (10 miles south of Ne) and i'm in Cali right now (going home this weekend) and from what i remember in Ks we only have 91 octane and it has corn in it (also called Ethanol).So i dont know if that will make it worse or what when modding like this...but the one good thing about ethanol is that with corn in it and Ne being a corn state it makes the high octane (91) sometimes a lower price then normal gas (87) because of helping the earth and the stuff we grow in the heartland.If i still need a higher octane then 91 is there a octane booster of some sort?Something that i can use to bump it up a octane or 2?Any help on this would be great.

Also...i would like to know what effects ethanol is going to have, and if its good or bad...or just doesn't really matter?

[spyderturbo007]

The higher the octane the better. I live in Pa and run 93 all of the time. The dealer recommends "premium” but I don't know that they specify an octane. The problem with running a lower octane fuel is that the lower the octane the more prone the fuel is to pre-ignition which equals knock. When the ECU senses an unusual amount of knock it retards the timing until the knock returns to "normal levels", thereby robbing you of power. When it reaches the point where it can no longer retard the timing it starts stealing boost. :22yikes: I don't know that you will have a problem with 91 octane (if you read at the sticker on the pump is shows 91 as minimum octane) so I would guess you would be ok. I know you can buy octane boosters from you local auto parts store but I have no experience with them, nor do I know of the long term side effects. Hope this helps!

Found this at vfaq.com

"No concrete drawbacks or benefits have surfaced despite the heated debate that surrounds these products, making them appear similar to highly publicized 'magic products'"

"Even the manufacturers are starting to admit how little effect their products have. Most rate the effectiveness in "points" - a misleading marketing euphemism for increments of 0.1 octane. Prestone states that their octane booster only tends to increase the octane of a tank of gasoline by 5 "points", or 0.50 octane. This makes 92 octane gasoline a whopping 92.5 octane - hardly a stellar improvement."

[MiTsUsPyDeR97]

I read somwhere but I can't remember where that the minimum requirement would be 91 octane. So that KS gas would be sufficient.

[JoeWagon]

You aren't going to want to buy octane booster every time you buy gas. If you only have 91, you will be fine using it, so don't worry.

[1stGenRocks]

my 2 cents

since the ecu adjust your fuel trim constantly its best to try and use the same octane all the time then the ecu knows whats in the tank and can respond better

[youngmanvr4]

Just so i understand what you guys are saying is i only have 91 octane gas in Ks so if that the highest we have thats what i use...and dont worry about octane booster?I just dont remumber what we have back at home.LOL...i think there are place's where they sell 92 octane...but i'm not sure.

[Igovert500]

Yeah thats correct. I have a vr4, and thats safe on 91. I would have to agree with everyone else, Unless you plan on boosting to higher levels, 91 will do fine.

And if you do choose to go higher, you can always do propane or alky injection to prevent knock, if 91 is the best you can find.

[EclipseRST]

octane booster blows balls! worthless to spend money on!!! 91 is just fine just dont beat the shit out of your car everyday! i tend to run 93 up to 3/4 tank then top it off with some 118 race gas everyother time i fill up! i buy the race gas by 55 gallon drums... it only costs me $2.18 @ gallon so i can afford to run it! plus i use it in my dirt bikes for race too!

[Rooikat]

$2.18? Where do you get it in drums? I've never looked at the price for 110 they have here at the pump, but premium is around $2.00-$2.10 here in MI, so buying it in drums wouldn't be too bad I don't think.

[EclipseRST]

i get it from a local place here... if i get it by the drum its only $2.18, if i were to buy it separately i would be almost $4.00 a gallon!

[JoeWagon]

How much is a 55 gallon drum? I might have to invest.

[youngmanvr4]

It should be 119.90 plus tax...if i could get a deal like that then i may want to buy some.

[FDTT]

Hook it up Nate, i want some fuel, maby you and I can go halfers on a barrel. I think the WRX would enjoy that fun juice

[youngmanvr4]

Right on dude!

[EclipseRST]

its 119 like dude said but i usually give the guy a 12 pack too cause he cut the price so much! that makes him happy!