i've always ran premium gas in my car, but I'm startin to think I don't have too..I'm running 9.6 to 1 compression. do I need to run 93 or can i get away with something like 87 or 89? what are the benefits of higher octane?

 

I would keep the high octane.

Benefits are reducing likelyhood of detonation which will slaughter a non forged rotating assembly before you know what happened.

 

I was thought that 9.6 compression is best run with a 96 octane (get what am saying,) I know that 10:sumtin compression engines run really good on 91.
I wouldn't go under 91.

 

well how high of compression does a stock LS1 have? because my buddy runs a cammed and nitrous LS1 on 87 octante and no problem...i heard 10 and above you have to run premium, andything under that you should be good with 87 or 89...i'm just tyring to find out if its a neccitty...because with these gas prices, I'm not gonna run 93 if I don't have too...because my motor is basically a stock corvette TPI as far as compression goes...

 

91 lowest man. Trust me.

Here are few tips with ocatne fuel.
If you are running stock tune than even 85 would work decent.

Basically under 10 compression can run on normal gas, but you are really loosing power, and making the engine run actually hotter than normal.
I say that depending on the tune of the car the gas should be choosen accordingly.

Can you get away with 87 and 89?? Yes, but do you have a stock tune??? If so, than yes you can, if not or you have more performance parts on there, I would advise at least 91. Which would run great, even on a stock vette motor.

Run some race fuel, or higher octane fuel than what you;ve been doing and you will notice the difference.


There is always a bit of an extereme that is redundant for the engine too. So I understand where you are coming from.

 

run the lowest octane that you dont have any spark knock with... actually 87 octane will make more power than 91+ as long as there is no spark knock.

 

Most of the time I run 89 in mine but right now there's nothing but 110 in the tank for racing. My motor has about 10:1 and aluminum heads so I can kinda get away with it; never have heard it ping once.

 

What is your timing set at?

Remember, that aluminum heads can give you a "free" full point of compression in comparison to aluminum heads.

for example, on iron heads if you have 10.5:1, you would probably want to go no lower than 93 octane, and probably a little octane booster. If you have aluminum heads and are at 10.5:1, then it would be like an iron head with 9.5:1 where you could get away with 89 octane or so..... or atleast that's what i've heard