Here's the deal,

My gas mileage has gone WAY down with the most recent cold snap...I'm all the way down from 22-23 MPG to barely 17. When you drive 300 miles a week, the extra gas adds up Here's what I wanna do...

Can I leave the chip in and run 87? I realize this COMPLETELY defeats the purpose of having a chip, but the way I see it, the chip only changes WOT settings. I don't race my car on the snows because I'll spin the RR and tear the studs out.

So technically, the car would ping at WOT, but if I'm not flooring it, can't I just use 87? The chip isn't altering part throttle settings, so why spend .20 more a gallon for power I won't use? Add into the fact that my mileage is sh*t right now, and the savings are there when you consider the chip will give me no benefit until the summer tires go back on.

So can I do it? I don't see why not....

------------------
Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires,coil/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
JasonEE98 on AOL IM

"I feed my car plenty of rice...keeps it healthy!!"

 

Just moving the post back up top....

 

actually i was wondering the same for when i get my chip..but i dont see why not?

------------------
Flowmaster 80 series, Random Technologies Cat, 3" intermediate pipe, SS
Hand Made Tips, 3 1/4" out, Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Coil, MSD Ignition Module,MSD 6A Box, Air Intake Temp Guage, Brushed Aluminum Hood Pins
Currently Working On:
T5 swap
Next to buy:
Slp dual cold air intake!

 

Neither do I!!! C'mon Tom, Brian or Kevin, you know you wanna answer this one

I talked to Reno about it last night...he said it wouldn't be a good idea. Other opinions either way please!!

 

Hey I just came in, give a guy a break

It seems like it would work; but wouldn't it be easiest to put the stock chip back in? What if the aftermarket chip affects something in the normal driving range, and the lower octane would hurt it?

I've been thinking of putting the stock chip back in, myself...


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

When I ran 87 once in mine, it ran like crap. I would NOT do this! Just put the other chip in!

------------------
91 RS Camaro
3.1L
Cat Back System, K&N filter,modified air box, Fastchip Stage 2, 160 thermo, Rapidfires and Bosch Wires 5 Air Horns

Kills: 89' 302 Thunderbird, 88' 305 Cutless Supreme, 90' 3.8 Bonneville

My Car

 

Hehe Tom...I was just kidding with ya Hope you weren't offended!! Look at it this way...your reputation is so widespread, people ask for you by name now when they have a problem

Garmer, one thing I was thinking when it came to your car is that you added the colder thermostat...maybe that would cause yours to run a little crappier on regular?

The reason why I don't wanna mess with the chip is because I come from the school where if it isn't broke, don't touch it!! With my luck, I'd get some static cling and blow the chip or the ECM when I'm changing it!! What can I say? When it comes to my car, I am the most neurotic 3rd gen owner out there...but it shows

If it comes down to it, I'd rather leave the chip in and run premium. So what's the consensus? Don't do it??

 

Jason, which stage are you running. If you have a stage 2, you should be running a 160 stat!

 

I got a stage 1 for two reasons:

1) I wanted to be able to leave the chip and thermostat in when going to the sniffer. I should be able to pass with merely the chip, but I wasn't sure if the colder stat might hamper something.

2) Auto Zone had a brain fart and told me they didn't have a 160 stat for a 2.8. I was dumb enough to believe them when I ordered mine back in March.

But she still pulls good with the stage 1, and I beat a guy in an '88 'Bird who had a JET with a stage 2!

 

If you run lower octane with the chip, your motor will have detonation, which really isn't good, you should be running at least 89 octane when using a performance chip... I wish I could run 89 octane, nothing but 92 or up for me High Compression engines are no fun.

 

Hm. Well, Shiner, the chip claims to only modify WOT settings. The theory being discussed is if the car never reaches WOT, is 93 octane really needed?


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

If the chip is only alters your fuel/air curves at WOT, then it should be fine. You should be able to run the 87 octane with the V6 motor under stock fuel maps. I have to run 93 all the way through, I don't have the same motor as you guys do, but have worked on many.

 

Well, there's only one way to find out, and that is to do it!! I am nervous though.

If this thing starts running like sh*t though, is it gonna hurt it to run it for a couple days? What I'd do is run the tank down, and give it 1/2 a tank of 87. If it runs like garbage, I can dilute the 87 with some 93 and run it.

If not, then my problem is solved I know it sounds lazy not to take the chip out, but as I said, I HATE messing with my ECM, especially when you consider a new one is $250!

 

I'd imagine you'd hear the pinging pretty quickly. You could probably retard the timing until your tank of '87 ran out... as to how much, I don't know... I assume 2 or 4 degrees?


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Jason I would venture to GUESS that it would be ok! I thought that you might have stage 2, like I do, and it doesnt work right! Mine works fine w/ 89.

Also if it does ping,, put some octane booster in it!

((By the way Autozone, Advance Auto Part,etc. dont have 160 stats for our cars!))

[This message has been edited by Garmer (edited December 12, 2000).]

 

I have a fastchip stage 2 but since i bought the car i aways use 92 octaine even stock.. But when im low on cahs i buy the cheap 87 arco stuff i really have no problmes on it

 

FastRS,, when I used 87 it didnt ping or detonate or anything like that. It just ran craper! Fealt like I had lost some power, and wasnt were the extra penny a gallon for 89!

------------------
91 RS Camaro
3.1L
Cat Back System, K&N filter,modified air box, Fastchip Stage 2, 160 thermo, Rapidfires and Bosch Wires 5 Air Horns

Kills: 89' 302 Thunderbird, 88' 305 Cutless Supreme, 90' 3.8 Bonneville

My Car