Octane Level for Upgrade? Bill,Corey? Help?
 

Well I am going to send in my Evo for an upgrade to the Gryphon in the next day or two but was wanting to know what octane I should select for my custom performance tune I am getting? I am getting just one tune for my mods because that is all I need but I run Super Unleaded (89) all of the time because it is the cheapest and didn't know whether I should get that octane performance tune or just leave it at 87? I just talked to PHP and they said that there isn't going to be that big of a difference but I just want to make sure before I send it out? Thanks

Super 89!?!?!?! It amazes me how much of an octane rating difference there is across the country. Normal for us is 85, 89 & 93. The 93 is replaced by 97 at a few stations and you can even find 105 Super Fuel in several spots around town.

SlvrBrute - Tell them the octane rating is 89, not 87. Also, if your gas has more than 10% ethanol, I'd tell them that too.

Cajun - The 97 octane and 105 MUST be E85! I can't imagine blending real gas to that octane rating unless it's avgas.

I was listening to an interesting interview on radio the other day that talked about how we're going to have a bunch of ruined small engines (lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, blowers, and the like if E85 becomes the new "standard" gas. According to the people interviewed, not only is it corrosive to some of the components, but it causes these engines to run hotter.

- Jack

Ethanol is highly corrosive to aluminum and magnesium, common metals found in may small engine components. You aren't kidding about ruined engines. :doh:

I'll double check, but I know the 93 isn't E85, and I pretty sure the 97 isn't either. I was able to get it at a Sunoco a while back and the 105 (maybe it's 101) is at BP and it's sold as a performance gas. I'm pretty sure that one isn't ethanol either. I'll double check both places this week though and make sure my story is straight.

I will have to drive over by the Las Vegas Speedway and get a pic, some of the stations over there. Some of the crap they have on pump I look at like :yikes2:
Then again, I do not drag race or anything either.

Our normal octanes here are 87,89,91. You see 93 in a few places, but not many.

That is the same octane levels here in Iowa that you can get along with E85.

We have E85 as well, where is this higher octane Ethanol fuel at? Is it mainly in the midwest??

Cajun - I don't doubt your story at all. And, I wouldn't expect the 93 octane stuff to be E85 either. I DO know though, that blending in ethanol has the effect of raising the octane (improving anti-knock properties) while at the same time reducing the power available per gallon of gas, so your gas mileage suffers.

In case you can't tell, I'm not a fan of "gasohol". :thumbsdwn: And, while I feel we MUST do something to reduce our dependence on oil, I don't see corn ethanol as the answer.

Hopefully, we'll see some progress in this area in the next four years.

- Jack

It's all good Jack, I'm gonna go by a couple of stations on the way home. I want to make sure I'll telling the right ratings and don't have it twisted in my little pea brain.

Well, I was partially right. I stopped at a Sunoco and they have 85, 89 & 93. I'm sure that's where I got the 97 a while back though. The BP I went by had a pump for VP Super Fuel, 101 octane, "contains no ethanol".

Ok, I decided to do a little survey around the small town I live closest too. I wanted to see what all the major brands had as well as check the other BP, because I remembered seeing two extra single pumps there. Everyone has the same at the main pumps, 85, 89, 93. The BP across town had a K-1 pump and amazingly enough they had a pump for....

110 Octane VP Race Fuel :yikes2:

Monroe does have several local race shops based here and a bunch of tracks close, but I didn't expect to find a 110 pump in town. You KNOW that's ending up on the street.

Cajun,

Where was that BP located? Need to make a note of it next time we go to Rockingham. :)

Well, I'm shocked! I never knew you would find racing fuel in a regular service station. Guess I'm still not to old to learn something new, eh? :o

- Jack

It's between Old Charlotte Hwy and Concord Ave. right at the "Y", about 1/2 mile from downtown Monroe.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.99...z=18&t=h&hl=en

Can you write a 110 tune for my F150? :innocent:

:3gears:
:hehe:

Next time you go to Rockingham, let me know, maybe we can meet up someplace.

I was shocked too, I didn't expect to find anything that high. They have a big sign right next to it about selling "fuel jugs" inside the store so it's obviously not suppose to be on the street, but.......

Yes and no. I can do a tune for 110 Octane but the biggest problem is that changing the timing curve will only provide gains to a point. What would really be needed is compression to make use of the 110.

I'll definitely give you a shout next tim ewe get up that way! :2thumbs:

I was just joking about the 110 tune, I'll probably stick to 89 for custom tunes. I run it the most and it's my understanding that you shouldn't mix octanes between specific tunes, right?

Oh and Corey, I'm comstantly being told I say it wrong...it is mun-ROW. :thumbsup:

What's funny to me is that Wingate is not pronounced Win-GATE, it's pronounced WIN-git. Go figure...

OK, to continue this hijack: In Arizona we have a pretty little town named Prescott, but, it's pronounced "Presskit". We have another, very little town called Why, and pronounced "Why" - I dunno why.... :confused: (Actually, I DO know why, but I'll let you all find out why. :smiley_roll1:)

- Jack

I rode my motorcycle over to Rockingham yesterday. The BP on 74 going into town there doesn't have any VP. Guess you're gonna have to come see me in Monroe. ;)

Bill,

The BP at the intersection of 501 and 301 in Rowland NC (2miles from South of the Border) has 110 octane fuel. This is about 45 miles from Rockingham, but I'm sure you know the location of the world famous S.O.B. I referenced above. I'm in Laurinburg, half way between the two.

You may not remember me, but I called last week with questions about a gryphon for a 08 f150 5.4 4x4 screw I just bought. We discussed the 'gotts mod' over a CAI and your suggestion of magnaflow over flowmaster. It was the one that has the 3.55 gears too instead of the more common 3.73. Anyway, thanks for all your time. I'll be making my order soon.