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.