87 Octane tune question

[BlackZ71Silverado]

Is it possible to use 89 octane fuel with the 87 tune? Was told by someone from Black Bear Performance that the trucks should not run anything less than 89 octane even with the stock tune. Even though GM recommends 87 on the sticker. If the tune won't perform properly with the 89 octane, what changes would have to be made to correct the tune?

[Mike_Levy]

You can always run higher then the tune specifies, but never less. If the tune is designed for 87, then you can run 87 and up. If it needs 89 stock, then the timing is probably retarded to use 87.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

Appreciate it Mike, thanks.

[Oldsaltydog]

I run 87, and 89 sometimes with my 87 diablew tune but now I'm addicted to his 91 octane tune it pulls from the bottom all the way to redline and I use 93 with that tune.

[06MonteSS]

yeah, I would run at least 89 octane man... 87 gas just sucks plain and simple...

[Bacfire]

87 get you from point A to point B just fine.

91-94 get you there, leaving the competitor behind on your way.

If you can afford to run higher octane, do it. If money is an issue, then you gotta do what you gotta do!

[Mike_Levy]

If money is an issue, you're driving the wrong car/truck. If you can't afford to run and mantain the car as intended, you can't afford the vehicle. Get something cheaper rather then killing it.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

Money is not an issue at all...Was just wondering if the use of 89 octane would have any ill effect with the 87 tune, that's all.

[rdss]

If money is an issue, you're driving the wrong car/truck. If you can't afford to run and mantain the car as intended, you can't afford the vehicle. Get something cheaper rather then killing it.

Killing it using the recommended octane from the factory?! I don't quite understand that statement. I do agree running better gas is better for performance, but Lew has improved my mpg (by 1-1.5 mpg), power and driveability on 87 octane. When I didn't have my Sonic and was driving the truck every day running 87 was saving me between 20-30 bucks a month in gas (93 is almost 30 cents more than regular in NE Fl). If your not using the country store or SAMs/Walmart 87 and using quality gas then I don't see the problem.

[06MonteSS]

Money is not an issue at all...Was just wondering if the use of 89 octane would have any ill effect with the 87 tune, that's all.

nope, will be better for you actually... so yeah, I'd run 89 in it...

[Mike_Levy]

If money is an issue, you're driving the wrong car/truck. If you can't afford to run and mantain the car as intended, you can't afford the vehicle. Get something cheaper rather then killing it.

Killing it using the recommended octane from the factory?! I don't quite understand that statement. I do agree running better gas is better for performance, but Lew has improved my mpg (by 1-1.5 mpg), power and driveability on 87 octane. When I didn't have my Sonic and was driving the truck every day running 87 was saving me between 20-30 bucks a month in gas (93 is almost 30 cents more than regular in NE Fl). If your not using the country store or SAMs/Walmart 87 and using quality gas then I don't see the problem.

They only recommend it because thats the minimum it will run on, and people are cheap. Doesn't mean its good for it or that the truck is happy with it.

Saving $20-30 is nothing. When a motor costs $5,000, whats $30/mo? Thats almost 14 years to cover the cost of a motor.

[Bacfire]

Well, i dont think running lower octane gas will kill an engine. Most of them are probably made based on the fact that people will run them this way.

Now, engine maintenance is something that most people dont do correctly, and that is the real killer in my opinion!

[Mike_Levy]

Lower octane causes detonation, detonation destroys pistons. If chipped and burned pistons aren't destroying an engine, whart is? A connecting rod through the side of the block?

[Bacfire]

I know about detonation, but most vehicle you see on the road are driven by old people not using half of their engine. Sure if you tune and race your car on low octane, youll have problem, but for everyday application...i dont think youll see much engine going to hell?

[rdss]

Lower octane causes detonation, detonation destroys pistons. If chipped and burned pistons aren't destroying an engine, whart is? A connecting rod through the side of the block?

The Auto Manufacturers must be replacing tons of motors running on 87 then..... I'm pretty sure that most modern motors pull timing to protect against this and if your custom tuned and detonating on 87 you might want to find another person to tune your vehicle.