premium gas?

[doverman]

Will it be ok to run premium gasoline in my 2011 Silverado 5.3 all stock? I was unsure if it would hurt my sensors or anything. I read in the owners manual and it just says 87 minumum octane required.

[Dave4x4]

You'll be fine to run premium hence the "minimum" meaning that's least grade of octane they suggest running anything over wont do any harm and will pry actually see improvement after a couple tanks get run through.

[txab]

You really won't get much benefit from it unless you're tuned for that octane. Why do you wish to use it?

 

if you're going to run it, I'd tune for it

[doverman]

well the only reason i want to run it is because the 87 octane fuels around here i feel isnt very good quality of fuel. Would the higher octane burn cleaner and be better on my engine in the long run to keep running? I would like to do a tune on my truck but with budget constraints (getting married and fixing up a house!) it wont be possible to do anytime in the near future.

[txab]

Your best bet is to buy fuel from Top Tier fuel suppliers. I'll try to post a link to the list. No Wally World gas!

 

 

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

[doverman]

i never buy wally world gas. lol i only buy shell gas only a few times had to put bp fuel in.

[waumo1]

I'm running 93 and still get some knock retard when datalogging. This is in 30-60F temps so that indicates to me that 93 octane is not too much for the vehicle. Is it necessary? No because the computer will retard the timing as needed to control knock with 87 octane. Do I want the computer retarding the timing significantly? No - the 5.3 is pretty weak to start with - without killing what power it is capable of.

[AirForceAngler]

Unless you tune the engine for higher octane or increase the compression ratio somehow, you'll be wasting money and reducing the efficiency of your engine with higher than recommended octane.

[doverman]

 

well the thing is that it says nowhere "recommended octane 87" it just says minimum octane 87

[dmar]

I use 87 in my 05 5.3 and it works fine. I had to use 89 in my 1996 ford 302 or it would ping going up hills. My supercharged regal needs 93 octane due to the higher compression engine. If it does not ping I wouldn't spend the extra $ on 93 octane. It can be 25 cents more a gallon. add it up. Buy some fuel injector cleaner every now and then and use the 87 octane. I agree with the post above about using more of a brand name gas like shell or exxon.

[MikeNH]

You'll probably see some benefit to premium, my truck definitely ran better, throttle response seemed better and the exhaust even sounded different. I started filling it with regular again though as beginning next month my employer will be paying my gas expenses and they won't be happy with me buying premium so I wanted to get a few tanks of regular in through the truck before I hitch up the trailer for the move.

[Chris]

what about 85 octane like in utah

[Austin83]

The benefit of higher octane fuel is not worth the money if your vehicle does not require it. Use a quality top tier fuel.....Shell, QT, Exxon, Chevron, Texaco, etc. and you will be fine. I try to use Chevron or Texaco due to Techron, but any top tier is fine with me. I also add a bottle of Techron every oil change. If you own a Corvette, turbo charged, supercharged, or high end vehicle that requires it...then use it.

[tanked_darren]

Your best bet is to buy fuel from Top Tier fuel suppliers. I'll try to post a link to the list. No Wally World gas!

 

 

http://www.toptierga.../retailers.html

 

This ^ I've heard in older vehicle at least my olds I had heard running higher octane burned up O2 sensors ( I ran high octane O2 did burn out), but I have no idea how true that is and did not care to ever look into it.

what about 85 octane like in utah

 

Wow first time I heard they went that low in North America. Mind you never looked into it.

[AirForceAngler]

Higher altitude states like Utah and Colorado offer 85 octane and it is fine if you're staying at those altitudes. Due to the reduced oxygen at those altitudes, engines are even less likely to detonate so you can get by with less octane. Octane rating is simply the measure of a fuels resistance to premature detonation. It doesn't burn any hotter or offer any more power. Higher octane simply means you can run higher compressions or cylinder pressures such as turbo cars or superchargers. Running higher octane in a vehicle that does not REQUIRE it can actually reduce power because it is harder to ignite and may burn slower. Use a quality gasoline at the minimum octane rating and you should be fine.