Worth it?

[snowman44]

I live in upstate ny and wondering if its worth it in these winter months to once a month fill it up with super unleaded because of winter blend or a waste of money? I have a 5.3 and do not require 93 octane

['01LS1]

Find a quality fuel station that you regularly use & run 3 tanks of each. There are zero additional detergents or anything of that nature in premium fuel vs regular.

 

 

 

This is from Road & Track.

Which to Choose?

The simplest answer of which fuel to use is to follow automaker advice contained in your car's owners manual. This might be given as a requirement or merely as a recommendation. The latter might be qualified by a statement along the lines of "lower octane may yield reduced performance or inferior mpg."

The reason for this has nothing to do with energy content. In fact, depending on its blending, a premium fuel may actually contain less energy per unit volume than regular. However, its potential for producing more power and enhanced mpg goes back to MBT and that knock sensor. If premium is recommended, this is the engine's optimal fuel. It'll run on regular—albeit with the sensor invoking ignition timing that's less than that associated with MBT. And with less than Best Torque, there'll be less performance and an mpg hit.

If the engine is tuned for regular but fueled with something of higher octane, things are a tad more complex. Most modern knock-sensed ignitions seek MBT timing and thus, at least in theory, profit from the added octane. Some, though, have preset ceilings beyond which they won't advance.

And, in all cases, the differences depend on engine families, their octane sensitivities and intended performance levels. Without a stopwatch or dyno—and apart from your pocketbook—you may not even notice any detriment or benefit. By the way, in R&T performance testing at the track, we arrange matters to use Shell's locally available premium of 91 pump octane.

What of midgrade? There's logic involving "legacy vehicles," older high-mileage machinery designed for regular. Even in these days of unleaded fuel, other combustion byproducts can cause deposits in the chamber that may increase octane appetite just a bit. The added octane of midgrade (blended at the pump from the station's premium and regular) might be just enough to counter this.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a18008/premium-fuel-futures/

[jamin87ss]

I live in upstate ny and wondering if its worth it in these winter months to once a month fill it up with super unleaded because of winter blend or a waste of money? I have a 5.3 and do not require 93 octane

Not in my opinion, but u do see a increase in mileage on my 14 with 81 non ethonal, but with the coat per gallon its a wash,

[smit303]

I

 

Not in my opinion, but u do see a increase in mileage on my 14 with 81 non ethonal, but with the coat per gallon its a wash,

 

assume you mean 91 non ethanol? Not 81?

[ewbldavis]

I ran a tank of 89 and saw no difference, possibly even a drop in mileage. I will stick with use the 87 in my 5.3. Doubt the expense of 91 (or 93) would make a difference in performance.

[jamin87ss]

I

 

 

assume you mean 91 non ethanol? Not 81?

Ya my bad, 91

[oscyjack]

I have run 93 at times, and notice slightly smoother operation and an increase of .7mpg. I fill with premium when I know i'm taking a long trip, probably does nothing but I feel good about it