is using the 91 octane,

[Rob Burke]

no ethanol. is using this this fuel recommended or beneficial?

 

[luigisho]

What are your other choices? I like ethanol free gasoline. More energy per volume. I would mostly put the highest octane gasoline you can afford. My '97 ran better on premium over regular octaine and I can notice this in my current flex fuel v8 f150. Runs better on premium. Can't always afford it, but I can tell the difference.

I really like the non ethanol for smaller gasoline engines like lawnmowers, leaf blowers etc.

 

[zoomlater]

ethanol free as well, but I am lucky it's available at a nearby location

 

[E1]

'96 - '98 had "Premium Unleaded Fuel Recommended" printed on the Tach dial in the gauge cluster.

'99's did not have this recommendation.

All 3.4 V8's were basically the exact same engine.

That said, there were many discussions back in the day.

87 octane is just fine for our cars. Ethanol is not desirable if one can avoid it.

 

[RonPorter]

Back in the 90s, I lived in the Chicago area, then in Louisville. Both had RFG fuel, which is alky gas, with a whole bunch of other crap in it. Luckily, in Louisville, the next county had regular 10% alky gas plus some straight gas. I did a lot of runs back to Michigan in my 89, with the Bolt-On Stage. Mileage and power were better on the 10% alky, and better yet on the pure gasoline. And this was all with 87. Never noticed any change running 91-93.

 

[RonPorter]

And remember that states like California don't sell anything above 91.

 

[stephen newberg]

Well, if we are going to talk back in the day, when I was running mine all the time forever ago I kept careful records of fuel use as an indicator for two years in a row, the first all regular 87 gas and the second all premium 91. Fuel consumption was enough lower with the 91 that it made the cost virtually the same. However, that was a long time ago and the gap between the two has widened since, percentage wise, and additionally there was no alcohol in gas where I lived at that time, so I am not sure if any of that information is really valid any more.

I do know that the computer will simply compensate with timing changes if you are using lower octane fuel, to prevent preignition. . And the timing changes will decrease engine performance, if you are looking at quickness for output. So, depending on your goal, you may want to consider that.

pax, smn

 

[SHOZ123]

The ethanol free is a bigger plus than the octane. I just went from 93 E10 to 91 E0 on my tuned Gen Coupe turbo and picked up power and gas mileage.

 

[dave stevenson]

ethanol wreaks havoc with older vehicles - it will eat thru rubber fuel lines - leave deposits in your carburetor- - buy some START TRON additive - one cap full per tank - it will eliminate the ethanol , enzyme additive- luckily I have access to Chevron gas 94 octane ethanol free . perfect for my two oldies and SHO . improved the performance of my 87 turbo t-bird.

 

[RonPorter]

The only non-alky gas available here in the Detroit suburbs is 90 at Kroger. And it's pricier than 93. Most folks just use it for small engines for lawn tools, but it's in my 89 SHO that sits for months on end.

 

[PaulTAutoX]

ethanol wreaks havoc with older vehicles - it will eat thru rubber fuel lines - leave deposits in your carburetor- - buy some START TRON additive - one cap full per tank - it will eliminate the ethanol , enzyme additive- luckily I have access to Chevron gas 94 octane ethanol free . perfect for my two oldies and SHO . improved the performance of my 87 turbo t-bird.

I'm so envious. As above, 91 is the highest here other than at race gas stations, and almost 100% of the pumps have ethanol. Nearest race gas station is 25 minutes away. This doesn't affect my '92 really as I have never noticed a difference between regular and premium with it, though I usually put in premium as it has the better detergent package I am told. On my Subie though I'd rather have higher octane.

 

[Funmart6]

I use 90 octane ethanol free fuel in my riding lawnmower, leaf blower, weed eater, 1968 Dodge D100 truck, and have used it in the SHO also with no problems. We have a station nearby so, it's readily available where I live.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[dave stevenson]

might be cost effective to get a bottle of STAR TRON treats 512 gallons think about 24.00 incl shipping - check it out on ebay . 32 oz I believe

 

[geneSHO98]

Here in Washington (Port Orchard) at Shell there is 92 octane premium, and ethanol free premium but only 87 octane. I’ve been using the blended gas because it’s the highest octane, should I switch to the lower octane but ethanol free gas?

 

[RonPorter]

Here in Washington (Port Orchard) at Shell there is 92 octane premium, and ethanol free premium but only 87 octane. I’ve been using the blended gas because it’s the highest octane, should I switch to the lower octane but ethanol free gas?

Yes. Especially if you have a stock Gen 3.

 

[Sho"ney"]

might be cost effective to get a bottle of STAR TRON treats 512 gallons think about 24.00 incl shipping - check it out on ebay . 32 oz I believe

Great Information, i had zero clue Ethanol was so hazardous to cars. this is my first older vehicle in some time and will definitely order Star-Tron or take a trip down to the valley for some RaCe Fuel.

 

[luigisho]

They've had ethanlo in gas for a while and the fuel injected cars do ok with it. The newer the better obvously. There is more energy in ethanol free gas.
The carbureted gas powered outdoor tools really suffer. Especially since they mostly use cheap aluminum chinese made carburetors and those are easily damaged by ethanol. I've been through several lawn mowers and other tools over the last 10-12yrs. Mostly carburetor damage.

 

[RonPorter]

There's no issue with alky gas in any SHO. It's just that alky-free pure gas has more BTUs, which is better for both power and economy.

 

[stephen newberg]

+1. Ron's clarification is exactly on target.

pax, smn