I put a chip in my 01' SCab about a month ago. I have exclusively run Mobile 93 octane from day one. The other day I needed gas and was nowhere near a Mobile station, so I filled up on Sunoco Ultra which is 94 octane. My understanding of octane is that if its high enough to stop your engine from knocking, that is as high as it need to be...higher than required octane will not yield performance benefits.

That being said, the truck seems to run a little stronger on the better gas. Everything I read suggests that the superchip is tuned for 93 octane....will running the 94 cause any problems? Should I try Sunoco in the 93 octane version?

Any experiences with this gas would be appreciated. If it helps I live in Eastern PA at about 250 feet elevation (above sea level) and have a MAC cold air intake, Gibson sweptside exhaust, and the Superchip.

Thanks,
~macro~

 

Macro, you are okay to run 94 octane. I do it all the time with my truck. I also run Sunoco Ultra 94 and I have never had a problem with the truck at all. If I am not mistaken, you can run as low as 91 octane with the chip if you have to. I generally stay at least 92 or better. Mike can fill in more where needed.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

Man I wish we could get 92,93 or 94 octane out here in California all we get is 91 octane I would love to run 94

Richard d.

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Hi Macro & everyone,

Sunoco Ultra 94 octane is the best performance pump premium gasoline available, you're lucky to have access to it!

I wish we had it here, heck, I wish *everyone* had access to it. Out in the country where we are, we finally did get a Sunoco station, and wouldn't you know it, they carry the 93 octane, but *not* the classic Ultra 94.

Yes, by all means you *can* use that Ultra 94 octane, and I'd use it all the time if I had access to it. You'll get a tad bit more power by using 94 octane as compared to 91 thru 93 octane (assuming equal energy content, of course). And before someone tries this, no, the Superchips tuning in these vehicles won't respond to additional octane above about 94 to *maybe* 95 octane at most.

Congrats on having access to Sunoco Ultra 94, you've just found the best performing pump premium gasoline you can use for your Superchips tuning!

Have fun,

 

I have Sunoco 94 here too

 

Appreciate the info Mike. My main concern was that the chips effect on spark timing was appropriate for the 94 juice. Sounds like I will be sticking with the Sunoco for a while. Only bad thing is that it is the most expensive gas on the market

Oh well, for the $2+ per gallon I can at least enjoy the performance...thanks again for the info, I only wish I could ship it out to you guys that cant get it.

 

Send me a few 55 gallon drums of that stuff would you.

Richard D.

 

Hi Macro,

You're very welcome!

Going up a point or two in octane won't hurt a thing. Now if you were to do something like run straight 104 octane unleaded racing gas on that Superchip or the factory program, you'd actually make *less* power & slow down. Octane does need to be tuned for within a range, so that there is enough time for the mixture to burn properly.

As you go up in octane, it takes longer to get the mixture burning. As it concerns us in this case, time is represented by degrees of crankshaft rotation. So as you use more and more octane, you have to initiate the combustion event earlier & earlier. Top Fuel rails run 90-110+ degrees of initial advance with their 95%+ nitromethane fuel mixtures!

Thus, you were right to ask about it, as too much octane can indeed be a problem if it's not tuned for properly. It won't damage the engine, the motor just "lays down" because it can't burn enough of the A/F mixture.

With the Superchips tuning, you can easily use any good quality 91-94 octane pump premium, and of course, sticking to the better fuels is a must.

 

Wish we had 94 Octane here in arkansas the state weights and measure division of the state of arkansas has checked several stations at random in the past and what stations were dispenseing as 92 octane on pumps when it was checked it was just 90 octane i try to stay with at least 93 and no lower and would love 94 octane if i could get it.