Hi wemjr,

That's an excellent question that comes up here from time to time.

The engine is normally tuned for the use of 92-94 octane in the Superchip, so anything much over 94 octane is basically going to be a waste, unless we do something like say, a 2-program Flip Chip and set up one side for pump premium, and then the other side for the use of 98-100 octane racing gas.

Otherwise, if you try running 100 octane on the Superchip without it being specifically tuned for 100 octane, you might actually slow down and get worse performance & mileage than you would running that Superchip on pump premium of 92-94 octane! The burn rate slows way down as octane rises that high, so that has to be compensated for in the program, which is why you'd need to run a dual-program Superchip to really take advantage of 100 octane fuel.

This is the exact same reason why most FOrd owner's manuals tell you to use 87 octane and not to use premium, because the stock factory program has the fuel curves all calibrated for the burn rate of 87 octane gas. That changes with the Superchip of course, so you run premium gas with the Superchip, because it's tuning the engine specifically for that higher octane.

You could always try it and see what happens, it won't damage anything, you just may not like the performance you get for spending what it taks to get 100 octane fuel.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

That's exactly what I thought Mike! Thanks again and I'll be talking to you soon about the chip!

 

Mike,
I don't have my Superchip yet, but it's not far down the road. My question is if I get the chip, will I gain any advantage by using 100 octane (the local 76 stations have started carrying it)?

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2000 F-150SC 5.4L 4X4ORP
DEEP WEDGEWOOD BLUE
AUTO, 3.55LS, TOW PKG.
RAVIN Z-55 DUAL EXHAUST
CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS,
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY
REAR SLIDER
PREMIUM SOUND w/ CD
RHINO LINER
STATE ISSUED UNIV.OF GA. PLATE.
UGA RECEIVER COVER
UGA LICENSE PLATE(FRONT)

WISH LIST:
AIRAID FIPK
SUPERCHIP
TINTED WINDOWS
HOOD DEFLECTOR(PAINTED)

A NATIONAL TITLE FOR UGA(FOOTBALL)
Then maybe when I get more money:

3" BODY LIFT KIT
BIGGER TIRES

etc., etc., etc.