Octane needed for Superchip?
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Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 43
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From: Texas
Octane needed for Superchip?
I am getting closer to ordering a Superchip. I decided to fill up with Texaco Premium today, and noticed it said "guaranteed no less than 90 octane" Is this high enough octane to take advantage of the chip? I haven't looked too hard but I don't know if I can find 93 octane. I wanted to see if a higher octane had any effect on gas milage. The regular unleaded said 86, the super was 88. Just wondering in Amarillo!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 767
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From: Central AZ
You should be OK with the premium you have there in Amarillo.
When they say they guarentee no less than 90 octane, what they mean is this:
The rating you see at the pump is an average of two diffrent testing methods.
1. The R rating- this means the labratory research rating. It's the rating given to the fuel based on the lab testing and the chemical composition of the tested fuel from that formulation. I consider this to be the theoretical figure.
2. The M rating- the tested motor rating. This is based on the performance of the fuel in actual test motors. I consider this to be the true real-world figure.
Since one figure can't be used over the other due to the huge amount of variables that exist in both testing methods, they simply average the two and call this number the pump octane rating. You will even see the formula (R+M)/2 if you look at the yellow and black octane rating sticker on the pump.
Texaco says that neither the R or the M octane rating in their premium fuel is less than 90. This is a good thing. If either index were to be below 90 but the average still be 91 that would tell me that something fishy was going on with the fuel.
Hope this info helps. . .
When they say they guarentee no less than 90 octane, what they mean is this:
The rating you see at the pump is an average of two diffrent testing methods.
1. The R rating- this means the labratory research rating. It's the rating given to the fuel based on the lab testing and the chemical composition of the tested fuel from that formulation. I consider this to be the theoretical figure.
2. The M rating- the tested motor rating. This is based on the performance of the fuel in actual test motors. I consider this to be the true real-world figure.
Since one figure can't be used over the other due to the huge amount of variables that exist in both testing methods, they simply average the two and call this number the pump octane rating. You will even see the formula (R+M)/2 if you look at the yellow and black octane rating sticker on the pump.
Texaco says that neither the R or the M octane rating in their premium fuel is less than 90. This is a good thing. If either index were to be below 90 but the average still be 91 that would tell me that something fishy was going on with the fuel.
Hope this info helps. . .
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Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi D4H,
90 octane is generally *not* enough, the Superchip requries at least a good quality 91 octane, and can be used on 91 thru 94 octane.
You *might* be able to get by with 90 if it's actual BTU (energy) content were high enough, and/or the knock sensor in your particular vehicle happens to have enough total effective conpensation range (and they vary by quite a bit!). I would shop around until you find a name brand fuel (no offbrands, no-names or Exxon!) with at least 91 octane, as unless you are at very high altitude, you will have access to at least 91 octane.
The octane rating method here in America is the average of Research + Motors method (R+M/2), so a guarantee that it's not lower that 90 in either R or M means very little. I'm sure what they are actually saying is that the R+M/2 derived octane number is not less than 90, but I would still want a 91.
However, since you also list lower octanes for both the "regular" and the "mid-grade," it sounds like octane overall is down in your area. I would do some checking around on this just to be sure.
If you would like to give us a call and let us know what brands & octanes you actually have access to around there, we can work with you to make sure your new Superchip will work with what you have access to and still give a nice performance gain.
We have had customers all over Texas for years, and nobody has had any problem with not being able to get the fuel they need to use the Superchip successfully. Do a little bit of checking on your local fuels & then call us to let us know what you've found, and we'll make sure that will be OK with your new Superchip, no problem.
90 octane is generally *not* enough, the Superchip requries at least a good quality 91 octane, and can be used on 91 thru 94 octane.
You *might* be able to get by with 90 if it's actual BTU (energy) content were high enough, and/or the knock sensor in your particular vehicle happens to have enough total effective conpensation range (and they vary by quite a bit!). I would shop around until you find a name brand fuel (no offbrands, no-names or Exxon!) with at least 91 octane, as unless you are at very high altitude, you will have access to at least 91 octane.
The octane rating method here in America is the average of Research + Motors method (R+M/2), so a guarantee that it's not lower that 90 in either R or M means very little. I'm sure what they are actually saying is that the R+M/2 derived octane number is not less than 90, but I would still want a 91.
However, since you also list lower octanes for both the "regular" and the "mid-grade," it sounds like octane overall is down in your area. I would do some checking around on this just to be sure.
If you would like to give us a call and let us know what brands & octanes you actually have access to around there, we can work with you to make sure your new Superchip will work with what you have access to and still give a nice performance gain.
We have had customers all over Texas for years, and nobody has had any problem with not being able to get the fuel they need to use the Superchip successfully. Do a little bit of checking on your local fuels & then call us to let us know what you've found, and we'll make sure that will be OK with your new Superchip, no problem.