Premium Fuel really needed for Supercharger?

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: ZZman
My 2002 Buick Regal is supercharged. It says it needs premium fuel.

If I rarely get into the supercharger is it really necessary?

What will I really gain or lose by using regular unleaded or premium?


You will lose the engine over the long term if you use regular.

BC.

 

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: Bladecutter
Originally Posted By: ZZman
My 2002 Buick Regal is supercharged. It says it needs premium fuel.

If I rarely get into the supercharger is it really necessary?

What will I really gain or lose by using regular unleaded or premium?


You will lose the engine over the long term if you use regular.

BC.


Yup. If you use regular, anything from a moderate to high load will cause knocking. The ECU will pull timing, which can alleviate the knocking, but damage is still being done. Timing retardation will reduce your fuel economy (insufficient expansion ratio), increase EGTs (fuel still burning after BDC), which can eventually melt your cat, burn exhaust valves.

Just the efficient combustion of proper timing alone will probably yield better fuel economy on premium, enough to offset the price. Never mind about not damaging anything!

 

[Hermann]

Originally Posted By: badtlc

? What are you asking in your post. Don't know what Zarco 66 is

The BP 93 octane is supposed to be ethanol free. I run some ethanol laced every once in a while to clean out the fuel lines, jets, ect.


Zarco 66 are a line of phillips 66 gas stations in KC. They also produce their own ethanol so they lace all their fuels with as much ethanol as possible.

No wonder the bike is running like po-po. Another 50 miles or so and I will be ready for more of the BP 93 octane. I want to get as much out of the tank as possible before refilling. I also hear that QT is getting their fuel from Philips 66?

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Hermann
Originally Posted By: badtlc

? What are you asking in your post. Don't know what Zarco 66 is

The BP 93 octane is supposed to be ethanol free. I run some ethanol laced every once in a while to clean out the fuel lines, jets, ect.


Zarco 66 are a line of phillips 66 gas stations in KC. They also produce their own ethanol so they lace all their fuels with as much ethanol as possible.

No wonder the bike is running like po-po. Another 50 miles or so and I will be ready for more of the BP 93 octane. I want to get as much out of the tank as possible before refilling. I also hear that QT is getting their fuel from Philips 66?


Could be but QuikTrip has their own IQ fuel additives so it isn't the same as any other Phillips66/conoco gas you will find.

QT are top tier but I don't know if they are much more than top tier. Phillips66/conoco advertise that they are more than 25% better than Top Tier standards.

I really like the QuikTrips and Phillips66/conoco gas from everyone else NOT named Zarco66.

 

[ATS-V]

As others have said, the PCM is tuned for 93 and will net better mileage so it's not worth running 87. The cost is minute. In my L67 I have run 93 it's entire life (now 214k). Several months ago due to Hurricane Sandy I was forced to add some 87 (about 30%) and could see the effects by monitoring the knock sensors. To be fair a stock car would see less knock than mine.

If the car is stock (3.8 SC pulley) you might be able to run 87 with some mods such as a down pipe or headers and maybe rockers. You really have to scan and determine how much knock or timing is being pulled. A couple of degrees here and there are no big deal.