im just wondering what kind of gas you guys are runnin, seein as how gas prices are pretty expensive? i'm just getting my 96 z24 back together and i was just wondering, i think im going to start using 93 because of the comp ratio on my cavi, its like 9.2:5-9:6 or something like that.
your cavy will run fine on 87...
My 2.4 has a 9.5:1 ratio (I think) and it runs fine on 87.
I have a 00 Z24 2.4L & it has never had anything other than 87 & it runs fine on that!
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2000 Cavalier Z24 A4 Green Met.
87 octane runs fine with ur car specs.
run 87
no need to run higher octane
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
I have run 92-93 ever since I bought the car in 2003, but recently I changed over to 87 because of the price, and it actually ran better, would rev quicker, but I got less mileage.
Regular 87 with STP Fuel Injector cleaner at every oil change.
I've tried 2-3 times filling up with 91. Not much of a difference in terms of performance but my tank lasts a little longer and at idle, my 2200 is smoother...Maybe I should try 89
Pontiac Sunfire 1999.....The POWER of pushrods!!
i have used 89 for a while now, seems to get better gas millage
I use 88 in my 98 Z24. Where I live, they only have 86, 88, & 91. I don't want to use the 86 since the owners manual states nothing lower than 87 octane. I have used 91 and gotten a little better milage, but since prices have gone up, I use the 88 Octane. As what Sunfire 99 OHV stated, I also use fuel injector cleaaner.
98 Z24
RIP Specks
the Compression ratio in the ecotec is 10:1 and it runs fine on 87. But with 3.19 for 87, I'm driving like a grandpa untill gas goes down or I hit the lottery.
1971 camaro 427 --- here!
Stock... and loving every minute of it.
Here in the corn state of Iowa, 89 is the cheapest, so of course im going to use 89.
Later
Redrider02
"i reject your reality and substitute my own." -adam savage "mythbusters"
87 here in Tucson @ 2.999 gal. With the 10:1 ecotec. Just have to watch where I get the gas. Circle-K makes my car run like crap. And yes, I'm short shifting it now. It realy ticks the people off behind you but it helps at the pump.
I hate to disagree with everyone, but I find switching up to a higher octane in the summer helps out greatly. I have been using V-power (93 octane) since I noticed the car was knocking at stopligts and what not, and it has completely smoothed out. My ladyfriend filled it with 87 and the knocking came right back. Back to 93, and its gone again. It is your money, so do as you wish, but the difference can be felt. Not to mention the extra detergency, smoother acceleration, better fuel mileage, better starts, lower emissions, and less fuel used (lower dependency on oil/foreign influence).
For those who don't know, octane is a characteristic that describes gasolines resistance to ignition. The higher the number the harder it is to ignite. With higher summer temperatures low octane fuel can ignite early in the cylinders causing knocking and keeping a car from performing properly.
On a side note, I think it is crazy how a lot of car people go crazy with synthetic fluids, big mods and upgrades, and think nothing of their fuel quality. It is the main fluid for the car, and I think is highly overlooked. A quality gasoline from a quality, high turnover, station is important to a long lasting, good running car. Again though, it's your money, spend it how you want. (now or later)
Craig,
Assuming you are running a stock Cavalier engine, it was designed to run on regular fuel. If you get pinging with 87 octane at low load conditions, you may have something wrong with your engine.
The knock sensor may be defective, excessive carbon build up in the combustion chamber, even the base ignition timing could be off.
By all means use premium fuel if you need it, but figure out why you need it to control pre ignition.
Totally stock 2.2l in a 2001 Sunfire. The only things done to the car have been general maintenance items. I agree the engine should run fine on 87 octane and should have perhaps made it more clear that by quality fuel I don't necessarily mean higher octane fuel. The car is my ladyfriends and had no maintenence other than oil changes until about a month ago at 90,000 miles. I then replaced the fuel filter, switched to a K&N, replaced transmission fluid, did a total brake job (pads, shoes, rotors, drums, fluid), and flushed the power steering pump. I am thinking of using some seafoam to try and clean out the engine. Anything else I should check? Is a diagnostic tool needed to check/adjust timing?
Sorry to hijack...
I am still using the stock air filter on mine. Does the K&N you use replace the whole intake filter container or does it replace the stok filter element.
How did you flush the power steering fluid? I'd like to do that on my Cavalier.
I haven't had to check the timing on a ECM controlled engine for a long time. If I remember correctly, you have to short out one of the ECM plug terminals under the dash to turn off the computer control of the timing, I'd have to check my manual to be sure on that. Come to think of it, my engine doesn't have a distributor so I don't know if you even can change the timing!
Seafoam is good stuff I hear. I have not tried it myself.
I only replaced the filter element. The power steering pump should be easy, but it wasn't for me. See this
post. To summarize, remove all fluid from the resivoir if you have the means, take off the low pressure return line (very carefully) with the front on jackstands. Put the return line into a bottle on the ground and turn the steering wheel lock to lock with the car off until it stops pumping out fluid into the bottle. Reconnect the low pressure hose, and fill resivoir with power steering fluid. I used redline synthetic. Turn the wheel lock to lock at least 20 times or until all bubbles stop appearing in the resivoir, while keeping the resivoir nearly full. Start the car and let it idle a little and turn the wheel back and forth some more, keeping an eye on the level. This procedure bleeds the pump of any air. Turn off the car, lower it, then take her around the block a few times and get her hot and check the level again. Adjust to the Full Hot line, and you're good to go. DON't BREAK THE RESIVOIR. The nipple coming off of it is a 90 degree plastic thing that for me broke real easy.
what about 86? i always use 86 since we only have 86, 88, 91. as it is 86 is 3 bucks. Ive always used 86 in all my cars ive owned and never had a problem, at least not one that i noticed.
mid grade (89) in my car since new, and only chevron or shell
87 for me, my car's fine so far
happy happy joy joy
i buy the cheap @!#$ but not for a cheap place
i used to get gas down the street form this rundown old station. had to clean my injectors every fillup
now igo to sheetz where the gas is good
