Thread: Gasoline type?

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I inherited a 68 Camaro SS 396 from my late father. It has 23K miles and for the most part original. I think he had some stuff done to the engine to make it run better. I know he said it has high compression from what he did. (sorry, I'm not much of a gear-monkey). Because of this, he would say that it needed Turbo Blue 110 Octane gasoline. At that time, there were a few pumps that had that stuff. Illinois has since outlawed it (I think). Anyway, my question is, what should I fill the tank up with? I primarily drive it to and from shows, and a couple times throughout the summer around town. Will 92 octane with a can of that octane boost do the trick? What about ethanol? Most high octane blends are from ethanol. Any suggestions appreciated.

Any idea how high of compression? can you ask your father? 110 octane seems rather high for a street application.

Without knowing exactly what was done, it's all a guess. But 100 unleaded should be available in your area, but the way prices are going up, it's probably $5.00 a gallon .

DRG, did you read the first sentence. 'from my late father" as in he is deceased, gone, bought the dust. Give the poor guy a break.

Depending on how long ago, the octane rating may have been inflated from the R+M/2 formula used now. In California in the sixties and seventies, hancock had pumps that let you "blend" your gas. You picked the octane from 8-10 options, starting at 110 and heading down.

My late father's '65 Ford with the 390 hi compression engine called for 100 octane or higher. The 10.6:1 compression in the 428CJ used the 110 octane setting at the local Hancock station and didn't complain.

Mid eighties, I could get leaded premium at the Union 76 stations in Calif, and that ran well. But it's real gone. I can buy leaded 76 racing gas in drums and hope nobody finds out I'm running leaded gas on the street. What I did was have the heads redone with valves and seats suitable to unleaded, and I run on the pump 91-92 octane unleaded without any real problems.

Of course, we get the MTBE treatment here, which is known to be hard on old gas hoses. If I were dealing with the Camaro, I'd probably change all the fuel lines, consider kitting the carb, and use an octane booster such as 104+ (or better - I know there are a number of 'em out there, including some real lead additives). In Calif, a friend who was an engineer for Chevron advised me to use Shell premium. He couldn't say why, but their additive package seemed to work better for the suppression of pings than did any other. And no, I don't work for Shell. I run whatever's cheapest - usually 76 or Flying J - in my company car.

The Camaro sounds like a real treasure. Low miles and a big block! take care of it, and remember your Dad fondly. I've got my Dad's '57 Chev outside, and my son and I are restoring it. The car will be 50 years old the year my boy graduates from high school, so we think it will be cool for him to have Grandpa's Delray to drive. Good luck, and try the Shell pump premium with the octane boost.

And check for any indications of MTBE (look for a sign on the pump), as that would trigger watching for the rubber parts of the fuel system to deteriorate. MTBE has been described as like paint thinner - they call it an oxygenating agent, but it's really refinery slop that they wanted to get rid of some way. I want to say it's related to naptha...

You really need to have a mechanic check the engine out and see what is inside as far as pistons and heads, if you dont know the compression ration, you'll be guessing at what you need to run it. I agree, needing 110 is high, unless it's built as an all out racing engine, and from what you say, I doubt that it is. Even the highest octane rating today isnt as good a quality as the gas from the 70's, so you shouldnt chance it till you know for sure. Octane boost is a waste of money in my opinion...you would need a barrel of it to make a difference...if it says it raises the octane rating 2 points for example, that means .2, like from 92 to 92.2....so it takes a lot to make a difference. If you have access to aviation fuel in your area, that's usually at least 100 octane, in my area it's 110...you can mix a little in with your regular gas to boost it up. You're not supposed to be able to pump av gas into a vehicle ( It's leaded) so if you find it, you may have to put it into gas cans first. If you're not driving the car all the time, dont worry about the "unleaded" gas...some will tell you that you need the lead or your valve seats will go away....that's bull and over-rated...in real life, it wont happen in your lifetime, so dont worry about it. But the octane issue could be a problem. You really have to find out what you actually need. Is there a chance your dad has any receipts for what he had done?? And Duane, that was really nice comment in your reply....how long did you have to think about that before you posted?

Thanks for the info and suggestions. It sounds like the general consensus is that I need to find out exactly what was done to it. I actually know the mechanic's name that Pop had do all the work. I'll try to track him down and get a list of what mods he did on the car. Those will be good to have anyway if I'm going to show it. As for now, I guess I'll try to find some good clean gas here in town and use that. Thanks again.

I agree with Johnny O. I've been running 100 low lead avgas in my 327 with 11.5 compression pistons. I still have the original camel hump 2.02 heads with stainless valves. Smaller airports are about the only place you could probably get it. Just talk to the fixed base operator. I get it in two 75 gallon diesel truck tanks that I rigged with a rack that fits in the back of my pickup and slides into a rack to hold it in my shop. Of course it is properly vented out side. Welding sparks would really make your day.

I think everyone is on the right trackhere but in the end it seems to me u will need to blend fuels and or additives to come up with something that wont ping knock or detonate. Whatever was done to the engine Im sure u wont want to take it apart or change it. Dont forget cam 2 racing gas.

How does the car run on 93 Octane? Does is seem logey or is it O.K. Try 104 Octane booster with Super it's alot cheaper . Your motor will tell you if it likes it or not you don't have to be a scientist. The old saying is keep it simple, it's one less thing to worry about!: