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Flyflicker · 04-20-2011, 06:54 AM

What grade of Gasoline do you use in a Chevy 454?

DriVer · 04-20-2011, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyflicker

What grade of Gasoline do you use in a Chevy 454?

Box stock 454 requires regular unleaded (87 octane) as used in Workhorse chassis from 1999 through model year 2000.

JimElliott · 04-20-2011, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyflicker

What grade of Gasoline do you use in a Chevy 454?

What year is yours?

Jim

Flyflicker · 04-20-2011, 11:54 AM

My 454 is a 1994

JimElliott · 04-20-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyflicker

My 454 is a 1994

I would bump up to the next fuel octane, Might surprise you and NOT cost you that nuch..

Jim

bluepill · 04-20-2011, 01:11 PM

If you want 89 octane at a discount, try this. Split your fillup with a ratio of 1/4 93 and 3/4 of 87. If the difference is 10 cents/gal. between each grade, you will save.

Example: 87=4.00, 89=4.10, 93=4.20

20 gal. of 89 = 82.00
20 gal. of mix = 81.00

It may only be a buck every fillup, but is a buck that the oil companies aren't getting - PRICELESS

JimElliott · 04-20-2011, 01:52 PM

Max octane here in the golden state is 91..."rot gut"

Jim

wildtoad · 04-20-2011, 02:09 PM

As I recall (Could be wrong you know) that the older 454's did indeed specify 87 octane (mine included). But that was before the introduction of ethanol to the blend. I primarily use 89 octane. I don't go very far nor very often so the price difference is a non issue.

DriVer · 04-20-2011, 03:20 PM

I researched the octane requirement for the 454 and found that depending on what year your engine is, it may need anything from 87 to 110 octane. It all depends on the application. There wasn't a clear answer in the brief time I spent looking for the answer.

For engines used in Workhorse applications all of those run on 87 octane AFAIK.

JimElliott · 04-20-2011, 03:40 PM

Yup, The muscle cars of the 70s (early) loved the high octane fuel and died on the lower octane ~stuff~, and also like the lower engine temps (180*)
Problem is the engine componets did not keep up with the newer fuels and problems came up with pinging and detonation which led to many cracked pistons and such.....
The newer engines have MUCH better insides (metalurgy) and can somewhat withstand the higher temps but are still behind the curve IMHO and thats why they still crash and blow.

Jim

DriVer · 04-20-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimElliott

The newer engines have MUCH better insides (metalurgy) and can somewhat withstand the higher temps but are still behind the curve IMHO and thats why they still crash and blow.

Jim, Which curve are you plotting your opinion against? Thx.

4Knights · 04-20-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyflicker

What grade of Gasoline do you use in a Chevy 454?

Lowest price! What's an Octane rating?

. My 1994 chevy 454 uses 87 octane, put a couple tanks of 93 in it when local station had a promotion with car wash purchase and didn't notice a difference.

ga traveler · 04-20-2011, 04:40 PM

Each year during the first week of December, Most of the motorhome dealers go to the dealer show in Louisvile, Ky. You get to meet the manufacturers of the MH's and Chassis. As ser.mgr.,I got to meet the engineers from Ford and Chevy, Who actually designed the Ford and Chevy engs. All the engineers i met , I asked the age old question. Should my customers use 87 octane or higher? Everyone said the same thing. Using a higher octane was a waste of money. I am not trying to sway anyone, I am just repeating what I was told. According to them the knock sensors and computer would adjust the timing. (engines from about 1990 on)

JimElliott · 04-20-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer

Jim, Which curve are you plotting your opinion against? Thx.

Well one thing for sure is the fuel is only going to get worse, In and around Reno Nevada E-15 is showing up...'nuff said.

So my bet is the engine makers are going to hafta build the engines with better materials which will be costly, I prefer forged top to bottom along with better balancing.

Quench area is another area that could be better.....

Jim