is it beneficial to get higher octane gas? i have heard yes but i have also heard that it is worthless unless your engine requires it because, say you have a turbo.......what is the real breakdown

 

Every engine is different. If your engine is designed to run on 87, many times, it is best to run on 87 (or whatever regular fuel is at your location). The best thing to do is run a few tank fulls of each octane level you want to try and record the distance traveled on each tank and the fuel pumped back in (letting the pump shut off and do not put in any more). Also try to stay with the same gas station for all of these tests, even the same pump if you can.

I have run these tests on each one of my vehicles. My old '94 Intrepid 3.5L stated to use 89 octane. After tests on Sunoco gas, 89 was the clear winner on miles per dollar. My old '97 Ram 5.2L ran best on 89 octane when only 87 octane was specified. This was before doing a seafoam treatment and then afterwords I tested again with 87 octane coming out on top showing that I had a carbon buildup problem causing knock which the 89 octane reduced. With my Bonneville that is supercharged and requires 91+ octane, I found that it ran best on 93 octane (the highest I can buy) both in terms of performance and miles per dollar.

Last but not least, my Bravada which showed the best numbers on 87 octane and I'll break this one down for you. Over 3 tank fulls of each octane level purchased from Mobil, 87 = 16.3mpg, 89 = 16.5mpg, 93 = 16.9mpg. When I ran this test, 87 was $2.209/gal, 89 was $2.309/gal, and 93 was $2.459/gal. So to go 200 miles, I spent $27.11 (87), $27.99 (89), and $29.10 (93). This was all done on a steady, unchanging commute last summer with conditions about equal over the time periods.

If you really want to know, you have to run the test yourself because your truck will not run the same as mine and the gas from different stations is not always equal.

 

that makes sense

i think i will just keep with the 87 octane based on your results because
1. it is probably the same cause you have the vortec 4.3 i am assuming just as i do
2. i dont have the money to be buying higher octane gas now just to find that it is not worth it

 

i notice so far, the manual on my 4x4 2001 blazer says use 87 octane and i have with no problems. but recently, i put kn air filter on for better gas mileage and started using 89 octane and i think im getting better mileage. close to 20/mpg but more like 17. not bad. so far i love my blazer. i had a 4 door that was wrecked last summer and i bought another with the insurance money. sometimes we go in mountains and im in construction and love the blazer. i also changed over the oil to mobil one synthetic. i bought from kelly ford in melbourne, fl and owned since 8-05 with no problems since they sold me the car. i got lucky and the a/c died when we were test driving the blazer so they bought a brand new condenser, evaporator, everything so the air is ice cold. very nice ride. i hope it keeps going strong.

 

You only need higher octane if the engine compression is high.

i.e. shaved heads, race cam, or if the manufactorer requires it as stated above.