Is 110 octane to much?

[hotrod05]

 I have a 1968 charger R/T,440 4barrel. I've searched this forum to try to find s direct answer to this question and could not come up with the answer I was looking for. So there is a gas station 5 miles from my house that sells non ethanol gas. They sell 91 octane 100, 110. I have the car 2 years and I have always run 110 octane. the car has a lot of get up and go. No hesitation and when I get on it at any speed it just runs great. some people say the 110 octane is not good for the engine. I have not checked the compression I just think the car runs great when I run the 110 so I never tried the 100 octane. I think if I went to the 100 octane I would sacrifice some power. so I will ask this group as you guys are the I feel the people that know these cars the best. I only drive the car on weekends and to local shows. so, should I mix the 110 octane with something else, am I doing damage to the engine by running 110 octane. when I drive the car its nice to have the power when I'm doing 60 mph or just taking off at a stop light. the car never lets me down. Thanks for the advice.

[skip68]

I would imagine it'd be fine.  Higher octane burns slower and cooler so it should be fine.   

[skip68]

However, if you have a low compression motor I don't think paying for 110 is worth what little gain you may feel.     

[moparnation74]

I use 110 leaded from sunoco and I mix it with 93 octane.  Overall, once mixed at 50/50 it tailors out to be around 98-100 octane.

 110 octane can be too high for your performance needs.  Just depends on your upgrades(compression,cam, carb, intake, hardened seats etc).  The other area of concern is pinging/detonation.  From your experience it sounds as everything is running fine.  As far of possible damage? Depends on what your running, upgrades.  And how well you are familiar with your engine.  Do you really know the abnormal sounds etc.?
 A good safe zone is 93 octane.  Highest for the street and it is my personal opinion is 98-100.  Keep in mind for both ratings high and low refers to a properly tuned engine.
 The last factor is cost.  Is it worth the cost of the fuel.  Some say yes and some say no.  Others will say you just enjoy the smell of race fuel.  The difference between me and them is I know how my car runs and performs.  I also go by recommendations of my engine builder as well.
 

[HPP]

Octane in the gas does not provide the power. Power is the result of the compression your engine puts on the charge after it flows through the carb and the firing of it provided by the ignition. Octane allows you to put more squeeze and/or ignition into it. If you don't have adequate squeeze or fire to support the octane, than the extra octane is simply a waste of money.

Short of doing a cranking cylinder pressure check, the simple test is to try the 100 grade and see if it requires a reduction in timing lead or if you feel a change in performance or hear pinging. If no timing change is required and there is no difference in acceleration, then you can step down a grade.

I tend to agree with what moparnation74 said. Odds are you probably don't need the 110, but the combination of parts in your engine best determine this.

[Ghoste]

It is too much, unless you have the engine modified to take advantage of it you may as well set the extra money on fire.  Now if you have unhardened seats and its 100 leaded, you will see some benefit to that.

[Chad L. Magee]

It is too much, unless you have the engine modified to take advantage of it you may as well set the extra money on fire.  Now if you have unhardened seats and its 100 leaded, you will see some benefit to that.

Correct.  Gasoline is a mixture of strait-chained, branched and cyclic hydrocarbons.  If I remember right, strait-chained, normal octane has a rating of zero, while a particular branched chain isomer of the same compound has a rating of 100.  The octane number indicates how it will ignite in an engine.  The higher the octane number, the more expensive the gasoline is typically because of the components needed to formulate it.  There is a minimum octane rating needed for most engines to prevent detonation, but really not a maximum.  The main effect of running too high an octane is the empty feeling in your wallet afterwards...

[John_Kunkel]

I would imagine it'd be fine.  Higher octane burns slower and cooler so it should be fine.   

Problem is, when high octane fuel is used in an engine with a too low CR the fuel is still burning when the exhaust valve opens....hard on exhaust valves.

[Stegs]

i asked a local old car shop around here a very similiar question


I have 90 octane (ethanol free) and standard 87,89,93 octane (all with ethanol)

I asked him what he would suggest for my old car


He told me that for the winter use ethanol free for storing the car, but the summer when i drive it to use 93 or higher if i could find it


I have 110 too buy my house, but at 6.99 a gallon, he said 93 is fine, maybe add a thing of octane boost for a little bump


Ideal if you have 97-100 octane by you, thats what i would use, of course, if your car runs great with 93.....than whats the point to go any higher


for this up coming summer im going to run all shell 93 or mobil 93.......

[jww426]

Most additives for octane don't work.
VP fuel is selling OCTANIUM...that will work but you have to order it by the case from them.
Be advised that high octane fuel burns cooler, not hotter.
For a stock 440 RT at 10.5 compression, 98-100 octane is perfect.

JWW

[hotrod05]

I wanted to thank everyone for the posts. I think I'll switch to too 100 octane and save a few bucks.  I read the post on here every day. I really enjoy the forum and I wish I knew a faction of what these members know. I just love driving my dream car. Thanks again.

[Stegs]

I wanted to thank everyone for the posts. I think I'll switch to too 100 octane and save a few bucks.  I read the post on here every day. I really enjoy the forum and I wish I knew a faction of what these members know. I just love driving my dream car. Thanks again.

why we are all here 

[1974dodgecharger]

I wanted to thank everyone for the posts. I think I'll switch to too 100 octane and save a few bucks.  I read the post on here every day. I really enjoy the forum and I wish I knew a faction of what these members know. I just love driving my dream car. Thanks again.

I avoid this place if I was you dude...don't come back there is a trend here the more you come here your wallet weighs less.....coincidence?  I think not....