Hi i just bought a Chevy Uplander 2007, owners manual indicates you can use it with 87 octanes gas (regular), is there any benefit on using a 92 octane gasoline beside the power?

There is no power benefit to using 92 octane ... follow the recommended grade of fuel in your manual.

ORIGINAL: golfer

There is no power benefit to using 92 octane ... follow the recommended grade of fuel in your manual.


Golfer is correct. Higher octane fuel than what your engine is designed to use can actually made it run rougher. The higher octane fuel retards the timing. Premium can be used, but I would not recommend it.

All it is it to reduce engine knock on high compression engines. The higher the octane the more hydrocarbons are present.

i need to contradict the last few posts with my on opinion
I have been putting 91+ in my cars for 10+ years..
i do regular maint.. like syn 5:30 oil changes every three months and or every 4000k

i keep my vehicals very well kept..

my driving style is "normal"
yes ive been known scream my vehicals from time to time like anyone else (i am male after all)
but for the most part im nice and easy with them..

bought a brand new 1999 pontiac montana, fully loaded.
just traded it in for a 2006 uplander a month ago..

my 99 montana had 439,000 km on it without a single major work done.
alt went about two years ago.. thats about it..
it had considerable rust undernieth.

my wifes car was the same.. she put 360,000 before trading it in.

ive been doing this and taking care of my own cars for twenty years
my cars last well.

i owe it all to hi-test fuel (91+ octain) makes all intake associated stuff very clean)
and good maint..

you do this,, and you'll be driving your car ten years from now

my experianced opinion

I don't believe that the high octane contributed to your engine health.
What brand of fuel do you use drakar?
The additives for keeping the engine clean are what probably kept your engine in good shape particularly if you use so-called "top Tier" fuels.
Octane only affects combustibility
Detergents or additives affect cleanliness of the fuel / combustion system.

Here in Canada at least, the higher octane fuels contain more additives/detergents than the regular grade, so the higher octane fuel will keep your engine & fuel system cleaner than if you used regular, not necessarily because it's higher octane, but because it's formulated at a higher quality.

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For my vehicles, I also take its gas usage / consumption rate under consideration as well. Some say that gasoline starts to loose its Octane level AFTER 35 days from being pumped out at the pump. If I drive my vehicle every day or on a long trip (that will consume an entire tank), I will use normal rated 87 gas. But if my vehicle will sit in my driveway (while we're on VAC with other vehicle) or sitting M-F due to carpooling with others, I'll use the much higher octane rated gas. When my vehicle does get to burn its tank of gas, the original 92 rate (that was previously pumped in) is now down to 87 rate (on average). If I pumped in normal 87 rate and my vehicle sat for 30+ days, its current octane rate is now say 83ish (or lower).

This gas tank consumption consideration helps in my "which gas to pump" decision...

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So you are saying the flash point of gas goes DOWN with age?

I think we would all like to see a third-party source....

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Does shelf life of gasoline last forever? Everything has a "shelf life". Everything from paint to food to even gasoline. That's why they make Gasoline Stablizer -> when gas sits still for more then 5+ months.

If you do a google of "gasoline shelf life", you'll find lots of different posts. Some "so called" specialists say gas is only good for 14 days and others say up to 6 months. For me, I use 30 days. 30 Days "without" stablizer is a good "best before" date to use. Especially with today's very sensitive fuel injected / electronically based engines.

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As noted on one found site.

Most of the gasoline that you can buy in the lower 48 states will start to degrade within 30 days of being refined if kept in a vehicle's fuel tank or a plastic jug in your garage. If you have perfect storage conditions (airtight, metal containers in a temp controlled environment), you can push that back to 180 days. Fuel stabilizers can slow this process a bit, but not by much. She (my wife who is a technical engineer at BP) recommends that you keep your stored gasoline on a 60 day rotation to be sure the fuel quality is good enough for most engines.

Source info: http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-technical-talk/44443-gasoline-shelf-life-question.html

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Also found was:

U.S. COAST GUARD RECOMMENDS The U.S. Coast Guard, in its bulletin on winterizing recreational boats recommends, "installed tanks should be filled with fuel and have a fuel stabilizer added."

WHY A STABILIZER? During storage gasoline "breaks down." Oxidation takes place creating a semi-fluid gum that results in deposits of hard resin on all intake surfaces that can clog carburetors. STOR-N-START stabilizer contains a powerful anti-oxidant, degummers, inhibitors and metal deactivators. Keeps gasoline and diesel fuel refinery-fresh.

Source file: http://yhst-37334516642247.stores.yahoo.net/mdrstgasst8o.html

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And yes. During your google search, you will find "back yard mechanics" and even junk yard folks who "find" 10 year old gas, filter it through coffee filter system and put inside their vehicle's engine. Or, within their small engine - like chain saws and lawnmowers. And, their engine "fires right up" and seems to run normal. If it was my $20,000-PLUS vehicle (and its very sensitive "new technology" engine), I would NEVER put old gas in it. Especially 10 year old gas. But, there is people out there who feel gasoline has NO Shelf life. Each to their own...

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Those are not good sources. Try something other than another forum and a sales pitch.

I know gasoline can go bad. but I don't beleive the octane goes DOWN. Maybe UP, definately not DOWN.

Those are not good sources. Try something other than another forum and a sales pitch.

I know gasoline can go bad. but I don't beleive the octane goes DOWN. Maybe UP, definately not DOWN.

OK - Where's your proof that Octane goes up over time? If you say it goes up, then show us. Where're your proof. Or, is that your "sales pitch for the day"?

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Don't get all pissy. I didn't say it was fact that Octane goes up. But your sources just say exactly what you are sayin

When an Octane rating goes down, that means the gasoline is more volitile. More readily flammable.
When Octane goes up, its harder to light it. Take diesel fuel for example. Its octane is much higher than gasoline. Try to light it. You'll have to hold your lighter there for a second and it still may not burn.
The last time I dealt with old gasoline, it had to be poured into a large steel pan and lit to burn away. It took a torch 30 seconds to get it good and lit. Thats a sure sign of a higher octane.

Don't get all pissy. I didn't say it was fact that Octane goes up. But your sources just say exactly what you are sayin When an Octane rating goes down, that means the gasoline is more volitile. More readily flammable. When Octane goes up, its harder to light it. Take diesel fuel for example. Its octane is much higher than gasoline. Try to light it. You'll have to hold your lighter there for a second and it still may not burn. The last time I dealt with old gasoline, it had to be poured into a large steel pan and lit to burn away. It took a torch 30 seconds to get it good and lit. Thats a sure sign of a higher octane.

Where is your documented proof of your above findings? No. Not information extract from a forum (like this forum). Show me your real proof - like a formal study.

The OP asked how long gas would last. A honest question that many would ask. I stated "35 days - after pumped out of the pump". Others stated their time length opinion as well. Of all the folks who stated their opinion, you picked me out of the crowd and asked for formal proof. Look above buddy. Follow the thread. With that in mind, where's your proof? Where's your proof that gasoline lasts longer then 35 days? Am I getting pissy at you???? Not at all. Just turning your own behavior back at you. The same "non pissy" treatment you treated me with.

The next time you go walking into a salon to have a chat with a few folks (and a few beers), may I suggest you keep you guns at the door. Your "ego guns". Or, do you find me a personal threat - to you? Nope - not getting pissy. Just trying to understand you want want to debate over something.

And if wondering... I still feel that gasoline's "BEST BEFORE DATE" is up to 35 days - after being pumped out of the pump. After that date, I dump into garbage engines. I refuse to put into my expensive engines. Use up to 10 years for gasoline shelf life - if you want. It's your engine.

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Getting back to original post .......
"Hi i just bought a Chevy Uplander 2007, owners manual indicates you can use it with 87 octanes gas (regular), is there any benefit on using a 92 octane gasoline beside the power?"

I have an '07 Uplander and use regular fuel, 87 octane. If they spec'd premium fuel for this vehicle I probably wouldn't have bought it.
The auto companies do everything they can to improve their CAFE rating and I'm sure if premium fuel would be advantageous they would recommend it. So ........ in my layman's opinion there is no advantage to using higher octane fuel.

Why don't you try a 1/4 mile fun on regular fuel and another run on a tank of premium, that may prove (or disprove) your assumption that premium delivers "more power". Be sure to post your results for members.