93-Bolt

Purchased my 93 Lightning Jan 00 with 85,000 on the clock .. Since purchased, I have run the highest octane fuel in the area .. 92 .. Would be interested in knowing what others are running in their Lightnings? Understand, mine is still stock except for a K&N 57-2517 filter kit that I added shortly after buying truck .. Additionally, I have not upgraded to Synthetic oil and currently have 90,700 on the clock .. not sure what was run by previous owner (Oil or Fuel) and if synthetic oil would be worth at this point.

fishing for opinions of others.... particularly with fuel and oil choice

darryl

adamhump12

With stock timing there is not much or any gain with the high octane fuel. But if you bump your timing up then the high octane will become a factor. And the synthetic oil is always a good idea, no matter how many miles your truck has on it. Or if you are like me and to cheap to buy pure synthetic get some syn. blend.

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Adam Humphrey
'93 Red Lightning

93-Bolt

Thanks Adam,

To be honest, 1 thing I have not verified is the timing .. better see if it is still at base before I test other fuel oct's. I'm due an oil change as well .. and seriously considering syn. or possibly blend like you suggested.

darryl

ken woodward

Darryl, Ken here. I run 93 on the street, and 100 at the track. One in each tank, so I can switch off, and on. However I'm running a blower the need is there. KEN

Brian Baskin

I was under the idea that synthetic oil could damage a high mileage engine. As is ... looser, than other oils, it could enter holes that have appeared in gaskets over time, and leak out, whereas standard oil is too thick to enter such spaces. Is this a wrong idea?

I get by with 89 octane in mine, but it's all stock ... and wondering if I can push it to 87 now with the gas prices again

Lightning Struck

If you switch to Syn. Oil now, I almost gaurantee you're rear main will start leaking.. Synthetic oil really isn't hard on the engine, it just gets by seals and such alittle easier.. I wouldn't switch from Dino oil to Syn. Oil with close to 100k on it though.

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Curt
'93 Red Lightning #4232
http://www.geocities.com/lightning_struck93/index.html

lil'Zeus

I run Mobil 1 synthetic 10-30 in mine. Yeah, thats the only problem with synthetic oil is that it a lot thinner, and if there are any minor leaks, you will know about it.



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Shane L.
Black 93
Vortech S-trim
340hp and 404ft.lbs
best ET yet: 13.63 @99.96 on the rev limiter

mrbrandt

I personally am not crazy about synthetic oils anyway, but definately do not put it in a 90,000 mile motor. You'll definately find out how old the gaskets and seals are. I run Amoco 93 in mine, but I've run high test in everything I've owned. I seem to get better mileage out of it. I don't know if it has something to do with the refineries, or additives, I'm no chemist.

Nick Wilson

I used to always run 94 octane on a stock truck. I now run 89 because it's getting better gas mileage with the lower grade. I know it sounds weird but...

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1993 Lightning
1989 Thunderbird S/C

cbxer66

It is not weird at all. When you up the octane, you reduce the btu capability of the fuel. Higher octane fuel requires a hotter spark to ignite. Lower octane fuel has a higher btu(amount of energy produced), thus you will get better mileage. You should always use the lowest octane your engine will burn without detonation, anything higher is a waste of your money. Later,

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Bob
2000 WHITE LIGHTNING
JOHNNY LIGHTNING RAM AIR
SNUG TOP BED COVER
VENT VISORS
SMOKED LICENSE COVER
LIGHTED HITCH PLUG (FORD)
**************
1981 HONDA CBX
TOO MUCH CUSTOMIZING TO LIST.

93-Bolt

Wow, interesting advice from "cbxer66 " Bob .. I just learned something new and against everything I thought .. Thanks!

darryl

cbxer66

I have read many interesting articles on fuel, the latest of which appeared in Hot Rod magazine recently. Issue has a green CUDA on the cover, probably still on the stands. Article was titled "everything you want to know about pump gas", or something to that affect. Anyway, as I have always understood it, more octane is only useful if your engine needs it,i.e. high compression,
blower, turbo,etc. If you are not pinging on 87, higher octane will get you nothing but a lighter wallet. I do not consider myself a "know-it-all", I just like to keep myself informed. Cool??

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Bob
2000 WHITE LIGHTNING
JOHNNY LIGHTNING RAM AIR
SNUG TOP BED COVER
VENT VISORS
SMOKED LICENSE COVER
LIGHTED HITCH PLUG (FORD)
**************
1981 HONDA CBX
TOO MUCH CUSTOMIZING TO LIST.

cbxer66

Speaking of octane, a recent article is Street ****** magazine referred to something called "octane tolerance". It talked of ways
to increase your engines ability to exist on
lower octane fuels. #1 was multi angle valve
jobs, do not wanna go there. #2, and by far
the easiest is reducing the intake charge
temperature. This I can and have done, both
on my G2 Lightning and my 81 Honda CBX. My
G2 has the Johnny Lightning ram air, my CBX
has a home-made ram air. The biggest benefit
of the ram air is getting the air from out
of the hot engine compartment thus reducing
the charge temp. Try it, you'll **** it!!
Water injection also works well because when
H2O is injected into hot air, it turns to
steam thus absorbing the heat from the charge. This was much used during WW2 in
high performance piston engined fighters for
take off and evasion of the enemy. B-52 still
uses it to this day. There are several comps
out there who manf. quality water injection
units, do a search on the web. Enough already.


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Bob
2000 WHITE LIGHTNING
JOHNNY LIGHTNING RAM AIR
SNUG TOP BED COVER
VENT VISORS
SMOKED LICENSE COVER
LIGHTED HITCH PLUG (FORD)
**************
1981 HONDA CBX
TOO MUCH CUSTOMIZING TO LIST.

Matt Walton

So wait!
Using a lower octane CANT hurt the motor at all and MIGHT even improve gas mileage? Wow...im give that a shot..ill use the middle grade i think its like 89 or something and than ill go from there...and about the oil? I use Full Synthetic and so did the previous owner so its fine for me, but like someone posted earlier about switching to Syn with alomst 100K? I dont recommend it. Not to sound like Mr Know it all but i do work in the Quick Lube business and do see this alot...Synthetic is for sure alot thinner than conventional oil no matter what weight Syn you use..if you have a feeling about needing to use SYn than go ahead and use the blend..most likely will get leaks in the valve covers or even more likely in the rear main seal but less likely with the SYN Blend...now back to gas since im on the topic..like i said i work in Quick Lube not the gas market so someone aswer me this...if the truck is 7 or 8 years old and has ALWAYS had the high octane fuel could switching to a lower octane harm anything? Thanks alot.Matt

93-Bolt

Timing was at base 10 .. I moved to 14 and will keep on with 92 .. However, No Noticable difference in plain driving .. I suspect the bump up in timing has moe affect in an all out launch and run.. Thanks to all for the info on syn oil ..!

darryl