Took a nice little trip yesterday and while going up a hill, the tranny started shuttering like it was trying to kickdown, but couldn't. Gave it a little more gas and it stopped shuttering. Came to another hill, and as soon as it started doing it, I manually downshifted and it stopped. Any one else have theirs do this? Or know what's causing it?

 

make sure the tv cable is adjusted right. http://transmissioncenter.net/subject.htm

 

Okay. Will check the TV cable out. And since I'm on, I'll ask this too. Any suggestions on which grade of gas I should use? I didn't get the owners manual with the car. All my local gas stations sell 87, 89, and 93 octane. I've run 87 so far and never had any problems with it. Just figured, when I get the engine rebuilt I run what it's supposed too (or closest too) what is recommended.

 

it's actually called "setting the tv cable" and it's a piece of cake

the 4L60E's don't use them but your year does

about fuel

do you have a sixer or 8?

if sixer, you are fine with the cheap stuff

if 8..........come on man

 

Will remember that for future reference. And since I have tomorrow off from the day job, I will work on that as well as other things.

V8 I could not bring myself to buying a V6. Had a friend that owned a 96 Firebird with the 3.8L and it didn't have the feel I wanted. But I'm assuming I should be opting for 93 over the 87? If so, I will let my tank shoot through the 87 that's in there now, and next fill up, I'll go for 93 and see how bad it hits the wallet. Any performance or fuel mileage gains with the 93? And any chance it'll hurt the engine suddenly switching from 87 to 93? Sorry for the questions. Never got into knowing fuel yet. But knowledge is power, right? Hah.

 

my 93 ran fine on regular when it was stock. if your not hearing any pinging or knocking i wouldnt worry to much about it. could try super and see what happens. mine actually ran better on regular. the motor i have not doesnt like it.

 

octane is the ability of fuel to resist detonation. The higher the number, the less prone it is. That is why higher compression engines call for higher octane as do boosted engines and engines running nitrous. You could of course use water or methanol injection but why do that when for 20 cents more per gallon you go from using crap to using good gas

In other words, $3.00 per tankful more so 12k miles per year, 18 or a WHOPPING $2.57 per week based upon 12k miles per year

what does it do

well, lower octane makes the engine run HOTTER. It will also force the timing to RETARD in order to resist pinging. ( retarding the timing makes an engine run hotter and perform worse)What does retarding the timing do.........why it robs you of HP as well as economy. Yes, you read that correctly.

So, you commented that a sixer just wouldn't cut it for you with respect to performance yet won't spend $2.57 more per week to gain the cheapest performance improvement you can get.

Do yourself a favor; go to Ford and look at the performance figures for the new 5.0 engine. They list one number for 87 octane and another for 93. Quite a difference, isn't it..............

Oh, there is no need to wait to toss 93 in it. Do it now!!!!

 

Premium is what's recommended for the LT1, says so under my 92 Vette's gas door, which has essentially the same engine as the Z28. Any performance gains going to 93? Consider more that you're getting a performance loss with using the lower octane gas. Unlike an old school engine and ignition, your engine's knock sensor will pick up any ping or knock, and the engine's management system will seamlessly retard your timing before your ear hears anything, like it's supposed to do. Performance will then suffer. If you hear pinging, something with your k.s. system isn't working right. And no, no harm will be done switching right to 93 octane, your engine will probably thank you for it. Fwiw, I usually switch between 89 and 93 every other fill-up (at about 1/2 tank), and don't notice a difference.

 

advance and temp did not change when i switched to regular. did put super in once in a while just kuz. that may have helped.

 

It's not that I won't spend the extra couple bucks to put premium in, just never had a problem with regular so never really thought about it. Plus, at the time, I didn't really have the money to go for higher octane gas. Now, I have no problem with spending the extra money.

Anyways, the only reason I'll wait to fill up again, is I want to see personally whether I feel a performance difference and see if my gas mileage increases or decreases. If there is a increase in either, I stick with it. If not, I'll stick with it as long as my paychecks stay cosentant.

And as far as the engine running hotter, really? I just took ~200 mile trip and the temp. never once went above the third (maybe fourth) mark. Even around town driving where there's a decent amount of stop and go (unless you time the lights right) it never goes much higher.