325E with chip still run low octane?

[sl0ride]

On my 325I i had a chip + intake and ran 89 octane without a problem. I now have a 325E and run 87 octane. If i put a chip + cold air in can i still run 87?

Anyone out there ever run into issues with low octane on a chipped eta?

Thanks

[Dominic49]

i run my 87 325is with a chip and 87 fuck it its just an m20

[sl0ride]

I hear you, ill just put the fucker in. Thanks man!

[lateracer]

You run the risk of detonation with the lower octane and a chip. Long periods of hard use could mean trouble, but street driving is probably not going to kill things.

When I put a chip in my e track car, the tank was full of 87 though (the shitty CA stuff too). I managed to burn about 1/4 of a tank out before putting it on the track. When it got to halfway, I filled up on 91. No problems.

[sl0ride]

put it in. Wow runs amazing now, no more weird torque dip at 1600-1900. Pulls strong and no sign of any knock... purrs like a kitten. Now i need to get off my lazy ass and put in exhaust.

Lateracer, i hear you on track use. When i went on the ring with my 325i i would only use 91. Engines run much hotter under high sustained loads. This car is a commuter, sometimes with a heavy foot. It should be ok.

[lateracer]

I forgot about the nicer running thing 'till I saw your post. My e perked up with the new chip as well. Smoothed out my idle, which wasn't that bad before and made it seem to run better aside from the power boost. Not sure why aftermarket tuning is better than factory...but seems to be how shit goes when people have 20+ years to tinker.

Glad it worked out.

[sl0ride]

I bet its because the factory tune was lean for efficiency, too lean! 12-13:1 runs better, feels like a whole new engine.

[reelizmpro]

Supposed to use premium fuel with chips. They advance spark and premium is needed to resist detonation.

[MR 325]

Sounds like you guys don't even have a clue why higher octane is used. As Barry said, it's all about detonation. Detonation is not knocking, it's something known as pinging. It doesn't matter where you drive your car, parking lot, freeway, race track... Detonation can happen.

Why don't people just run premium? Is that extra $3 for a full tank going to break the bank?

[619E30]

No matter what, I always put 91 in my car, chip or no chip

[sl0ride]

yea we must all be freekin retards i guess.... I think ill just put NOZ octane booster to fix it......

Sounds like you guys don't even have a clue why higher octane is used. As Barry said, it's all about detonation. Detonation is not knocking, it's something known as pinging. It doesn't matter where you drive your car, parking lot, freeway, race track... Detonation can happen.

Why don't people just run premium? Is that extra $3 for a full tank going to break the bank?

[lateracer]

Sounds like you guys don't even have a clue why higher octane is used. As Barry said, it's all about detonation. Detonation is not knocking, it's something known as pinging. It doesn't matter where you drive your car, parking lot, freeway, race track... Detonation can happen.

Why don't people just run premium? Is that extra $3 for a full tank going to break the bank?

WTF Man? What are you talking about? Nobody's disputing what Barry said and the guy seems to know what he should watch (listen) for.

If the motor isn't pinging (detonating, knocking, whatever, they're all slangs for the same thing actually) then there's no benefit to burning the more expensive gas. Burning higher octane doesn't make any additional horse power and paying the extra money for no benefit in a commuter with a heavy gas pedal doesn't make sense. If you hear pinging, lower the engine load (slow down) and get better gas. It'll be fine.

Pre ignition - which is what we're all really talking about here - kills race engines constantly running at really high RPMs for extended durations, but this is a street ride operating under wildly different circumstances that make it a much less of a threat. While M20s don't, most motors do have knock sensors which retard timing when they're set off. The reason you're supposed to run higher octane with chips is so that different systems of your engine mgt (knock sensor and advanced timing curve) don't counteract each other just b/c you cheaped out on gas.

[foofopps]

No matter what, I always put 91 in my car, chip or no chip

Why do you post so much useless information? If a car (or chip) is designed to run on a certain octane then you should do so. Why buy a chip if your not going to run premium, it defeats the purpose...

at the same time if a car is designed to run on 87 there are no benefits to running premium

[sl0ride]

No only do you not make more power with higher octane but you can make less. High octane fuel has a slower combustion and reduces peak cyl pressure, therefore less torque.

If you are running 92+ octane on a 8.5:1 NA engine you are wasting and loosing power with "that extra $3"

[lennon]

If you are running 92+ octane on a 8.5:1 NA engine you are wasting and loosing power with "that extra $3"

if you know thats the truth why the fuck did you start this thread to ask us?