[Cutlass]

I recently bought a 2017 GMC Sierra with 6.2L V8 and the Max Trailering package. I was looking through the owners manual and it heavily recommends 93 octane fuel. It does say 87 is ok but the wording in that section of the owners manual seems to really recommend 93 octane. I thought to myself "Ok, its a truck with a 12k pound tow rating. They don't want any heavy pinging or knocking from low octane fuel."
So I dig around some more. It looks like my 2016 Escalade recommends 91 octane...87 is ok-ish. But the 2017 and 2018 Escalade owner's manual has a 93 octane fuel recommendation with similar wording to the '17 Sierra.
I've noticed occasional pinging and knocking out of my Escalade when using 91 octane. I tried 87 once and it pinged a lot. So I recently switched to 93 octane in the Escalade and no matter what crazy driving/accelerating I do it won't ping at all. And I am familiar with a few accel tests I've done before that easily brought on the knocking.
I known for a while the 6.2 is a "premium fuel" engine, I just didn't realize that GM changed there recommendation from 91 to 93 octane fuel. And with boat and camper trailering season coming up, I thought I'd share that info for anyone who cares.

 

[mdsgu]

We have a 2016 ESV Platinum with, of course, the 6.2L. We've had it about 4 months, and we've been putting 87 in with occasional 93. No pinging or knocking. Now, we aren't towing anything and we're fairly conservative drivers, so that might have something to do with it.

 

[Cutlass]

Driving style does have an impact on it.

 

[centexcad2018]

I use the plain ole regular, no specific brand. I did put a couple of tanks of Prem, but felt a waste. My driving is 90% in
town with speed seldom over 40. paying about a $1 more just didn't make since for my driving.

Think that is how they get the high horsepower figures now is rating with prem. My F150 limited will rate higher if use prem, the new
limited is claimed 450hp if you use prem. I use regular.

 

[FirstEsv]

At the beginning, I was told my sales guy that I needed to use premium only, which I did for about 3.5 years. However, after reading this forum, I noticed that others use regular. So, I tried regular, with occasional tank of premium. While using regular, I really don't notice any difference, except better mileage. And don't have any pinging or knocking. I only get gas from Costco or Shell.

 

[Cutlass]

I drive around 98% with the radio off. I hear everything and I’m tuned in to the pinging, probably because of my previous passion for high performance cars I had.
The pinging I usually hear isn’t while lead footing the gas pedal but happens during normal driving. I sometimes hear pinging when cruising the highway, rpms are low, and a slight incline comes up that requires a little more throttle tip in. Also heard it around town while tipping into the throttle in a 30mph zone. The engine lugs down a bit, pings, and if I keep tipping the gas pedal it’ll downshift and all is good.
It really didn’t become noticeable until this winter as far as I remember. Maybe the warmer summer weather helps it go away.

 

[Jumpingoff]

Awhile back, I was consistently using regular in my 2016 and didn’t notice any pinging, highway and around town. But was reading somewhere about fuel economy being reduced when using regular fuel in premium fuel vehicles. So I switched and noticed a significant improvement in MPG over the regular fuel, especially on long Interstate trips. Also, just a seat in the pants feeling, but the truck seems to run better, both smoother and quicker. I use BP and/or Shell. May be all in my mind, but I feel the premium makes a difference. Would be interested if anyone has any details on that aspect of the fuel differences.

 

[roadglide2016]

I always run 93 octane in both my Escalade and Corvette. Been doing this for years.

 

[centexcad2018]

I always run 93 octane in both my Escalade and Corvette. Been doing this for years.

I run premium in the Corvette. But going to stop. I don't get the car out on the road any more, just around town.
Basically idling from stop light or signs to the next one, just don't feel much need. Same with our BMW. Computer will adjust.

Like said above on the reported HP figures, sure the listed numbers are on Prem for all engines. Has anyone see a comparison
for prem vs regular in the same GM engine. How much HP drop.

On the Ford limited Raptor lincoln 3.5 HO rated at 450hp,,,,, on Regular claim down to 410hp ?????

 

[Parad0x]

I do the majority of my mileage on the highway and after running regular a few tanks after purchase and then switching to Premium, the extra MPG I get on the highway with Premium compared to Regular (3-4 MPG) makes a fill up of Premium cost me ~$5 more than if I were to fill with Regular. Premium also provided a noticeable difference in acceleration from a stop compared to running regular. But if I did more city driving then highway, I'd definitely be running regular because both provided near identical crappy MPG in city driving.

 

[Cutlass]

Some gas mileage difference could come from E10 or ethanol free gas. Some premium gas is ethanol free. I’ve heard ethanol free gas has more “energy” in it and there for gets better mileage.

 

[Parad0x]

Ethanol free is what everyone should wish was the only thing offered around them, unfortunately around here, all the surrounding states have ‘up to’ e10 and finding ethanol free is quite hard and if you do the price difference negates mpg savings.

I hate hearing talk of there wanting to be a future mandate of e15...

Anyways, in my case, the difference in highway mpg I saw between regular and premium involved ‘up to 10% ethanol’ as posted on nearly all pumps for many many, many (lol) miles around here.

 

[tvan1974]

I put 77k on a 2015 Denali XL. Nothing but 87. I tow a lot and drive like a hineyhole. Never an issue. 87 in the Escalade now as well. No pinging. Drives like a dream. One thing I have heard is to not switch octanes. If you believe high octane gives you something special, stick with it.

 

[Cutlass]

If you think your 420 horsepower 6.2 isn’t pinging on 87 octane...you’re dreaming. Or you keep the throttle under 15% open all the time. It’ll ping unloaded trying to keep 40mph going up a hill.
You don’t get 420 hp and 460 ft*lbs of torque without some high cylinder pressure. With that pressure comes heat and detonation/pinging. Pinging/knock is the sound of uncontrolled gas combustion aka a gas explosion inside the engine. If you do that enough, you’ll pound the rod bearings flat or crack a piston. Granted, pinging severe enough to do that usually happens at full throttle, rpm. These slow rpm pings probably do very little damage...but who knows.

 

[tvan1974]

WTH...yoiu talked me into it. I'll run my current tank out and run 93 for the summer. Let's see what happens. I do plan on keeping the Escalade for a while.

I will admit. My wife had a 2015 Inifiti Q50 sedan with the 3.7 V6. Premium REQUIRED. Ran 89 in it. 1 - it was a lease. 2 - it still had plenty of performance without knocking or pinging. We now bought her a QX50 small CUV. Same 3.7 V6. Noticeable difference. Ran like crap on 89 and much smoother on 93. Go figure.

 

[Cutlass]

I needed to fill up my 6.2 Sierra yesterday and went hunting around for 93. I found two nearby gas stations that have 93.

 

[Phoenixx]

I needed to fill up my 6.2 Sierra yesterday and went hunting around for 93. I found two nearby gas stations that have 93.

In your manual.....

Fuel (Gasoline - L86 6.2L Engine)

Premium Recommended Fuel Use premium 93 octane unleaded gasoline in your vehicle. Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating as low as 87 may be used, but it will reduce performance and fuel economy.

For the 6.2L engine, premium unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM specification D4814 with a posted octane rating of 93 is highly recommended for best performance and fuel economy. Unleaded gasoline with an octane rated as low as 87 can be used. Using unleaded gasoline rated below 93 octane, however, will lead to reduced acceleration and fuel economy. If knocking occurs, use a gasoline rated at 93 octane as soon as possible, otherwise, the engine could be damaged. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline with a 93 octane rating, the engine needs service.

 

[Phoenixx]

In my 19 Escalade I use 93

Manual

Premium Recommended Use premium 93 octane — (R+M)/2 — unleaded gasoline in your vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is recommended. Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating as low as 87 may be used, but it will reduce performance and fuel economy.

Premium unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM specification D4814 with a posted octane rating of 93 is highly recommended for best performance and fuel economy. Unleaded gasoline with an octane rated as low as 87 can be used. Using unleaded gasoline rated below 93 octane, however, will lead to reduced acceleration and fuel economy. If knocking occurs, use a gasoline rated at 93 octane as soon as possible, otherwise, the engine could be damaged. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline with a 93 octane rating, the engine needs service.

Also

Prohibited fuels

Do not use fuels with any of the following conditions; doing so may damage the vehicle and void its warranty: .
For vehicles that are not FlexFuel, fuel labeled greater than 15% ethanol by volume, such as mid-level ethanol blends (16–50% ethanol), E85, or FlexFuel. .
Fuel with any amount of methanol, methylal, ferrocene, and aniline. These fuels can corrode metal fuel system parts or damage plastic and rubber parts. .
Fuel containing metals such as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), which can damage the emissions control system and spark plugs.
Fuel with a posted octane rating of less than the recommended fuel. Using this fuel will lower fuel economy and performance, and may decrease the life of the emissions catalyst.


I use it in my 14 as well

 

[Cutlass]

Yep, you can see how the wording strongkg points you towards using 93.

 

[centexcad2018]

Yep, you can see how the wording strongkg points you towards using 93.

GM have ties to big oil, see why might push the high dollar stuff ??