Best Octane Level for Stude 289 Engines

Yep, I've never had a problem because of octane running regular in a Stude.

Now vapor lock with the funky stuff they sells as gas these days is something else again, but higher octane would make a difference.

Jeff DeWitt

I have been using 87 in my '63 Cruiser with no issues.

Chip

My 289's run well on 87..

I run 92 or 93 in my 302 inch Stude with about 9.5 compression. The real answer is whatever runs in your car without pinging.

My cars run OK on regular but run much better on Hi test, and I seem to get better milage with it. I also have a large lead fishing sinker rolling around in my gas tank hoping some lead will absorb into the gas. NT

So has anyone else used the bottled Octane booster? So far I've been pretty lucky using Hi Oct (93) but thought I'd put a bottle in the trunk just in case I couldn't get high octane gas. Somebody told me that it can get pretty scary using it..Years ago we just went out and bought 5 gallons of 100 oct Aviation gas and dumped it in the tank and then filled up the rest with hi-octane. Of course back then it was still leaded and they would sell it to you..Now it is hard to get it unless you know someone there.. Just curious

If it won't run on "regular," it ain't gonna be in my flock.

That said, I had a '63 Lark 259/auto that I had freshened up the engine and when gas was cheap, ($1 per gal for ultra premium in 1999), I really cranked up the timing and ran high test. It ran like a scalded ape!

Alas, gas prices began to rise and my selection options drop back to regular but the car ran fine and regularly got up to 24 mpg on the highway.

Regular should be fine except for "R" series engines.

JT

Off and on I've actually used octane booster but I do not think I ever saw any difference in performance, so I just stopped buying it.

-George-

When in collage many yars ago, the local Sunoco Station used to sell

Geno