A question about 87 versus 93 octane and engine performance

[aslap]

I have a 2015 sonic turbo sedan with the Trifecta tune package. Fabulous tune and it really puts some get up and go into the car. I had to drive to DC today (I'm in Pittsburgh, PA) and yesterday I was down about 1/4 tank and I hesitated to do it but I pout on 87 octane. I have always run 93 in the car but the 5.70/ gallon choked me.

On the drive down, I didn't notice anything funny and I burned 1/2 tank going down and averaged 42 mpg. Pretty typical. I filled up again with 87.

On the way back home the car just wasn't right - sluggish and having trouble going up hills. What I noticed was that I was only getting maybe 5 psig boost pressure even with the Trifecta tune engaged. With the hot tune engaged, when I stomp it I would see boost pressures, at times, over 20 psig. Not so at the end of the trip home.

So the question is - is the stock tune (and the Trifecta and I have the question in to them also) knowing that the gas quality is low and purposely dialing back the engine performance? I'm down half a tank now so tomorrow I'll top off with 93 and see what happens.

Thanks for any insight

Tony

 

[aslap]

I have a 2015 sonic turbo sedan with the Trifecta tune package. Fabulous tune and it really puts some get up and go into the car. I had to drive to DC today (I'm in Pittsburgh, PA) and yesterday I was down about 1/4 tank and I hesitated to do it but I pout on 87 octane. I have always run 93 in the car but the 5.70/ gallon choked me.

On the drive down, I didn't notice anything funny and I burned 1/2 tank going down and averaged 42 mpg. Pretty typical. I filled up again with 87.

On the way back home the car just wasn't right - sluggish and having trouble going up hills. What I noticed was that I was only getting maybe 5 psig boost pressure even with the Trifecta tune engaged. With the hot tune engaged, when I stomp it I would see boost pressures, at times, over 20 psig. Not so at the end of the trip home.

So the question is - is the stock tune (and the Trifecta and I have the question in to them also) knowing that the gas quality is low and purposely dialing back the engine performance? I'm down half a tank now so tomorrow I'll top off with 93 and see what happens.

Thanks for any insight

Tony

Woke up this morning and everything was back to normal. I put a shot of STP octane booster in the tank and filled up with 93. All good so far. I should have mentioned yesterday that it was very hot (98) and my AC is out due to a bad condenser. Perhaps the temps combined with something wrong with the AC triggered some kind of power cut back thing.

Tony