JMB

So back in July I promised to test VP MS100 in a ZR1 and report the findings and finally I have the results…~50+ RWHP versus a fresh tank of local Union 76 Premium92 Octane 10% oxygenated fuel!!! And that’s not all, +20 RWHPover Renegade HR 102 Racing Fuel depending on if you want to average the numbers or just compare similar MAT’s!

Test car, 2019 ZR1 A8 with RVK OEM Air intake installed and less than 100 miles on the odometer tested at approximately 250 feet above Sea Level in Puyallup WA .

Rather than reinvent the wheel when it came to Dyno Testing the decision was made to build upon what Ben@Weapon-X did in his various C7 FI cooler testing and try to keep the Manifold Air Temperature (MAT) within a fairly narrow range so as to not tip the scales or skew the results. The first 3 runs were within 2 degrees at max power (125-127), however, the last 3 runs them temps were a about 10 degrees MAT cooler with a range up to 11 degrees (106-117). The 2nd & 3rd runs of the day and were within 2 degrees MAT when the 50 RWHP difference appeared.

For full transparency, here are all 6 runs for the day overlaid with their respective graphs:

I also cut and pasted a snippet from the HPT Scan to show what the timing and KR was for each run. It’s amazing how sensitive to KR this car becomes when it gets warm on just pump premium 92 octane gas. Shameful for guys stuck with 91 Octane, however, I don’t have those results to share:

The HPT Scan Tool appears to have several issues that I’m not smart enough to understand why the discrepancies so maybe others can chime in based on their experiences and specifically what I am referring to is the MPH shown on the runs…the Doubting Thomas could make the case that I am reporting “Fake News” because the data shown is not recorded using the same 5th gear. Actually 5th was used on all runs and to prove it I have re-posted the Dyno Data below using MPH and not RPM so it’s impossible for the car the be at roughly 6400 RPM on the 5th Run @ 92 MPH above versus the 6th run @ 157 MPH, see graph below. Another discrepancy appears in the Manifold vacuum but I’m not going to focus on these issues so back to the good stuff!

I also found it very interesting that the “highly oxygenated” VP MS100 A/F values were almost identical to the pump gas even though the stoich values are quite different (13.82 for VP MS100 whereas Pump Gas E10 likely low 14’s depending on blend). Here is a look at the A/F comparisons at peak power and I must say, I was shocked because I firmly believed that the VP MS100’s lower stoich value would lean out the A/F but it didn’t and the simple answer may be that the ECM just hasn’t had enough run time to adjust FT’s and it started to catch up by the time the swap to Renegade HR 102 was made and this fuel test paid the price with slightly richer A/F’s following the VP MS100 but I can’t say for sure.


And now people will understand why I tell people to DEMAND that your car is scanned whether on the Dyno (even if it costs more at your Favorite Shop) or at the Track because without this critical data, you are just bench racing. This Data can help provide assignable cause as to why your car is either producing decent power or not and you have no business comparing your car whether on the Dyno or at the Track with anyone else’s data unless it is in the correct context…..case in point, Owner “A” is elated because their car Dynoed XXX or ran great at the track while Owner “B” is depressed because his/her car only Dynoed YYY or went slow at the track. A simple explanation could be that one car had low timing due to gas/KR and the other didn’t.

Bottom line, if you want to potentially be the “New” Farmer.z track record holder for a stock Forced Induction ZR1 or Z06, level the playing field and tank up with VP MS100!!! At a minimum, use 100 octane as recommended by GM but if you’ve been using just pump gas, plan to pick up at least 5 MPH with VP MS100 at the track, good luck my brothers!
P.S. I realize that the East Coast has 93 Octane but in reality, the difference between 92 and 93 octane probably isn’t worth wasting your breath on a few extra ponies and that’s why I just add it here as a flag note because the Pump Gas 629 RWHP number above was actually a small spike at peak RPM anyway, however, I gave it the benefit of the doubt!

Josh B.

Great info John. Amazing what these engines are capable of.

Pribilof

I didn't see this point mentioned... was the car re-tuned for each fuel or is this from the stock ECU compensating and advancing timing automatically?

.gearhead.

Excellent. Thanks for posting.

JMB

The ECM was untouched, only the fuel was changed!

hcvone

Many of the cars today can take advantage of higher octane by giving more timing, thus more power. I pick up 53 whp with my turbo s running 100 octane pump gas vs 93 octane pump gas, that;s with the 93 tune, switch to 100 tune using 100 octane and its 93 whp

GrapemanZR1

Stupid question alert: What is VP MS 100? And if I'm understanding your post correctly (which is fascinating, by the way), I can use it and enjoy those hp gains on the track without any tuning for it? If that's the case, where do I get it?

JMB

It's a special blend of Racing fuel which is highly oxygenated to produce more power. I went online and just ordered it here VP MS100

GrapemanZR1

Thanks! I've always been leery of additives, but I'll try it.

GrapemanZR1

And now I see it's not an additive, so makes more sense. I've used VP Racing Fuel many times. Quality stuff. Thanks!

DTOM

Great writeup - well done!

Precisely why I have mine tuned to run either 93 or 100 octane via a dual map toggle switch.

ss2z06

You have this setup on a Zr1?

TheRobSJ

One of my customers offered me a can of MS109 to try in my car at the 1/2 mile drags this past weekend. I had already poured in 5 gallons of Sunoco 100 octane so I politely declined his generous offer.

Now you have me wondering if I should switch to VP fuels next time I do it. I can get the Sunoco 100 pretty easily, but if not all racing fuels are made the same, maybe I should switch to MS100? MS109 is probably overkill for my car perhaps.

JMB

The above testing show 20+ RWHP gain over 102 octane with MS100 which is only 3.8% oxygenated....MS109 is ~9% oxygenated so it's certainly going to make more power but not sure how much it could mess with A/F since it's stoich is 13.34 which is a full point lower than pump gas but worst case is it likely would just lean things out a bit and if you're already pig rich already might be just the ticket. I would certainly want to test the A/F though because it could go too lean.

ffr1352

From what I have gathered from other posts, my personal experience, etc. and now looking at your results is it fair to say stock zr1's no longer have full power using 93 octane once outdoor air temperature is 60F or warmer due to knock retard and it appears the knock retard tends to kick in above 4,000 rpm at WOT? It is not like I can easily find 100 octane at the pump in Atlanta and I would rather stick with 93 octane so what needs to be done to the stock set up so I don't get knock retard in the summer when the air temp is 95F? Fair to assume this same type of power reduction happens on the Z06 as well and thus we just have to live with it?

How do the zr1 tuners making 900+ hp avoid the knock retard?

Dave Schotz

Would have been neat to see you compare MS109 as well. I've always experienced it made the most hp for Unleaded fuels. Wonder if there could be another 5HP or so possibly with MS109?

Neat to see this kind of HP on a 'stock' ZR1!

Best regards,
Dave

msdunkel

I'm south side of ATL and my local Pit Stop has 102 at one of their pumps.

NicD

Good gas.

Yes it would definitely pick up as the fuel is even more oxygenated than MS100, I would put money on at least 5 more rwhp.

Thomasmoto

My tuner likes the MS 109 as well. Also he tunes a lot of nitrous cars and that's where he has really seen a big difference.

ffr1352

msdunkel- Just filled up with the Renegade 102 unleaded race gas from the citgo pit stop gas station at crosstown roads and hwy 74 intersection in Peachtree City apparently AKA 555 Ga Hwy 74 South. It was $7.77/gallon and the only station in metro atlanta i am aware of you can drive up to the pump and get 100+ octane unleaded race gas!

JMB- Based upon my butt dyno i believe i can feel the additional ~ 50 HP at near redline and the corresponding bump in torque all along the rpm increase at WOT. In honor of Tadge, "It now makes my 93 octane ZR1 feel sluggish"! : )