Thanks! Bit of a load off, and it wont be much of a change as ive run 91 in it from day one. 30,000KM and counting!

 

Well, if your sole purpose is to keep your fuel usage down, don't install it!

Although I believe my apples to apples mileage (keeping the right foot the same as it used to be) is about the same.... you won't be able to keep from flooring it to feel all that extra power
And, why would you install it if you didn't plan on using the extra power?

Let's face it, making more power takes more fuel

 

DUDE? What the Hell? You know how many wives can get on here that we just BS'ed to get the Stage kit? Man Im screwed.

 

Thats exactly how I "justified" the stage kit to my wife.

I called it a "General Mileage (GM) Performance Upgrade Kit", she bit hook line and sinker!!!

 

You get the "medal of honor." Keep up the good work.

 

I must be, lucky..didn't have to 'splain nuthin...just told her she'd like the power increase "when" she'd ever get to drive it again......

 

I am a female of a decease mechanics daughter.
I wanted to make sure that I understand what the Stage one kit is and what it is the main purpose. Right now I average 23.5 to 24.9 mpg with light foot around town most of the time and heavy on highway (80ish) and I would like to improve hwy mpg because I drive around 400 miles per week according to my dash panel using the 84 octane. From what I read, if you use a higher octane gas add this stage one kit and drive reasonably you can add anywhere from .5 to 3 MPG but it looks like there is a second purpose and I didn't figure that one out. Does this kit increases mpg without harming anything including the warranty and is there another purpose? What is involved to install the stage one kit and would a dealer do the install?

 

Morgie, the stage kit is primarily to increase power of the SS. It sounds like some are reporting that it _might_ increase highway mileage, but I would suspect the requirement for premium fuel would offset any mileage savings. I am getting one as I figure the power increase is easily worth it, especially since there seems to be no mileage penalty. And the intstall must be done at a dealer; they have access to the reflash equipment required.

 

It is already recomended the SS to use 91 octane, but using 84 might retard your timing to prevent detonation hurting your mpg. 60-65 mph hwy will net you the best mpg as 80ish is pushing the RPMs.

Stage kit requires 93 octane. Higher octane nets better burn efficiency= more power. The stage kit tweaks the turbo/engine parameters pushing it to 290hp and increases torque, which will get you up to speed with less effort, thus increasing mpg's. That and sensible driving habits.


This kit was made by GM primarily for enthusiasts who want to increase horsepower and retain their warranty, which you can't do with aftermarket tunes (warranty that is). Increased mpg is purely a beneficial byproduct

The kit should be installed by a dealer, and it involves changing out the MAP/TMAP sensors and a ECM calibration download from GM .

Steve
Former S. Jerseyite

 

I an going to say that the above statement is partially correct. I have stated in other posts I have been always been using 93 octane from day I purchached the car. After getting the GM stage kit installed I drove from Charlotte, NC to New Castle, NJ, 509 miles on a single tank of gas without stopping once. I made the return trip also on a single tank of gas 509 miles without stopping.

I was on cruise control 99% of the time so there were very few times I had to get up to speed. After filling up at the start of the trip, I zeroed out the onboard computer. I averaged 33.1 MPG and 68 MPH for the total duration of the trip.

Taking the exact same route many times prior to getting the kit installed the best MPG I ever saw was 28.4 MPG. Would I call this a scientific study? No, traffic and weather were different each trip.

Over the past weeks we have all specultated, but I think the question we all want answered is specifically what did the performance kit really tweek or modify?