Gas choice?
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 62
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From: Woodbury MN
Gas choice?
Just a general question about what gas most people use. I have a stock '85 and run regular unleaded. I also have what seems to be at least one injector that isn't working right (continues to allow gas into cylinder after car is off). Would running premium affect this? I plan on taking a 2000 mile trip with it next month. I'm hoping that might affect things as well. Any injector cleaner recommendations? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Jay
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 218
From: Merritt Island, FL
93 octane has no ability to fix your leaking injector. You could try Techron injector cleaner, but I'd sooner suggest putting the money towards a set of injectors. That's the only thing that will correct the issue.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 9
From: Minneapolis MN
I run non-oxygenated gas because I don't want the ethanol rotting my seals. Damn MN farm subsidies that fuel the ethanol requirements.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Quit being a cheap bast**** and run premium anyway. These cars CAN run on regular but run ALOT better and get better mileage on premium. Top tier fuels are preferred like Chevron, Shell, BP, Exxon, Texaco. If performance isnt your thing, sell it and get a Corrolla.
I would not take a 2000 mile trip without correcting your injector (and other) problems unles your AAA membership is up to date and you have a high limit credit card available. Of course you could always rent a Corrolla.
I would not take a 2000 mile trip without correcting your injector (and other) problems unles your AAA membership is up to date and you have a high limit credit card available. Of course you could always rent a Corrolla.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 2
From: Carencro LA
Quit being a cheap bast**** and run premium anyway. These cars CAN run on regular but run ALOT better and get better mileage on premium. Top tier fuels are preferred like Chevron, Shell, BP, Exxon, Texaco. If performance isnt your thing, sell it and get a Corrolla.
I would not take a 2000 mile trip without correcting your injector (and other) problems unles your AAA membership is up to date and you have a high limit credit card available. Of course you could always rent a Corrolla.
I would not take a 2000 mile trip without correcting your injector (and other) problems unles your AAA membership is up to date and you have a high limit credit card available. Of course you could always rent a Corrolla.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
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From: WV
Isn't anyone going to tell this guy where to go....
............I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection...
..WW
http://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
............I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection.....WWhttp://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
Last edited by WW7; May 28, 2012 at 10:28 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Why spend all the extra money on premium fuel when you can save the cash and buy more wax?!?
And the additional mileage is offset by the cost, so unless your going to the track its a waste.
On the other hand, you look really COOL pumping PREMIUM at the Chevron station in your Vette.
And the additional mileage is offset by the cost, so unless your going to the track its a waste.
On the other hand, you look really COOL pumping PREMIUM at the Chevron station in your Vette.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
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From: United States
Isn't anyone going to tell this guy where to go................I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection.....WW
http://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
............I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection.....WWhttp://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
And, higher octane doesnt give you more hp etc. If your car doesnt need it, you are wasting money.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
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From: El Paso Texas
Isn't anyone going to tell this guy where to go................I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection.....WW
http://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
............I mean FIC...Fuel Injector Connection.....WWhttp://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/
Fix your car before taking it on a long trip.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Race Director
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From: Database Error Indiana
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
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From: Dublin CA
Your stock 85 will run fine on the regular fuel. If you check your manual that came with the car....GM recommends this fuel. With stock compression there is no need to spend the money on a higher grade of fuel. I am running about 350 HP and run regular (low compression AFR heads) and have no problem. Although I do have a special custom chip just for drag racing that is based on running Premium.
Bite the bullet and replace the injectors. It is not a difficult job. Go to Jon at FCI. He will get you the right injectors. You can do a search on him.....lots of good PR about him.
Chances are a injector cleaner will not solve the problem. The new injectors are much better than the old stock injectors. You will probably see increased mileage and a better running engine when you change them out.
Bite the bullet and replace the injectors. It is not a difficult job. Go to Jon at FCI. He will get you the right injectors. You can do a search on him.....lots of good PR about him.
Chances are a injector cleaner will not solve the problem. The new injectors are much better than the old stock injectors. You will probably see increased mileage and a better running engine when you change them out.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Only if you have a non-90 L98. They are only 84 L83 is 9:1 and the rest of the L98's are 9:1 or 9.5:1. in 90 they went to 10:1.I don't consider 10:1 to be low compression I would run premium.
The LT1's are even higher at 10.5:1 and the LT4's are 10.8:1.
I would NEVER NOT run premium in these engines.
If you want the best power and fuel economy you'll run premium. I bet with 87 on high load/high temperatures you get some spark retard. I NEVER get spark retard at WOT even on a hot day in my LT1 running Sunoco 93.
Use the cheap gas if you wish but then why did you buy a sports car if you do not intend to use it for performance driving?
Then again I actually use my Corvette the way God, Zora, and Dave intended, as a sports car. Not a cruiser/show/garage queen.
Yes, I cruise in it, and go to shows. I also run the snot out of it too. Auto-x/drag racing.
Oh, and IBTL. These threads never cease to amaze me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
GM recommends premium in the C4 and the C5. C6 I don't know. It states in the manual premium is preferred but will run on 87 octane. You can put whatever you want in your car but I'm not using 87 octane. I have used 89 on occasion but rarely. 91 is about the highest we can get except for a couple places in town and they charge a bunch for it so I stick with 91.
The only reason you can get away with 87 octane is because it typically has a higher octane than 87. Ethanol adds octane and the sign you see at the pump.................is there to tell you it has (at least 87) octane because it's a law they have to display that sign even though like I say it typically has more than 87 octane.
But your problem is a leaky injector not the fuel you use, although that ethanol gas most likely ate up your injector.
The only reason you can get away with 87 octane is because it typically has a higher octane than 87. Ethanol adds octane and the sign you see at the pump.................is there to tell you it has (at least 87) octane because it's a law they have to display that sign even though like I say it typically has more than 87 octane.
But your problem is a leaky injector not the fuel you use, although that ethanol gas most likely ate up your injector.