87 Octane OK.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
no offense,but i would feel kinda dumb standing at the pump puttin premium in a neon 
You have to understand that WE are car people, and know more about what we drive than most people, that's one of the reason's we all have Vettes. So if you do something, which seems unusual with your vehicle it's because you want your ride to reach its max potential.
You have to understand that WE are car people, and know more about what we drive than most people, that's one of the reason's we all have Vettes. So if you do something, which seems unusual with your vehicle it's because you want your ride to reach its max potential.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by Casper
It seems that there may be some different opinions on this matter.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
There are 2 major things you can do to your vehicle to make it last a long time: put in good gas(today that would be premium) and change the oil on a frequent basis (2,000 miles is better than 3,000). 
If you want your ride to last a long time go to the extreme, car manufacturers want you to buy new cars all the time. If you lease a car, put in whatever junk that will make it run, and change the oil at 7,000 miles 
If you want your ride to last a long time go to the extreme, car manufacturers want you to buy new cars all the time. If you lease a car, put in whatever junk that will make it run, and change the oil at 7,000 miles
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by Ruby Fan
There are 2 major things you can do to your vehicle to make it last a long time: put in good gas(today that would be premium)
If you aren't getting any knock counts premium gas is no better than 87 octane. Please keep this fallacy alive.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by hippy
If you aren't getting any knock counts premium gas is no better than 87 octane. Please keep this fallacy alive.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by Ruby Fan
Questions: if by the time you hear a knock and need premium, isn't your engine so much in a retard state that it can't be retarded any more?
You should never hear knock. The ECM can read knock counts, which detects knock before you can and retards the timing. If your engine detects knock on 87 octane, then run 89 octane.... and repeat.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by hippy
If you aren't getting any knock counts premium gas is no better than 87 octane. Please keep this fallacy alive.
If you aren't getting any knock counts, premium gas is WORSE than 87 octane.
You're spending more money, making less power, and making your cat work harder or polluting more.
Not to mention that anytime you fill with premium at a lesser used gas station, or one in a poor area, you're sucking out premium gas that's been sitting in the tank & pump for who knows how long... because everyone else uses the regular.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Originally Posted by ductape
That's not to say airplane fuel (remember those days) won't put a spring in your step
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
Originally Posted by TOO_HOTTVETTE
Higher octane will not make a car faster. It just lessons your chance of detonation and spark retard.
We put it in a motercycle one time....you could hardly hang on to the damn thing....but the high rev's and prolonged use at high speeds didn't favor the motor...it was a junker to start with...and we had a blast while it lasted!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
I believe the knock sensors are there to detect a 'bad firing' or one where the spark is not firing or is pre-igniting before it is suppose to. The sensor is smart enough to control the burn so you don't do damage to your engine. Your Vette will burn regular, but at a retarded performance rate, which is an oximoron. You may get a batch of bad gas somewhere, this sensor will compensate for it. So if you want the max performance, not just for 'hot rod racers', use premium and get better response. The engine will not be holding itself back and fire at its peak output.
