Gas Prices!!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 57
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From: Yorkville IL
Gas Prices!!
How bad will my "93 LT1 run on 89 Octane gas, fuel prices are going through the roof and if I can reasonable shave a few bucks I would like to. Although not at the cost of destorying my motor.
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3
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What ever your gas prices are in the us, they Cant be a patch on the £1.05 ( $2.10 ) per litre for standard and £1.12 ( $2.24 ) per litre for premium we pay her in the uk, and its going up ever week!!
Sorry i know it dont help with your question but it might make you feel better!!
Sorry i know it dont help with your question but it might make you feel better!!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
Likes: 11
From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
I have a 90 so it might not be the same, but in my owners manual it states I can use 89 octane but I might encounter engine knock and poor acceleration. I've never used anything lower then 92.
Last edited by jimmers; Mar 12, 2008 at 07:32 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by ZfidyONE-84
the highly skilled fuel jockeys here in oregon put 87octane in my 84 last weekend, that thing ran horrible, so i would advise against it
saber7469,
The ONLY thing octane does is suppress knock. If it doesn't knock or pull timing because the ESC gets activated, with lower octane gasoline, you have sacrificed nothing. The higher octane gasoline only boosts your ego, not your cars performance if it doesn't knock. Wait until the tank gets really low. Then put in 10 gallons or so. If it pings or has problems, you can always dilute it with the high dollar stuff.
RACE ON!!!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 18
From: Los Angeles California
saber7469,
The ONLY thing octane does is suppress knock. If it doesn't knock or pull timing because the ESC gets activated, with lower octane gasoline, you have sacrificed nothing. The higher octane gasoline only boosts your ego, not your cars performance if it doesn't knock. Wait until the tank gets really low. Then put in 10 gallons or so. If it pings or has problems, you can always dilute it with the high dollar stuff.
RACE ON!!!
The ONLY thing octane does is suppress knock. If it doesn't knock or pull timing because the ESC gets activated, with lower octane gasoline, you have sacrificed nothing. The higher octane gasoline only boosts your ego, not your cars performance if it doesn't knock. Wait until the tank gets really low. Then put in 10 gallons or so. If it pings or has problems, you can always dilute it with the high dollar stuff.
RACE ON!!!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
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From: Middletown, DE
If you have an LT1, use the recommended octane (91). 87 or 89 cannot hurt the engine, but you will suffer fuel economy and performance losses as the ECM dials back your timing in response to input from the knock sensor. I have tried the lower octane fuel in mine and the difference is very noticeable (especially the 87 stuff).
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
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From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If you have an LT1, use the recommended octane (91). 87 or 89 cannot hurt the engine, but you will suffer fuel economy and performance losses as the ECM dials back your timing in response to input from the knock sensor. I have tried the lower octane fuel in mine and the difference is very noticeable (especially the 87 stuff).
I've run the 89 in my 95 with slightly reduced performance due to the timing adjustments. Here however the diff between 89 & 92 is only a dime so for less than $2.00 a tank I can run the 92 but it's still costing my a *##@% $3.75/gal 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 2
From: Kathleen FL
If you are all complaining about gas, I experimented a little and set my base timing to 2 degrees. I ran about 5 gallons of 87 octane through my 383. Well ok, here are the issues. The motor lost at least 40 ft-lbs all around the rev range, the engine doesn't seem to idle as nicely, and there is a slight delay in throttle response. But actually no pinging whatsoever! I would say, either suck it up and use premium no matter what, or change your spark timing and your driving habits and all will be fine.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 271
Likes: 12
No mo cheap gas
Gas prices wo't be going down any time soon. If you guys think you have
high prices, consider that in Vancouver, B.C. they were charging $1.20 per liter of regular today. Premium would be about $1.35 .
A gallon of premium would be roughly $5.40. here!
This may be our last hurrah. Buy the premium and have fun while you can.
It won't be long before we go back to riding horses.
high prices, consider that in Vancouver, B.C. they were charging $1.20 per liter of regular today. Premium would be about $1.35 .
A gallon of premium would be roughly $5.40. here!
This may be our last hurrah. Buy the premium and have fun while you can.
It won't be long before we go back to riding horses.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
In south america some countries are down to 0.12 a gallon.
I have a MSD dial retard on my LT1 and run regular,I hate paying $4.13 a gallon for E10.Higher Octain just makes the fuel burn longer that is all folks
My race gas is only $8.63 a gallon C-17.
My compression is 14.8 to 1 so I can't run regular
.
I have a MSD dial retard on my LT1 and run regular,I hate paying $4.13 a gallon for E10.Higher Octain just makes the fuel burn longer that is all folks
My race gas is only $8.63 a gallon C-17.
My compression is 14.8 to 1 so I can't run regular .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
First of all, to compare US gas prices to European prices doesn't work. England taxes their gas to pay for things like health care.
Anyway, I was reading recently that although gas prices are up significantly, because we are a more successful nation a much smaller percentage of our income is spent on it. I.E. in the 80's gas was nearly this expensive (with inflation factored in) and we spent like 20% of our income on it. These days the gas is technically a bit more expensive, but we're only spending like 15% of our income on it because average income has risen faster than gas prices.
Yeah, it hurts, but we aren't exactly going bankrupt if we can still buy and mod vettes.
Anyway, I was reading recently that although gas prices are up significantly, because we are a more successful nation a much smaller percentage of our income is spent on it. I.E. in the 80's gas was nearly this expensive (with inflation factored in) and we spent like 20% of our income on it. These days the gas is technically a bit more expensive, but we're only spending like 15% of our income on it because average income has risen faster than gas prices.
Yeah, it hurts, but we aren't exactly going bankrupt if we can still buy and mod vettes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
The difference in cost between regular and premium here is generally 20 to 25 cents per gallon. Since I get about 22 mpg overall average that comes to about 1 cent per mile. I drive it about 1000 miles a month so the difference, with no adjustment for possilbly worse mileage/peformance is about $10 a month. I will stay with the premium and preferably Chevron. I would rather push it around than buy Citgo crap (just an added thought to keep things going).
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by LouisvilleLT4
Doesn't the car get better MPG on the octane that it's tuned for? I remember hearing people talk about how you'd get slightly worse MPG by switching to 87 (thus defeating the purpose to some degree), and wondering if there was any truth to that.
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
NO! Octane is nothing more than a measure of a gasoline's anti-knock properties. If it doesn't knock on low octane, the only thing you get with higher octane is the ability to tell your neighbor that your Corvette is such an animal that you HAVE to use the expensive stuff. Except for rare isolated cases, super premium is for the oil companies to make excess profits from the "nothing but the best for my baby" crowd.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Demonic85
Actually your both right.
Originally Posted by Demonic85
Cars are set up to run a certain octane fuel, you can tune it to change that in various ways.
Originally Posted by Demonic85
I can still run 87 without knocking. I must admit it doesnt feel as smooth as running mid-grade. Power is the same though. I'm sure its just left over fuel not getting burnt hanging around in there smoothing it out.
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 24
From: Orange County NY
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13
If you are all complaining about gas, I experimented a little and set my base timing to 2 degrees. I ran about 5 gallons of 87 octane through my 383. Well ok, here are the issues. The motor lost at least 40 ft-lbs all around the rev range, the engine doesn't seem to idle as nicely, and there is a slight delay in throttle response. But actually no pinging whatsoever! I would say, either suck it up and use premium no matter what, or change your spark timing and your driving habits and all will be fine.