gas
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: norco ca
gas
so how important is it that i put 91 super unleaded in my vette?
1993
i mean if i put the cheap stuff in and fill all 20 gallons with it, and use like the stp gas treatment thats like a buck at walmart to it.
will that clean it enough to be anywhere near comparable? or am i just bein way to cheap here
1993
i mean if i put the cheap stuff in and fill all 20 gallons with it, and use like the stp gas treatment thats like a buck at walmart to it.
will that clean it enough to be anywhere near comparable? or am i just bein way to cheap here
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
I agree. I don't like additives either.
I don't always use premium though. I have a 94 and often use regular. I do a lot of highway driving and for just commuting or traveling on the highway where there is only light loads the regular works fine.
I do notice a difference in performance. The premium runs better. I don't hear pinging with the regular, but it doesn't accelerate as good. I think the computer adjusts timing, etc so it runs but not as good.
I don't always use premium though. I have a 94 and often use regular. I do a lot of highway driving and for just commuting or traveling on the highway where there is only light loads the regular works fine.
I do notice a difference in performance. The premium runs better. I don't hear pinging with the regular, but it doesn't accelerate as good. I think the computer adjusts timing, etc so it runs but not as good.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
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From: Jacksonville FL
Top Tier, Top Tier, Top Tier!!! I used to run nothing but Amoco, continued with BP til I found out they SUPPORTED Cap and Trade. I now buy Shell, Chevron, Exxon, maybe Texaco if the others arent around. The difference you save in a tankful, even over the long run, isnt worth the failure of engine/fuel system components
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Yea - another "What rating of gas do I use"
It says Premium reccomended, in the 90's the general had to make sure it would work with any grade. Lower rating gas, just watch how it runs. Don't try to get max power out of it.
With that said I've run all 3 grades in mine, 87, 89 & 93 (those are available here)
87 - It doesn't like it very much, mileage was bad as well
89 - runs OK mileage OK
93 - runs like a scalded ape, best gas mileage
Again this is MY car and my experience. I did my tests, you need to do yours.
As others stated a top tier gas will get you more cleaners in the gas. Try to stay away from 10% ethanol unless you've changed injectors.
It says Premium reccomended, in the 90's the general had to make sure it would work with any grade. Lower rating gas, just watch how it runs. Don't try to get max power out of it.
With that said I've run all 3 grades in mine, 87, 89 & 93 (those are available here)
87 - It doesn't like it very much, mileage was bad as well
89 - runs OK mileage OK
93 - runs like a scalded ape, best gas mileage
Again this is MY car and my experience. I did my tests, you need to do yours.
As others stated a top tier gas will get you more cleaners in the gas. Try to stay away from 10% ethanol unless you've changed injectors.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 679
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From: vero beach florida
so how important is it that i put 91 super unleaded in my vette?
1993
i mean if i put the cheap stuff in and fill all 20 gallons with it, and use like the stp gas treatment thats like a buck at walmart to it.
will that clean it enough to be anywhere near comparable? or am i just bein way to cheap here
1993
i mean if i put the cheap stuff in and fill all 20 gallons with it, and use like the stp gas treatment thats like a buck at walmart to it.
will that clean it enough to be anywhere near comparable? or am i just bein way to cheap here
Also, gas is gas, only difference between different suppliers is the detergents added.
All gas for every supplier coming into FL goes into big tanks in Tampa and I have seen Shell, Mobil, etc.. tankers all getting gas from the same tank, they just add there detergents after filling up, also
the whole eastern seaboard is fed by 2 gas lines going from LA to GA.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
You're being too Cheap.
Regular gas = Reduced engine performance and Fuel economy. The engine Ecm will Retard the timing to keep the engine from knocking and pinging.
So, you'll save a few dollars for every tankful but, it'll make up for it in less fuel mileage and poorer performance.
Regular gas = Reduced engine performance and Fuel economy. The engine Ecm will Retard the timing to keep the engine from knocking and pinging.
So, you'll save a few dollars for every tankful but, it'll make up for it in less fuel mileage and poorer performance.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
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From: Fort Knox
I drag race my 86 pretty fequently, actually that's all its for these days. I run 89 octane and pull 8.11's at the 1/8th mile. Ok ok, it has a little nitrous help :P
But even without running nitrous, on pump gas vs. even 114 octane racing fuel, I saw no difference in my times. I was like "wtf, why did I just spend $50 for half a tank of gas?"
But even without running nitrous, on pump gas vs. even 114 octane racing fuel, I saw no difference in my times. I was like "wtf, why did I just spend $50 for half a tank of gas?"
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 679
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From: vero beach florida
and detergents are the ONLY difference.
In normal city driving, I saw no change in gas mileage using 87 over 91.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,378
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From: Hartford WI
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,150
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From: Glenbeulah Wi
This is the whole point, with normal driving you could get away with 87 octane gas since the VE of the engine is low with high manifold vacuum. If you decide to use the HP of the engine (and go WOT) then the low octane gas may knock and that will cause knock retard and reduced performance. The bottom line is if you own a vette and only plan to baby it you could run 87 octane gas, but then why own a vette, buy something better suited for gas mileage. If you plan to use the power a vette has use 92 octane gas and not octane boosters and 87 octane gas.
Last edited by bjankuski; Mar 19, 2010 at 01:38 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: vero beach florida
What???
Octane rating determines how long gas burns basically, normal driving does not need a high octane.
When you race or get on it, then yes a higher octane is better.
The OP asked about daily driving, so higher octane does little better.
Octane rating determines how long gas burns basically, normal driving does not need a high octane.
When you race or get on it, then yes a higher octane is better.
The OP asked about daily driving, so higher octane does little better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,072
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From: Oklahoma City OK
St. Jude '10
A couple of years ago when the price got so high the wife and I did an experiment with our family car (Nissan Maxima). We knew the fuel mileage we were getting with the lower octane so we started using the higher octanes and the fuel mileage improved, even at normal driving. The bottom line for that experiment was that the higher octane was more efficient to run (miles/$ spent). So, if your on a budget and don't want to spend the big bucks of high octane you may still be better off spending the same money and just getting less but better gas. It wasn't rocket science for us to do this but we didn't depend on the fuel monitor on the dash for our results.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,378
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From: Hartford WI
I don't think so. I think it is a measurement of resistance to auto-ignition in gas engines. Higher octane, higher resistance to self ignition. Not sure what length of burn has to do with it.
OK
In my 91 Firebird, I would drive that around all days of the year including when there was snow. If there was no snow, I get on it a minimum of 3 or 4 times a day. That was my daily driver.
Melting Slicks
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From: Reno Nv
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Tampa Florida
10- 20 cents more a gallon for "super" shouldn't break the bank. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI