1996 LT1 93 Octane Sunoco
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 17
From: Northeast, Ohio
1996 LT1 93 Octane Sunoco
I've always used when possible Sunoco or Shell for all my vehicles. With that said, for my newly acquired Corvette I've chosen to use only the highest street use gasoline available which is 93 octane. What brand is preferred?
Question is the benefits.. like quicker throttle response, more get up and go, cleaner engine/fuel system, reduced maintenance costs etc. Would I need to occasional use "race" higher octane like 100? What about additives, pretty sure I read somewhere they are not needed/required due to possible damage.
Appreciate any comments/discussions.
Question is the benefits.. like quicker throttle response, more get up and go, cleaner engine/fuel system, reduced maintenance costs etc. Would I need to occasional use "race" higher octane like 100? What about additives, pretty sure I read somewhere they are not needed/required due to possible damage.
Appreciate any comments/discussions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
I have had bad experience with sunoco so... pretty much everything I've run it in pinged after so I try to avoid it now. Probably just my local stations though.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 17
From: Northeast, Ohio
Your comment has me wondering if the Sunoco Station you use outsources for their gas. Near me there was a sunoilcompany depot where they filled the delivery trucks.. how can we be assured we are buying quality or name brand?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
No likely
Only if the engine requires it. You can check this by checking for "knock counts" with a scan tool. If it has knock counts, you could gain power with a higher octane fuel.
No.
Not likley.
No you wouldn't. Waste of money.
No. Here is a good read about the importance of ADDITIVES...drafted by member of this very forum! 
Do proper maintenance and the car will cruise right on by 300k miles.
Only if the engine requires it. You can check this by checking for "knock counts" with a scan tool. If it has knock counts, you could gain power with a higher octane fuel.
No.
Not likley.
No you wouldn't. Waste of money.
Do proper maintenance and the car will cruise right on by 300k miles.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 579
From: Mays Landing, NJ
I have had bad experience with sunoco so... pretty much everything I've run it in pinged after so I try to avoid it now. Probably just my local stations though.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 17
From: Northeast, Ohio
I have had bad experience with sunoco so... pretty much everything I've run it in pinged after so I try to avoid it now. Probably just my local stations though.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
I pretty much run wawa exclusively in all my vehicles. Not really a problem and the station is at the end of my street more or less. Otherwise whatever is on the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
yea idk. It was a couple different occasions over 6 years and 3 different stations. Plus was fine but the regular pinged. In the company truck I try to run regular lol. The 93 always smelled stale when I used it but that was also in the winter when that particular station was slow. Granted never had an issue with high test from there aside from smell lol.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 17
From: Northeast, Ohio
People tend to use lower priced gas which is lower octane.. the 93 octane could have been in the tank for a long time and getting stale... I do agree there is nothing like the smell of fresh stuff..
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
Just curious, why does your motor require 93octane? Is it a high compression modded beast motor? Should run fine on 91 for sure even modded. I can only get 91 here in AZ and my 383 runs just fine and the only time I run anything higher (race gas) is when I go to the track and play with the tune and it's cheap insurance. I never heard of WAWA gas, so it must be an eastern thing maybe. I don't even think that's a top tier fuel, is it? At least put some decent fuel in it. I ran Sunoco 260 back in the day and worked great in both my 66 SS Chevelle and 69 Z28 Camaro, but they were both modded...of course..
Last edited by Buccaneer; May 27, 2020 at 10:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
I almost exclusively run ethanol free. There is a local grocery store here that carries 91 ethanol free. I put it in my 91, 76, and all my lawn equipment. My 76 really likes it better than the 10-15% ethanol fuel we have around here. If I'm going to a big race track instead of just autocrosses, I will fill up at a BP station that carries 93 octane ethanol free.
If i can't get the ethanol free on a road trip i just put in whatever is the highest octane the station has. Around here, it is usually 92 or 93. If your motor is stock, look in the owners manual and it will tell you what octane the motor was designed for. Anything more really isn't necessary unless you are tuned for it. The only thing higher octane will help with is if your motor is knocking. If your computer senses knock, it retards the timing thereby reducing power. In that case, using a higher octane fuel will allow the computer to advance the timing and make closer to the stock power.
Remember, octane is just a measurement for resistance to knock. The higher the octane, the less likely to knock. Octane in no way determines power potential of fuel.
If i can't get the ethanol free on a road trip i just put in whatever is the highest octane the station has. Around here, it is usually 92 or 93. If your motor is stock, look in the owners manual and it will tell you what octane the motor was designed for. Anything more really isn't necessary unless you are tuned for it. The only thing higher octane will help with is if your motor is knocking. If your computer senses knock, it retards the timing thereby reducing power. In that case, using a higher octane fuel will allow the computer to advance the timing and make closer to the stock power.
Remember, octane is just a measurement for resistance to knock. The higher the octane, the less likely to knock. Octane in no way determines power potential of fuel.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 17
From: Northeast, Ohio
Nothing was mentioned about the motor requires a 93 octane, think it's more of personal preference.
Owner's Manual says for the 5.7L Code 5 and P engine, use premium rated at 91 octane or higher.
Does it make sense that higher octane means cleaner burning gas which makes for an overall happier engine???
Owner's Manual says for the 5.7L Code 5 and P engine, use premium rated at 91 octane or higher.
Does it make sense that higher octane means cleaner burning gas which makes for an overall happier engine???
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 229
From: Michigan
Use what is intended for the car and don't worry about it. There is no technical benefit to running higher octane fuel that your tune needs or any brand of fuel over another. In fact, most gas companies share pipelines, storage facilities, and some buy gas from each other to save money on transportation.
Last edited by KyleF; May 28, 2020 at 01:48 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 986
Likes: 487
Nothing was mentioned about the motor requires a 93 octane, think it's more of personal preference.
Owner's Manual says for the 5.7L Code 5 and P engine, use premium rated at 91 octane or higher.
Does it make sense that higher octane means cleaner burning gas which makes for an overall happier engine???
Owner's Manual says for the 5.7L Code 5 and P engine, use premium rated at 91 octane or higher.
Does it make sense that higher octane means cleaner burning gas which makes for an overall happier engine???
No.
As Tom said, you can monitor this in real time with a scan tool, even on a car as old as my 85 - which always gets 87 octane and never has knock count problems.
If you have too much money, instead of putting 93 octane in a car that doesn't need it, you could just send it to me. At least something useful will be done with it, I promise.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 1,185
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
If you have too much money, instead of putting 93 octane in a car that doesn't need it, you could just send it to me. At least something useful will be done with it, I promise.
Using higher octane fuel when the motor doesn't require it is just wasting money, but it's your money... unless you want to share.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 343
From: Glastonbury CT
Here is the correct answer always go to a station were you see a lot of high end cars for the gas is fresh and not sitting for longer than you owned your car! I use in CT Mobile 93 octane and have after 3 years of storage it smells like new and the Lexus runs like a bear with this old gas! Another note all my rides never go below 3/4 of a tank so we are not sucking debrie into the injectors. Good Luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah