Regular Gas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,765
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City MO
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
This is why I hate some of the posts here,,,,,
The manual says you can use a low octane fuel in a stuck situation.
( what this means is, in the event you need gas and the only station around is out of 91 octane, you can use it to get yo the next station)
the car is not meant to be driven on anything less than 91 octane.
Using less than 91 octane will cause a knock retard condition, reducing ignition timing, and poor performance. It will only cause engine damage over time... the difference between regular and 91 octane is 10 cents.
if you spend 30 dollars a week its 3 dollars, thats 150 dollars a year. if you cant afford that, then you should not buy a corvette. I am not being smart, just honest. Corvettes can be costly to maintain as well. If you are that worried about gas prices what are you going to do with a 75 dollar oil change,or if something goes wrong with the 7 computer modules found in a Corvette, they are all over 500 dollars . water pump is a 500 dollar fix...
a front wheel bearing replacement is 500 dollars... 4 tires are 800 to 1200 dollars.
I'm telling you this like you were my son or brother,.
Good luck
Bill aka ET
The manual says you can use a low octane fuel in a stuck situation.
( what this means is, in the event you need gas and the only station around is out of 91 octane, you can use it to get yo the next station)
the car is not meant to be driven on anything less than 91 octane.
Using less than 91 octane will cause a knock retard condition, reducing ignition timing, and poor performance. It will only cause engine damage over time... the difference between regular and 91 octane is 10 cents.
if you spend 30 dollars a week its 3 dollars, thats 150 dollars a year. if you cant afford that, then you should not buy a corvette. I am not being smart, just honest. Corvettes can be costly to maintain as well. If you are that worried about gas prices what are you going to do with a 75 dollar oil change,or if something goes wrong with the 7 computer modules found in a Corvette, they are all over 500 dollars . water pump is a 500 dollar fix...
a front wheel bearing replacement is 500 dollars... 4 tires are 800 to 1200 dollars.
I'm telling you this like you were my son or brother,.
Good luck
Bill aka ET
If the cost of fuel is that big an issue the Vette is not the right car. Proper care of any car is always cheaper in the long run, including fuel.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by SavPrato
Do the math, the cost savings over a year would be minimal and not worth the risk. Stick with the premium!!!
I hate math. It's always getting in the way of my otherwise-perfectly-rational ideas.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Tempe Az
Originally Posted by Feenix566
I used to own a '90 'Vette, and I drove it to work every day. I replaced it with an '01 Eclipse Spyder GT because the fuel costs were bankrupting me.
I really want to get back into owning a Corvette, and I can't see the logic of owning two cars. So if I buy another 'Vette, I'll be driving that to work every day, too. I want to get a yellow C5 convertible.
Now, the Eclipse is supposed to take only premium gasoline, but I put regular in it anyway because I don't care too much about the performance differance and I wanna save money. Has anyone tried this same thing with a C5 'Vette?
I know you guys are all crazy about 'Vettes and you would probably never do that, but maybe somebody has...
I really want to get back into owning a Corvette, and I can't see the logic of owning two cars. So if I buy another 'Vette, I'll be driving that to work every day, too. I want to get a yellow C5 convertible.
Now, the Eclipse is supposed to take only premium gasoline, but I put regular in it anyway because I don't care too much about the performance differance and I wanna save money. Has anyone tried this same thing with a C5 'Vette?
I know you guys are all crazy about 'Vettes and you would probably never do that, but maybe somebody has...
Buy a 1K dollar beater and keep the corvette for sunny days.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by klpickens
I work in Oil Refining and in most Gasoiline Product Production guys the Gasoline Octane rating is @ 90 or higher when it leaves most Gasoline production Units in a Refinery. But is blended for pump specifications and sales. I run high in my A4 most of time but wouldn't be nervous in runing 87 or 89.
As a GM engineer assign to the development of this car, I can tell you that your advice is pathetic, mis-informed and very detrimental to the internal integrity of an LS/X. I only speak this way when someone offers advice that could cause members to incur financial hardships from the advice. Now dont you think we would have said you can use 87/89 octane in the car if there was no down side.. Dont you think that running 350 hp or 405 hp on regular pump gas would be an amazing feat of engineering??? Use common sence.... Pre-ignition is an engine killer, many people in California running 91 octane are stretching the limits of their car on a hot day and they know it.
And people wonder why I am so adamant about all the bad information given here on this forum...
I tell Newbies all the time to be careful of who they listen too here.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by BlownV6
Buy a 1K dollar beater and keep the corvette for sunny days.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by Feenix566
I just can't see spending all that money for a 'Vette and then driving a POS car... It's like getting the worst of both worlds.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
You can't afford to drive a Corvette.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by StephenT
BTW, your Eclipse Spyder GT and Vette have almost identical MPG ratings, so I don't get your logic of saving money on gas. Like was said if money is that tight keep your Eclipse 
So I guess I'll just start putting premium in the Eclipse and see how much of a difference it really makes.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,765
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City MO
Originally Posted by Feenix566
you don't know that.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
Purchasing and owning a car are two VERY different things
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by Feenix566
you don't know that.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
If I did not care about you personally and I didnt treat you as if you were my son, then I could have just as easily moved on and let you burry yourself. It's obvious that you are spread real thin. And I hope you can see the logic to several of the posts from others in this thread. This is not a personal attack on you.. just some fatherly advice, from a guy that just happens to know this car inside and out.
I wont post anymore in this thread
Good Luck with whatever you do
Bill aka ET
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
If you can't handle 3 dollars a week then you can't afford the car.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Ok
I have run 89 in my 98 a few times with no apparant issues, 90% of my driving was slow highway (60 - 70 MPH). I have heard but not verified 89 is nothing more than a blend of 91 and 87. I don't trust metering pumps. Most of the time I use 91. The difference in Oklahoma between 89 and 91 is 7 cents, or a dollar a tank. I spend a dollar a day on pop and peanuts. Moral of story. Might as well run the 91, it realy does not save enough for all the mods. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by djengr
I have run 89 in my 98 a few times with no apparant issues, 90% of my driving was slow highway (60 - 70 MPH). I have heard but not verified 89 is nothing more than a blend of 91 and 87. I don't trust metering pumps. Most of the time I use 91. The difference in Oklahoma between 89 and 91 is 7 cents, or a dollar a tank. I spend a dollar a day on pop and peanuts. Moral of story. Might as well run the 91, it realy does not save enough for all the mods.
How do I know this? Working at Sunoco station's for 14 years ... You learn a thing or two
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
When ya get 30 mpg on the road use the more expensive stuff. It's not worth the worry about what's happening in that engine.
Used to run a 12.2 - 1 327 and I had to use high test mixed with aviation gas to stop the knock.
What you can't see in that engine can hurt you.
Used to run a 12.2 - 1 327 and I had to use high test mixed with aviation gas to stop the knock.
What you can't see in that engine can hurt you.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont Texas
I wasn't asking the question of Octane Evil-Twin. Just relaying what I know for a fact about Gasoline grades. as far as being "NEW" to this site: Yes, but I've been owning Vettes for 20yrs now and haven't desecrated an engine yet with my choice of using 90 plus octane or less.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
When i decided to buy my vette, I asked myself how much I would spend on average only for high test. I was within my budget on this and other issues so I bought the car. In the past I asked this question to myself and didn't get that good feeling and left the car for somebody else who could treat it right. I think you should choose the second option if you're not sure. Put some money away in the piggy bank and then look at it later.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,490
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Feenix566
you don't know that.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
it's not a question of whether or not i can do it. it's just a question of what portion of my income i want to spend on my car.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
my instruction manual states 91 suggested but minimal 87 octane. After speaking to seveal mechanics I was told 87 is ok because the computer compensates for the fuel loss. It will not damage the engine using cheap gas. IF it would it would say it on the dashboard, and on the gas cap as required by law... I have been running 87 and 91 for 2 years and no knocks no engine damage...