Nope.. If you can afford the vette the difference between regular and premium is peanuts.
Regular Gas?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Jersey Shore NJ
I agree with everyone here to put in 93 octane and I have and will continue to do the same in mine.
I do have a dumb question though (and it was brought up above)............did anybody that you know of actually damage an engine from running 87 100% of the time?
The reason I ask is my daily driver is a 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII that also 'requires' 93 octane. For the first 100,000 miles I owned it, I did put super in. I stopped putting super in right around 120,000 miles. Now it has 217,000 miles on it..........so I've driven ~100,000miles using 87 in a '93 required' car.........with no problems?
And now with 217,000 miles on her, there's no chance it's getting super again.
So, I ask, does anybody know anybody that actually damaged the engine in a C5 by running 87........or any other 93-required car for that matter..........hmmmmmm???
Ken
I do have a dumb question though (and it was brought up above)............did anybody that you know of actually damage an engine from running 87 100% of the time?
The reason I ask is my daily driver is a 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII that also 'requires' 93 octane. For the first 100,000 miles I owned it, I did put super in. I stopped putting super in right around 120,000 miles. Now it has 217,000 miles on it..........so I've driven ~100,000miles using 87 in a '93 required' car.........with no problems?
And now with 217,000 miles on her, there's no chance it's getting super again.
So, I ask, does anybody know anybody that actually damaged the engine in a C5 by running 87........or any other 93-required car for that matter..........hmmmmmm???
Ken
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 BigMacNYC
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...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Originally Posted by BigMacNYC
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...
Right on. Feenix didn't ask to have his portfolio evaluated. He asked if 87 octane could be run thru an LS1. Absolutely. Read your manual. More than that, get a clue. I'm willing to bet that you can't MAKE the LS1 knock on 87. Know anyone with a detonation failure in a stock LS1?
That being said, I run the good stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
Likes: 1
From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
Originally Posted by Feenix566
I want to get a yellow C5 convertible.
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 lukeee
Right on. Feenix didn't ask to have his portfolio evaluated. He asked if 87 octane could be run thru an LS1. Absolutely. Read your manual. More than that, get a clue. I'm willing to bet that you can't MAKE the LS1 knock on 87. Know anyone with a detonation failure in a stock LS1?
That being said, I run the good stuff.
WE have seen test mules in the field with holes in the pistons, burnt valve seats, wrist pin failure, conecting rod bearing failure. I dont know what type of job you have but, you should leave the advice giving to people who know something about this car, because you obviusly know nothing about this one or automotive technology in general.
It's guys like you who give us a bad name.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Mar 2, 2006 at 09:33 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
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 lukeee
I'm not going to spar with you. I too am a retired engineer. I spent many years as a subcontractor, listening to you GM engineers spout 
Lookie here lukeee you have been here 2 months and have made a couple of post... you wont get anywhere on this forum with that attitude... If we are so full of Billsh|t why did you buy one of our cars you hypocrite...
I have been on this forum for 5 years offering good sound advice to thousands of members. I take offense you your statement and will defend mine...The C5 is a magnificent piece of automotive technology. A classic aesthetically designed motorcar. BTW you don't want to spar with me...
Welcome to this forum.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
You ........ 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........
As you know we can't get better than 91 octane in CA or NV.
Can you expand on the point you make about high temperature vs pre ignition.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by lukeee
Feenix didn't ask to have his portfolio evaluated. He asked if 87 octane could be run thru an LS1.
I'm not going to post what my salary is, but trust me a $3/week gas bill is not going to make any difference at all to me. Like I said, I didn't realize how little the difference was.
And if I wanted financial advice, I'd ask a financial advisor, not a GM engineer. I come to corvetteforum.com for information about Corvettes.
Having said that, I do really appreciate all of the mechanical information and opinions that have been posted here.
