Regular Gas?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Regular Gas?
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...
Last edited by Feenix566; Mar 2, 2006 at 10:35 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,229
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
NO! Corvette has a higher compression ratio and using a lower octane will cause knock. If you don't care about damaging you’re engine to save a couple of cents, use regular.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 4
From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
The manual calls for 91 octane, but says regular is okay for the LS-1. Although I doubt anyone here uses anything less than 91 octane.
Uber Waxer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 5
From: Hanover MD
Cruise-In 8-9-10-11 Veteran
CI 9, 10 & 11 Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
i run 87 in my escalade and there is almost no difference in the timing tables and compression from a vette. i have had no issues and even watched it on efi live to see if there is any knock detected and none was.
i dont run anyting but 93 in the vette, but thats because i have had it tuned.
i dont run anyting but 93 in the vette, but thats because i have had it tuned.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by jackj
NO...... DO NOT DO THAT, if things are that "tight" forget the vette, "fuel costs were bankrupting me." ever seen a repair bill the replace an LS! engine?????? 
I did some research and the compression on the Eclipse is 9:1, compared to the 10:1 for the LS1, so there may be a difference. Then again I know compression's not the only thing that determines what kind of gas you can use.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Wernersville PA
I have no experience with regular gas, but try to think of it this way. If you fill 15 gallons, the average difference between 87 and 93 is .20. This only comes to $3. Some stations the difference is only .15, which would be $2.25. Over the course of a year, that is roughly $200 savings. Personally, I would cut back on coffee, cigarettes, Milky Way's etc. and all the other truly useless crap people buy on the way to work or while at work.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,865
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
the knock sensors will retard timing if you use a lower octane gasoline, which will decrease performance.
I sometimes put 89 in mine when going on 1,000 road trips, since i'm just cruising along on the highway.
Around town though, i need all the performance I can get. Nothing beats taking off ***** to the wall from every stoplight!
I sometimes put 89 in mine when going on 1,000 road trips, since i'm just cruising along on the highway.
Around town though, i need all the performance I can get. Nothing beats taking off ***** to the wall from every stoplight!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,337
Likes: 283
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
From the OM:
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 
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you
may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might damage
your engine.
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you
may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might damage
your engine.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
I use only 93 in the Vette. My BMW calls for 93 as well, I've run 89 in her a couple of times without problems, but I try to stick to recommendations for all my cars.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I'm willing to bet that you would be getting gas mileage running on Premium fuel than you do on the regular. I know that was the case in my Pick-up. I got 2-4 miles to gallon better on the Premium over regular fuel. I never sat down to do cost analyst of the better MPG over the increase in cost between the two.
P.S. In my Vette I only use 93 or better. Never even thought about playing around there.
P.S. In my Vette I only use 93 or better. Never even thought about playing around there.
Last edited by Cruisin'; Mar 2, 2006 at 11:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: Mount Laurel NJ
Originally Posted by DoubleZ06
I have no experience with regular gas, but try to think of it this way. If you fill 15 gallons, the average difference between 87 and 93 is .20. This only comes to $3. Some stations the difference is only .15, which would be $2.25. Over the course of a year, that is roughly $200 savings. Personally, I would cut back on coffee, cigarettes, Milky Way's etc. and all the other truly useless crap people buy on the way to work or while at work.
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
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
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
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Beaumont Texas
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.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
no regular. Becuase of the sensitivity of the timing on these cars you need at least a 91 octane fuel. The octane rating doesn't mean the fuel burns better, it's a better indication that you will not get pre detonation. This could cause pinging, knocks, or worse if you run lower rated fuel over extended periods of time.Plus, premium (at least here) is only $.20 more per gallon than regular. Think about it. That's only $2.00 more every ten gallons. If you can't afford that, don't waste a vette that could make some other owner very happy.
