Octane in your Vette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 4
From: Long Island New York
Octane in your Vette
I've been using 87 octane when filling up my C5. Kind of middle of the road octane.
Would it actually be a bad idea to use unleaded 83 octane or would there be no noticeable difference. On the other end, is super 93 octane that much better?
What about those Octane additives, at $15 a bottle
Yikes!
What do you guys use and why?
Would it actually be a bad idea to use unleaded 83 octane or would there be no noticeable difference. On the other end, is super 93 octane that much better?
What about those Octane additives, at $15 a bottle
Yikes!What do you guys use and why?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
91 or better is recommended for our cars, not 87. The car is tuned for 91, it will run ok for awhile, but timing will be changed and you will get pinging later on.
Not a good idea to run anything under 91.
Octane additives will not boost your octane at all, maybe 1/10th of a point, read the cans. Use a good cleaner from time to time (techron/sea foam, etc) you'll be fine.
Not a good idea to run anything under 91.
Octane additives will not boost your octane at all, maybe 1/10th of a point, read the cans. Use a good cleaner from time to time (techron/sea foam, etc) you'll be fine.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Per manual:
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 it is bad
enough, it can 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 it is bad
enough, it can damage your engine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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Likes: 31
From: Allentown PA & Elk Twp NJ HPDE Addict
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 4
From: Long Island New York
To Bill H.
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
To Bill H.
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
But it just seems that the answer to your original question is so obvious! You have a high performance sports car. Why would there be any question in your mind as to what kind of gasoline to run in it? High performance engines take high performace gas! Sure, it may run on something less, but why risk damaging your engine, or not getting all the performance your car was designed to give.
Unless I am way off base here, and you are totally unaware of the differences in the various octanes of gasoline. If so, I an sorry for my comments.
Tip: Stay away from Off Topic! You'd never survive!
Last edited by WetteVette; Nov 14, 2007 at 11:36 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
How about 95 octane with up to 10% ethenal, will that 10% of corn gas hurt?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: La Crosse Wisconsin
OK...I admit it. I was being a sarcastic a-hole. If you weren't such a newbie, you'd know that.
But it just seems that the answer to your original question is so obvious! You have a high performance sports car. Why would there be any question in your mind as to what kind of gasoline to run in it? High performance engines take high performace gas! Sure, it may run on something less, but why risk damaging your engine, or not getting all the performance your car was designed to give.
Unless I am way off base here, and you are totally unaware of the differences in the various octanes of gasoline. If so, I an sorry for my comments.
Tip: Stay away from Off Topic! You'd never survive!
But it just seems that the answer to your original question is so obvious! You have a high performance sports car. Why would there be any question in your mind as to what kind of gasoline to run in it? High performance engines take high performace gas! Sure, it may run on something less, but why risk damaging your engine, or not getting all the performance your car was designed to give.
Unless I am way off base here, and you are totally unaware of the differences in the various octanes of gasoline. If so, I an sorry for my comments.
Tip: Stay away from Off Topic! You'd never survive!
First thing i did when i got my c5 was order an owners manual because mine did not come with one. But i have asked much dumber questions so don't feel bad 97 c5 vette. I find WetteVette humorous.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
To Bill H.
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
Some of us not only recently bought our C5's but bought them USED and they didnt come with your 'owners manual'
It's 'senior' comments like yours that drive the new members away from asking questions. Honestly, if your comments are only to be a smart a**, no need to make them!
I also understand. My first C5 didn't have an owner's manual either. There are many avenues to obtain one such as Forum Vendors like GM partshouse. You can also download them off of a number of GM/Chevy websites
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
BTW, OP, on another note. It would be advisable to use only top-tier gas in your Vette. The reason you want to follow the manufacturer's guidance with regard to octane level is the fact that you have a high-compression engine. using 91 or higher top-tier gas will assist your engine with piston crown cooling and carbon build-up. You should also treat your tank with Techron octane booster if you have been using 87 octane gas in your car. Here is a link to a list of top-tier stations:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
It is more expensive to buy top-tier gas, however, in the grand scheme of things, you will save yourself a ton of potential engine issues down the road
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
It is more expensive to buy top-tier gas, however, in the grand scheme of things, you will save yourself a ton of potential engine issues down the road