Regular Gas ok?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 277
Likes: 37
From: Central Mississippi
Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the forum. Sounds like it was well kept. As far as the fuel, use premium. You will find that the gas mileage for these cars are exceptional for a HP V8. That being said, you want notice the difference at the pump.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Leetown WV
Have switched to regular
I always used Midgrade. Just switched to regular and runs fine. Just don't get into it too often--timing gets retarded and power decreases, tho I never noticed.
Use a Top Tier gasoline like Shell and you will be fine.
Use a Top Tier gasoline like Shell and you will be fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 842
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
<personal opinion>
If you can afford a Corvette and the insurance it why in the world you skimp on gas and/or oil. Run the best you can find. Your call will appreciate you for it.
Mine gets 93 and Mobil 1... period.
</personal opinion>
If you can afford a Corvette and the insurance it why in the world you skimp on gas and/or oil. Run the best you can find. Your call will appreciate you for it.
Mine gets 93 and Mobil 1... period.
</personal opinion>
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 842
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
As I said in my post, I run Mobil 1. Always have. I am hearing decent things though about the GM Dextros 2 oil. I'm a firm believer that engineers design to specifications. I don't have more knowledge than they do about cars so I'll just run what it's designed to use.
Edit: You're welcome Mr. Bill.
Here's a toast to ya! <insert image of me holding up a liquid libation here>
Edit: You're welcome Mr. Bill.
Here's a toast to ya! <insert image of me holding up a liquid libation here>
Last edited by calvins; Apr 15, 2016 at 05:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
As I read through some of these posts and advice, I can't help but bring up one of my constant cliché's... " Be careful who you listen too on this forum "... there are a lot of clueless school teachers, bank clerks, retail sales folks.. who know absolutely nothing about automotive technology, yet they come here telling people that they will be fine using a mid range fuel, but that they have to hold back, and not push the engine into a lug or load mode...and for what? to save ten cents ? seems fairly stupid to me and considering this type of advice is teaching our high school children... Use the best fuel possible because when you need the extra octane it will be there, and not after a double explosion way before top dead center causing problems... A knock is a bad thing...the knock has to be present first, before timing is retarded, this causes the ignition to fire way below optimal compression, which related further to actual power in the power stroke. You want as much compression as possible before ignition, using a low octane fuel will cause compression to cause ignition, not the spark timing. Anyone suggesting using a low grade fuel in a 10.3:1 or 10.5:1 engine is clueless.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Apr 15, 2016 at 09:25 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
I have been forced to run regular a couple of times ... Gas stations in Mowater, LA only have regular. Don't think it hurt the car, but I did notice it clattered on hard acceleration.
Switch to premium, I try to use "no ethanol" but that's not always an option. If the car seems fine, it probably is. Enjoy it and don't worry. I drive mine every day. I don't baby it. It's a 2004 with 102,000 mi and 100% reliable. I actually feel like it runs better now than when new.
Congratulations on your new ride!
Switch to premium, I try to use "no ethanol" but that's not always an option. If the car seems fine, it probably is. Enjoy it and don't worry. I drive mine every day. I don't baby it. It's a 2004 with 102,000 mi and 100% reliable. I actually feel like it runs better now than when new.
Congratulations on your new ride!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
But like you said, know who is giving advice and do plenty of your own research before simply accepting it as good advice.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I agree with you on being careful who you listen to; however, calling out professions as you just did, as if they are somehow below you, simply shows zero class. Plenty of automotive enthusiasts have day jobs that might seem worthless to you, but that doesn't mean they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to their passions.
But like you said, know who is giving advice and do plenty of your own research before simply accepting it as good advice.
But like you said, know who is giving advice and do plenty of your own research before simply accepting it as good advice.
I don't look down my nose at anyone, and only come here to help anyone if I can , especially those who do not know much about automotive technology.. there is a big difference in asking for help because you are clueless, than to give advice even though you are clueless... I hope you can get the difference. And I put those who are clueless and give bad advice on this forum on notice that their advice is very poor.
I don't get paid to be here, and only come here to help in areas that I am an absolute expert...people can take it or leave it, in my 15 years here I have over 20,000 Pm's from people who chose to take my advice. I don't PM people, I always get PM's. I chose to come here to give back to a community who supported my career. That fact that I am sick leaves me with the time to be here and help when I can... I don't like people giving misleading or bad advice to innocent members of this forum.
I still love you though Black 02....
Bill aka ET
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
again we but heads.. over your ability to read what I said... I know many teachers, bankers and retail clerks who know a lot about automotive technology... I did not single out a single profession, only the profession of those who posted very poor advice in this thread....
I don't look down my nose at anyone, and only come here to help anyone if I can , especially those who do not know much about automotive technology.. there is a big difference in asking for help because you are clueless, than to give advice even though you are clueless... I hope you can get the difference. And I put those who are clueless and give bad advice on this forum on notice that their advice is very poor.
I don't get paid to be here, and only come here to help in areas that I am an absolute expert...people can take it or leave it, in my 15 years here I have over 20,000 Pm's from people who chose to take my advice. I don't PM people, I always get PM's. I chose to come here to give back to a community who supported my career. That fact that I am sick leaves me with the time to be here and help when I can... I don't like people giving misleading or bad advice to innocent members of this forum.
I still love you though Black 02....
Bill aka ET
I don't look down my nose at anyone, and only come here to help anyone if I can , especially those who do not know much about automotive technology.. there is a big difference in asking for help because you are clueless, than to give advice even though you are clueless... I hope you can get the difference. And I put those who are clueless and give bad advice on this forum on notice that their advice is very poor.
I don't get paid to be here, and only come here to help in areas that I am an absolute expert...people can take it or leave it, in my 15 years here I have over 20,000 Pm's from people who chose to take my advice. I don't PM people, I always get PM's. I chose to come here to give back to a community who supported my career. That fact that I am sick leaves me with the time to be here and help when I can... I don't like people giving misleading or bad advice to innocent members of this forum.
I still love you though Black 02....
Bill aka ET
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Just one more note, I would much prefer a stock 2002 with 20k miles run on regular and never had oil changed. Than one with a a bunch of crazy mods. I recently helped a friend find a C5. One that we looked at was beautiful! Perfect paint and interior. Buuut it was an automatic with a big lumpy cam and high rpm torque converter. Diagnostics showed more current codes than I thought possible and car still go down the road. It might have been a bit of fun on the drag strip but it was HORRIBLE to drive on the street. Needless to say we ran not walked from that one!
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,440
Likes: 2,184
From: Buffalo Texas
Just one more note, I would much prefer a stock 2002 with 20k miles run on regular and never had oil changed. Than one with a a bunch of crazy mods. I recently helped a friend find a C5. One that we looked at was beautiful! Perfect paint and interior. Buuut it was an automatic with a big lumpy cam and high rpm torque converter. Diagnostics showed more current codes than I thought possible and car still go down the road. It might have been a bit of fun on the drag strip but it was HORRIBLE to drive on the street. Needless to say we ran not walked from that one!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
mine has it's share of mods and you would be hard pressed to find a better car !!!!! While some are doing their mods they also looking in places others might never go ???? Like for instance gutting the interior to sound proof, maybe you find bad grounds or corroded electrical connections, my car won't overheat because my radiator and condenser are clean and have screens to keep them that way, have flushed brake and clutch systems etc. etc.
Last edited by UM Rebel; Apr 15, 2016 at 10:53 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 394
From: Rocky Mountains
Also agree that for someone to own a C5 and routinely use regular grade gas, just to save $5-6 per fill up, is plain crazy.
If you're low on gas out in the boonies and all they have is 87 octane, I would use it rather than get stranded. But for day to day use ? Bad news. I wouldn't buy it if the owner was in the habit of being so cheap.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Honestly the first option sounds terrible, but I agree on poorly done amateur modded cars. I looked at a cammed/headers car that needed a tuner plugged into the dash just to drive. All of the potential issues, made me immediately decide not to buy it. Now if I did the mods myself, and knew everyone was done right and tuned properly, that would be different.
Also agree that for someone to own a C5 and routinely use regular grade gas, just to save $5-6 per fill up, is plain crazy.
If you're low on gas out in the boonies and all they have is 87 octane, I would use it rather than get stranded. But for day to day use ? Bad news. I wouldn't buy it if the owner was in the habit of being so cheap.
Also agree that for someone to own a C5 and routinely use regular grade gas, just to save $5-6 per fill up, is plain crazy.
If you're low on gas out in the boonies and all they have is 87 octane, I would use it rather than get stranded. But for day to day use ? Bad news. I wouldn't buy it if the owner was in the habit of being so cheap.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 405
Likes: 65
From: Rural Iowa
On the very rare occasions I get caught with no 91, I've found the 87 with ethanol, works better than the 87 straight gas (the car runs like **** on the 87 no ethanol, will miss/buck under load), and the 87 straight gas isn't worth the 40 cents a gallon.
Jim
Racer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 405
Likes: 65
From: Rural Iowa
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
What if you live in the boonies? It's a 40 mile round trip to the nearest station that sells 91 octane. Usual choices are 87 with ethanol (cheapest), 87 with no ethanol (+40 cents), or 91 octane with no ethanol (when you can find it, + another 60 cents a gallon over no ethanol regular).
On the very rare occasions I get caught with no 91, I've found the 87 with ethanol, works better than the 87 straight gas (the car runs like **** on the 87 no ethanol, will miss/buck under load), and the 87 straight gas isn't worth the 40 cents a gallon.
Jim
On the very rare occasions I get caught with no 91, I've found the 87 with ethanol, works better than the 87 straight gas (the car runs like **** on the 87 no ethanol, will miss/buck under load), and the 87 straight gas isn't worth the 40 cents a gallon.
Jim