Question about octane
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 252
Likes: 55
From: Charleston SC.
Question about octane
My neighbor has an '04, the other day I heard him take off and noticed a ping in his motor, I asked him what gas he uses and he said he uses regular. I suggested a higher octane gas but he said he doesn't hear the ping.
I have a C6 and tried using a lower octane but I got a ping, now I use 93 octane exclusively.
Is 87 ok to use in the C5 base or should he be going with a higher octane?
I have a C6 and tried using a lower octane but I got a ping, now I use 93 octane exclusively.
Is 87 ok to use in the C5 base or should he be going with a higher octane?
Last edited by vett_guy; Oct 24, 2019 at 11:56 AM.
NCM Lifetime Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 5,341
Likes: 4,286
From: Cunningham, TN
2021 Corvette of the Year - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Winner- Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '26
Nothing but 93 for my girl!
I can’t understand why anybody would buy the coolest American sports car, and put the cheapest gas available in it, unless it is a must-do situation.
I can’t understand why anybody would buy the coolest American sports car, and put the cheapest gas available in it, unless it is a must-do situation.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
Nothing but high test in these cars. If it has a tune, even more reason to run it. I'm sure you can hear lots of reasons to not run high test, great. I don't want that car when your done with it.
Last edited by Fcar 98; Oct 13, 2019 at 11:07 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 110
From: Cincinnati OH
Cruise-In I Veteran
The base C5 ECM will adjust the timing for regular gas. This will lop off a huge portion of the horsepower and your miles per gallon performance takes a serious dive making the economics of the cheaper gas questionable..
This capability was added for emergency use only. (Think "last chance gas" before crossing the desert and they're out of the good stuff)
If gas prices are a problem for you, drive a Prius.
This capability was added for emergency use only. (Think "last chance gas" before crossing the desert and they're out of the good stuff)
If gas prices are a problem for you, drive a Prius.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 249
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
If you use a lower grade octane in your corvette, the computer will pick up the car knocking, and default to your low octane table that has about 5-10 degrees of less main timing. Obviously you wont have as much power if the computer is using the low octane table, but most guys dont notice it because their driving style usually consists of less WOT and more fun cruising in a nice car.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
they sell high octane fuel at every station.. be it 91 or 93... You wont find a more needy motor than one found in a Corvette Since all corvettes have high compression engines , that higher fuel is for cars like these.. what other car would need or demand High octane ? I tell people all the time, you cant hear the ping and that ping is just another nail in the motor's coffin.. ping causes piston slap, wrist pin, connecting rod and main bearing deterioration.. People picking up a used car ( Corvette )from someone who ran regular in it can figure on doubling or tripling the engine wear based on the odometer. Ping is a motor killer a motor noise intensifier.. anyone stupid enough to think that you can run the same fuel in a VW golf, at 80 Hp and use that same fuel in a 10.2:1 or 11:1 high compression Corvette engine need their head examined and should not have the right to drive a Corvette. use low octane in a pinch.. once a year in a emergency is not the same thing as running it every day.
You just cant idiot proof these cars enough.
Bill
You just cant idiot proof these cars enough.
Bill
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Detonation starts long before one can hear it....Im amazed sometimes at how cheap/ignorant some car guys can be.
Spend 50k on a car and seriously worried about $3.00 per tank.
Spend 50k on a car and seriously worried about $3.00 per tank.
