Using regular fuel while traveling......
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
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From: New Jersey
I am not OK with that. They are charging 20% more for a few octane. It is just a rip off. It used to be about 10 cents a gallon difference between the grades and the increase in gas mileage used to just about equal the price per mile. In some states you still have a much smaller price differential between the grades.
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Last edited by grinder11; Jun 5, 2021 at 09:01 AM.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
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From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Avgas isn't what it used to be way back when. Back in the 80s and 90s we used Avgas as poor mans race gas. The trick though was finding a fuel island attendant at the local airports that would look the other way and pump it into gas cans for us.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 515
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From: Carol Stream (Chicago suburbs) IL
My wife and I took a 530 miles round trip road trip on Memorial day in our stock 2001 manual C5 convertible.. Even with a crosswind, some rain off and on and we drove through a couple of small towns; our car averaged 29.3 mpg on that trip (and my average speed for that trip was a bit over 70 mph). I'd also add that the Corvette has over 115,000 miles on it.
The Costco premium that day cost me $3.74 a gallon- its less now. Regular at that time was $3.14 a gallon. We used 18.08 gallons of premium on that trip for a total fuel cost of $64. Had I used regular and managed the same mpg (which of course is unlikely- because I owned a '97 Acura that recommended premium and I had experimented with that car and if that car indicative, I noticed mpg tends to drop with the lower octane, almost to the point of there being little or no cost savings); the regular fuel cost would have been just few cents shy of $57. So I paid $7 extra for the premium fuel.
I own a 2017 Lincoln Continental with the naturally aspirated 3.7 V-6 (same engine that was in the V-6 Mustangs) that I run regular in and it typically gets 26 mpg on the highway. Had we driven the Continental on the trip, we would have spent $62.80 for the fuel. Driving the 20 year old V-8 Corvette on premium fuel cost us less than $2 more than had we driven the 2017 Continental on regular.
The Costco premium that day cost me $3.74 a gallon- its less now. Regular at that time was $3.14 a gallon. We used 18.08 gallons of premium on that trip for a total fuel cost of $64. Had I used regular and managed the same mpg (which of course is unlikely- because I owned a '97 Acura that recommended premium and I had experimented with that car and if that car indicative, I noticed mpg tends to drop with the lower octane, almost to the point of there being little or no cost savings); the regular fuel cost would have been just few cents shy of $57. So I paid $7 extra for the premium fuel.
I own a 2017 Lincoln Continental with the naturally aspirated 3.7 V-6 (same engine that was in the V-6 Mustangs) that I run regular in and it typically gets 26 mpg on the highway. Had we driven the Continental on the trip, we would have spent $62.80 for the fuel. Driving the 20 year old V-8 Corvette on premium fuel cost us less than $2 more than had we driven the 2017 Continental on regular.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 548
Likes: 183
From: Northern Shore of the Federal Swamp
While I know you're just joking it would end badly lol. Jet Fuel is akin to Diesel/kerosene.
Avgas isn't what it used to be way back when. Back in the 80s and 90s we used Avgas as poor mans race gas. The trick though was finding a fuel island attendant at the local airports that would look the other way and pump it into gas cans for us.
Avgas isn't what it used to be way back when. Back in the 80s and 90s we used Avgas as poor mans race gas. The trick though was finding a fuel island attendant at the local airports that would look the other way and pump it into gas cans for us.
I had a Piper Tri-Pacer for quite a few years, and I was able to run it on 87-octane car gas until they mandated 10% ethanol in all grades. The ethanol would attack the hoses and gaskets in your fuel system, so I had to revert to 100LL -- which cost nearly twice as much as car gas. Oh, well.
Last edited by Westy R; Jun 5, 2021 at 12:28 PM.
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The only conversion kit I've seen for the C5 is $900, plus the effort of installing it ... so if E85 were $1.00 cheaper per gallon than 93-octane (and the price difference is less in many markets), you'd have to burn 900 gallons of E85 to just-barely break even (and that assumes you installed it yourself). That's 22,500 miles of driving -- and I'll bet there are plenty of people on this forum who won't put 22,500 miles on their garage-queens in ten years or more.
I'm "politically opposed" to E85 made of Federally-subsidized corn-squeezin's. Consider this -- every gallon of Federally-subsidized car-fuel alcohol is one gallon less of High Fructose Corn Syrup for your sweet tea and high-calorie sodas. It also takes a gallon of moonshine out of the "liquid entertainment" market at your local Alcoholic Beverage Control store. (Okay, I'm sarcastic, but making ethanol fuel from corn is woefully inefficient; it's "34 percent efficient," which means it takes three gallons' worth of energy to produce one gallon of corn-ethanol fuel.)
That said, I'd better look at the political side of the problem, especially since EVERYTHING in these hyper-partisan times seems to "circle back" to politics! E85 is cheap because it's heavily subsidized, and I suppose it's blessed as "carbon neutral." Fossil fuel is scorned as "the spawn of the Devil," and the Wokerati are religiously-bound to curse the Petroleum Industry, even as they rely on it to fuel their transport to the next protest, the next riot.
My rationale for buying my Corvette was partially based on the notion that I'd better enjoy it while I can, before the Powers That Be tax it or regulate it out of my reach to enjoy it!
I'm "politically opposed" to E85 made of Federally-subsidized corn-squeezin's. Consider this -- every gallon of Federally-subsidized car-fuel alcohol is one gallon less of High Fructose Corn Syrup for your sweet tea and high-calorie sodas. It also takes a gallon of moonshine out of the "liquid entertainment" market at your local Alcoholic Beverage Control store. (Okay, I'm sarcastic, but making ethanol fuel from corn is woefully inefficient; it's "34 percent efficient," which means it takes three gallons' worth of energy to produce one gallon of corn-ethanol fuel.)
That said, I'd better look at the political side of the problem, especially since EVERYTHING in these hyper-partisan times seems to "circle back" to politics! E85 is cheap because it's heavily subsidized, and I suppose it's blessed as "carbon neutral." Fossil fuel is scorned as "the spawn of the Devil," and the Wokerati are religiously-bound to curse the Petroleum Industry, even as they rely on it to fuel their transport to the next protest, the next riot.
My rationale for buying my Corvette was partially based on the notion that I'd better enjoy it while I can, before the Powers That Be tax it or regulate it out of my reach to enjoy it!
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If you were doing that in the 80s and 90s, you would probably have been getting 100-octane Low Lead. Yes, I said lead, as in tetra-ethyl lead. That is unchanged, because it's specified by the FAA. (Say goodbye to your catalytic converters.)
I had a Piper Tri-Pacer for quite a few years, and I was able to run it on 87-octane car gas until they mandated 10% ethanol in all grades. The ethanol would attack the hoses and gaskets in your fuel system, so I had to revert to 100LL -- which cost nearly twice as much as car gas. Oh, well.
I had a Piper Tri-Pacer for quite a few years, and I was able to run it on 87-octane car gas until they mandated 10% ethanol in all grades. The ethanol would attack the hoses and gaskets in your fuel system, so I had to revert to 100LL -- which cost nearly twice as much as car gas. Oh, well.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,080
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you were doing that in the 80s and 90s, you would probably have been getting 100-octane Low Lead. Yes, I said lead, as in tetra-ethyl lead. That is unchanged, because it's specified by the FAA. (Say goodbye to your catalytic converters.)
I had a Piper Tri-Pacer for quite a few years, and I was able to run it on 87-octane car gas until they mandated 10% ethanol in all grades. The ethanol would attack the hoses and gaskets in your fuel system, so I had to revert to 100LL -- which cost nearly twice as much as car gas. Oh, well.
I had a Piper Tri-Pacer for quite a few years, and I was able to run it on 87-octane car gas until they mandated 10% ethanol in all grades. The ethanol would attack the hoses and gaskets in your fuel system, so I had to revert to 100LL -- which cost nearly twice as much as car gas. Oh, well.
Also been down the car gas airplane stc road. My old man nearly crashed his grumman screwing around with car gas. It rains a lot here. Rain in your fuel can be deadly. Not the car gas directly but the handling and transport of it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,466
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From: Clark, NJ
I am not OK with that. They are charging 20% more for a few octane. It is just a rip off. It used to be about 10 cents a gallon difference between the grades and the increase in gas mileage used to just about equal the price per mile. In some states you still have a much smaller price differential between the grades.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 45
From: Wayne NJ
I have used the middle grade 89 octane and the engine seemed like it had a miss once in a while under full throttle. I filled it up with premium and some fuel injector cleaner and ran it through the whole tank and it seems to run better now. I have been using premium all the time now.Does anyone have an idea of the best fuel injector cleaner to use. The engine has about 50,000 on the plugs and I guess replacing the plugs would be a good idea just to make sure.
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CAn I Get an Amen
the only conversion kit i've seen for the c5 is $900, plus the effort of installing it ... So if e85 were $1.00 cheaper per gallon than 93-octane (and the price difference is less in many markets), you'd have to burn 900 gallons of e85 to just-barely break even (and that assumes you installed it yourself). That's 22,500 miles of driving -- and i'll bet there are plenty of people on this forum who won't put 22,500 miles on their garage-queens in ten years or more.
I'm "politically opposed" to e85 made of federally-subsidized corn-squeezin's. Consider this -- every gallon of federally-subsidized car-fuel alcohol is one gallon less of high fructose corn syrup for your sweet tea and high-calorie sodas. It also takes a gallon of moonshine out of the "liquid entertainment" market at your local alcoholic beverage control store. (okay, i'm sarcastic, but making ethanol fuel from corn is woefully inefficient; it's "34 percent efficient," which means it takes three gallons' worth of energy to produce one gallon of corn-ethanol fuel.)
that said, i'd better look at the political side of the problem, especially since everything in these hyper-partisan times seems to "circle back" to politics! E85 is cheap because it's heavily subsidized, and i suppose it's blessed as "carbon neutral." fossil fuel is scorned as "the spawn of the devil," and the wokerati are religiously-bound to curse the petroleum industry, even as they rely on it to fuel their transport to the next protest, the next riot.
My rationale for buying my corvette was partially based on the notion that i'd better enjoy it while i can, before the powers that be tax it or regulate it out of my reach to enjoy it!
I'm "politically opposed" to e85 made of federally-subsidized corn-squeezin's. Consider this -- every gallon of federally-subsidized car-fuel alcohol is one gallon less of high fructose corn syrup for your sweet tea and high-calorie sodas. It also takes a gallon of moonshine out of the "liquid entertainment" market at your local alcoholic beverage control store. (okay, i'm sarcastic, but making ethanol fuel from corn is woefully inefficient; it's "34 percent efficient," which means it takes three gallons' worth of energy to produce one gallon of corn-ethanol fuel.)
that said, i'd better look at the political side of the problem, especially since everything in these hyper-partisan times seems to "circle back" to politics! E85 is cheap because it's heavily subsidized, and i suppose it's blessed as "carbon neutral." fossil fuel is scorned as "the spawn of the devil," and the wokerati are religiously-bound to curse the petroleum industry, even as they rely on it to fuel their transport to the next protest, the next riot.
My rationale for buying my corvette was partially based on the notion that i'd better enjoy it while i can, before the powers that be tax it or regulate it out of my reach to enjoy it!
amen!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,028
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From: SW Ohio
So after reading your posts over the years we clearly know your engine building talents, so I bet that LS7 isn’t stock 😁. Now my next statement is assuming your cars ECM is the original and not a stand alone, etc. Your cars tune has a high and a low octane spark table already loaded. Most tuners simply copy the high octane spark table to the low and call it a day, and let the knock sensors pull timing as needed. So that is likely what the tuner was referencing when get asked you about the tune. Honestly as long as the tuner didn’t decrease any sensitivity with the knock sensors you could run low octane (assuming your CR isn’t crazy) and the knock sensors would pull timing where needed. And if you would drive it easy as mentioned above you likely wouldn’t see any knock to begin with. One of the benefits of getting an HPTuners setup for your car is the scanner - you can watch all of that data stream real time and see exactly what is happening.
A lot of assumptions in my statement I know. Sorry for that. I’m spending a lot of time learning Gen 3 tuning and have really enjoyed the process.
A lot of assumptions in my statement I know. Sorry for that. I’m spending a lot of time learning Gen 3 tuning and have really enjoyed the process.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: N.E. Suburb MN
If you can afford the toys you can afford to take care of them right. You don't move into a nice neighborhood and skip mowing the lawn because a mower costs you.
Just find Costco's.
Just find Costco's.
Last edited by WalterSobchak; Jun 10, 2021 at 09:54 AM.