Here's the deal.. I filled up my car yesterday with "89" octane fuel.. turns out the pump was mislabeled and it was "87". The Mobil gas station didn't was to hear anything I had to say. I'm in the process of contacting the weights and measures, BBB attorney general and Mobil.

Does anyone know the actuall requirement for the 1999 vette?

-Jamie

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but why are you putting mid-grade into a car that requires premium?

87 = regular
89 = midgrade
91+ = premium

If you read the manual, it states the car will run on 87, but it will have reduced power (the timing is retarded to keep it from detonating). I'd run that tank down and fill with premium, not mid-grade.



Sorny

 

Plus going from mid to prem is only 10 cents. That only comes to an extra buck or 2 a tank. Not worth it to save a buck

 

Jamie,

I'm not going to jump on the 89 octane bashing wagon, but was curious how you found out you were running 87. Did you hear detonation?

As Sorny points out, 87 won't damage the engine as long as you're not racing (computer might not be able to pull enough timing at WOT to prevent detonation). Also, the cost savings from not running premium might not be as much as you think, since even a slight improvement in mileage (from not having any spark retard with the higher octane fuel) will probably offset the 2-3% price differential.

Hope your baby is OK, and have a good one,
Mike

 

Running one tank of low test isnt going to harm anything!! Just dont beat on it or lug the engine. Drive the gas out of the tanl and find a better/ more conciensious vendor. You and your car will be fine!

Bill

 

It is so nice to see "the right" advice given by everyone in this post...
It not often that it happens.

I'm still unclear on how anyone would know a fuelp pump was mislabeled?
Was it a New station???
The grades are there and never changed>
The tanks are clearly labeled at the inground strorage
Sure the fuel truck guy could have made a mistake, but he certaily would not have made metion of it...The station attendant would not know about it, and I am sure No one put a sign on the tank after the fact saying if you bought gas from this tank last week we made a mistake and put the wrong grade in there.. so just come in and tell us how many gallons you pumped.... no need for proof and we will refill your tank for free...
I want to know how you found out the tank was mislabled, and what proof there is.

 

If you are real ineasy over it, just go get a 5 gallon jug of 100 UNLEADED and mix a couple gallons in. It will make it close to 91.

 

You can always add a can of octane boost if you are that worried

The Big Dog

 

Curious as to how you found out the pump was "mislabeled" Pump towers with three grades are typically labeled left to right: 87 - 89 - 91+. The hose nozzles are color coded (red for 87, white for 89 and blue for 91+, and green for diesel) so unless a hose was returned to the wrong holder, it's pretty hard for the consumer to get the wrong fuel.

Even if the pump only has a single hose, it's the valving in the pump assembly that determines which tank the fuel comes from. There have been occurances where a delivery driver fills the wrong underground tank, but that is pretty uncommon.

Corvettes have required (or it was recommended) premium fuel since the 84 came out. They will run on lower octane gas but don't expect the same power output level and there is a chance for engine damage especially in the earlier cars.

 

link for pic

http://www.alltimechamp.com/PIC_0006.jpg

With the pic it'll make a little more sense.. I grabbed 89 thinking I was getting 89 but indeed it was regular 87

They REALLY pissed me off last night when I was told they were doing NOTHING about it even those the pump is clearly labeled 89 octane when it was indeed 87

Lets just say the Dept of weights and measures paid them a little visit this morning along with a few emails to me

It's a matter of principle now.. you made a honest mistake... you fix the mistake. The way this guy talked to me on the phone was comletely unacceptible

Email from NY weights and measures:

Email # 1 from Weights and Measures
In a message dated 4/25/2006 10:24:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn@xxxxxx.statxxe.ny.us writes:

Jamie,
My office works with local Weights and Measures programs to police octane ratings in New York. If you can supply me with the name of the station, the pump number, the grade purchased, and any other details you did not include in your first email, I will get it investigated

By regulation, “regular” gas must be 87 octane and vice versa. It is not legal to represent regular as 89 octane.


Ross J Andersen, Director
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Bureau of Weights and Measures
10B Airline Drive
Albany, NY 12235
(518) 457-3146 or FAX (518) 457-5693

Email #2 from Weights and measures
From: Ross Andersen <Roxxxxxxxxxxxxxxagmkt.xxxxe.ny.us>
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:01:02 -0400
Subject: RE: Octane Complaint
Jamie,
Your picture shows they are not in compliance with our regulations. I will get someone on this directly and ask that they contact you with their findings.

Ross J Andersen, Director
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Bureau of Weights and Measures
10B Airline Drive
Albany, NY 12235
(518) 457-3146 or FAX (518) 457-5693

 

Right on bro

 

Wow...nice pic. What a dolt put two "89" stickers on the pump. Although I'd think the green "regular" label would be kind of a tipoff that it's not 89.

 

Ah, nice catch. You did the right thing, talked to the manager/owner, documented the problem, sent it to the authorities.

BTW, DON'T put 100 Low Lead (i.e. blue av gas). That's got quite a bit of lead in it. 100 Unleaded is a different beast altogether.

Have a good one,
Mike

 

Mike.. I agree about the regular thing to a certain extent. Around here they call the "middle" grade fuel a different name at every gas station. ( premium, super, advanced, etc). I just got in the habit of looking directly at the octane stickers and choosing that way

If ya can tell this guy really caught nerve with me yesterday ( i really don't feel like typing the whole story).. he was a jerk.

And.. I had absolutety NOTING to do at work today =0)

 

Looked at the picture again. You had 93 Octane staring you in the face and went for 89???? We can't even get 93 any more and have to settle for 91.

The car will run on 87 but you won't get the mileage nor the power of higher octane fuels. I bet if you ran some trials, even at the higher price you would do better with the 93 Octane.

But they still should not mislead you. My favorite is the Texaco stations around here. Every station has 87, 89, 91 in order left to right. Sometimes it right to left. That's what you come to expect. Texaco goes and puts the 93 in the middle like your photo and what happens you mistakingly put 93 in your clunker because you are not paying attention. Seems tricky to me.

No problem anymore because I'm always looking for the highest octane for the vette no matter where it is on the pump.

 

That's what you get for being cheap!

Even if you ran the tank down to dead empty, with the difference being ten cents per gallon it would only cost $1.80 more per fill up for premium.

You need to sell your vette to someone who knows how to properly maintain it and buy a Kia.

 

Well.. I can see school must have let out

 

Keep topping it off with premium. Octane will average up by time you have half a tank gone. Not a big deal

 

Is that what you drive or can you afford a Kia?

 

Nice uniformity in the gasoline industry. Here the green pump is Diesel.

cc