Gasoline grade?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Saratoga Springs New York
Gasoline grade?
I was reading my new September issue of Motortrend and noticed that the recommended fuel for the new C6 is.....Unleaded Regular....
I own a 2000 FRC and have always used Super unleaded. I didnt buy it brand new so I dont know what the manufacturer recommended for the C5.......
I was just wondering what everyone else was using, and if they noticed any Detonation or noticable performance loss if running just regular unleaded......with Super being 30+ cents a gallon more than the Unleaded Regular...it could be a substantial saving over the car's lifetime...
does the Super run cleaner?, less deposits?, better performance?
Just wondering what everyone had to say...thanks in advance!
I own a 2000 FRC and have always used Super unleaded. I didnt buy it brand new so I dont know what the manufacturer recommended for the C5.......
I was just wondering what everyone else was using, and if they noticed any Detonation or noticable performance loss if running just regular unleaded......with Super being 30+ cents a gallon more than the Unleaded Regular...it could be a substantial saving over the car's lifetime...
does the Super run cleaner?, less deposits?, better performance?
Just wondering what everyone had to say...thanks in advance!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
High Octane
I don't know how old you are but, I am 52 this year and I actually remember when Supreme was also referred to as "Ethel"! I have read numerous posts here and the "recommended" fuel is High Octane for "BEST" performance. GM says that regular unleaded can be used but performance will not be the same. Octane Ratings are similar to Calories in food. High Octane Ratings just have more heat value and a longer flame front, that is why unleaded regular will cause a pinging noise. BTW, gasoline burns and doesn't or should not ever explode. From my experience "pinging" is actually "pre-detonation" of the air-fuel mixture. The gasoline starts to burn prematurely and therefore starts to expand and push the piston downwards before the piston has reached TDC (Top Dead Center)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
From: Arlington VA
All I konw is GM recommends 91 Octane or better for best performance. Sure, you can use Regular 87 but you may or may not see any ill effect from that i.e. detonation. I persoannly would not recommend it. Simply, higher octane burns slower thus less likely to pre-detonate under load.
As for additives and cleaning effects, I do not think it really matters if you are using a good commercial brand of gasoline. If you want some interesting reading, do a google search on Top Tier gasolines. Honda, Toyota, GM and others banded together to test differnt manufactures gasoline for propensity to develop carbon deposits. Those that pass their test are considered Top Tier i.e. Shell, Texaco, ... No matter what brand you run, I recommend you put some type of over the counter additive in your fuel on a regular basis i.e. once per year or every 7500 mi to control the buildup of carbon. I like to use BG 44K, or Techron. There are others. These also help the fuel guage failure issues so many folks on this forum talk about from time to time.
As for additives and cleaning effects, I do not think it really matters if you are using a good commercial brand of gasoline. If you want some interesting reading, do a google search on Top Tier gasolines. Honda, Toyota, GM and others banded together to test differnt manufactures gasoline for propensity to develop carbon deposits. Those that pass their test are considered Top Tier i.e. Shell, Texaco, ... No matter what brand you run, I recommend you put some type of over the counter additive in your fuel on a regular basis i.e. once per year or every 7500 mi to control the buildup of carbon. I like to use BG 44K, or Techron. There are others. These also help the fuel guage failure issues so many folks on this forum talk about from time to time.
Last edited by SUPERCRUZ; Aug 9, 2007 at 02:39 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Nevada Texas
I's run bof ethel an regular, tha puter will slightly retard timing runnin regular resulting in slight performance degrade, but the timing retard will compensate for the pinging. when you go from 93 to 87 for a minute or two after you start your engine it may ping until the compter reacts to the faster burn time of the lower octane. especially if'n ye showers down on er after ye change. mine bein a ever day driver wif a ole man behind wheel ain't never had no trouble an hardly notice tha difference in performance. It'll still blow tha doors off'n a gt stang.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Saratoga Springs New York
yeah...Im 36 yrs old for the record...and from what I've always experienced... the vehicle , almost no matter what it is, will run better on the Super than the regular 87 octane...so....for the 30 cents extra a gallon to have a cleaner, better running engine....looks like Super unleaded to me...thanks
Last edited by nickydags; Aug 9, 2007 at 12:00 PM. Reason: error
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,794
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Octane does not add horsepoer or mileage unless your car is tuned for more HP.
Octane prevents knock or predetonation.
From an octane perspective run the lowest octane gasoline that gives you NO knock under WOPT (wide open throttle) in the enviroment (altitide/temperature) you drive your vette.
From a driveability and cleanliness perspective, most oil companies put advanced (more expensive) additive packages in their Premium grade) S choose whether you wan to spend the $$ on Premium gas or aftermarket fule system cleaners to prevent issues like faulty gas tank guages.
Shell V- Power 93 Octane here
Unless I am doing Auto-x in 90+ degree weather and then I use 94 octane Sunoco Ultra
Octane prevents knock or predetonation.
From an octane perspective run the lowest octane gasoline that gives you NO knock under WOPT (wide open throttle) in the enviroment (altitide/temperature) you drive your vette.
From a driveability and cleanliness perspective, most oil companies put advanced (more expensive) additive packages in their Premium grade) S choose whether you wan to spend the $$ on Premium gas or aftermarket fule system cleaners to prevent issues like faulty gas tank guages.
Shell V- Power 93 Octane here
Unless I am doing Auto-x in 90+ degree weather and then I use 94 octane Sunoco Ultra
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Lumberton TX
I don't know how old you are but, I am 52 this year and I actually remember when Supreme was also referred to as "Ethel"! I have read numerous posts here and the "recommended" fuel is High Octane for "BEST" performance. GM says that regular unleaded can be used but performance will not be the same. Octane Ratings are similar to Calories in food. High Octane Ratings just have more heat value and a longer flame front, that is why unleaded regular will cause a pinging noise. BTW, gasoline burns and doesn't or should not ever explode. From my experience "pinging" is actually "pre-detonation" of the air-fuel mixture. The gasoline starts to burn prematurely and therefore starts to expand and push the piston downwards before the piston has reached TDC (Top Dead Center)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Thanks!
The reason the term ETHYL was used is at that time Ethyl in Baton Rouge La. was the only company in the U.S. who manufactured lead for gasoline. In the early 60's Houston Chemical in Beaumont Texas started manufactureding lead for gas. Since all gas refinerys bought lead from both places you did not know who's lead was in the gas. The term Ethyl then had to be removed from the pumps. This started the new terms we us today. Premium etc. Frank
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 166
From: Summerton SC
Tech Contributor
I put in 89 and did not notice any dif, WOT, idle or cruising? Do you really think 93 is 93, or 89 is 89? If so, you likely also believe deer can hear "Deer Whistles." Point being, the difference between 89 an 93 is not that drastic. 100 might make a difference, as would NOX. Put in 89 and you won't miss anything except the extra expense.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
But if you're tuned for Super...
The tune on my car calls for 91 octane to avoid detonation. It's a little more aggressive - more advance and a bit leaner. If memory serves, leaning out the mix can get you more power, but at the risk of detonation if you get too much air, not enough fuel.
I figure, at the MPGs I get out of the car, the extra about 20 cents for top grade Chevron here in Nor Cal is worthwhile.
One question - if you run the lower grade gas, and the computer backs off the timing and richens the mixture to compensate, what is the drop in mileage? I know my pygmy Jimmy gets a little better mileage on the higher grades of gas (I run them when climbing mountains, to try to let the thing run cooler and better), but I don't know if it's in the 7-10% range it would need to be to make it worth using Super all the time.
Anyway, stock, the dealer (and ours is a good one) said to run premium - the downside with a stock tune was just a bit lower mileage and lower performance.
The tune on my car calls for 91 octane to avoid detonation. It's a little more aggressive - more advance and a bit leaner. If memory serves, leaning out the mix can get you more power, but at the risk of detonation if you get too much air, not enough fuel.
I figure, at the MPGs I get out of the car, the extra about 20 cents for top grade Chevron here in Nor Cal is worthwhile.
One question - if you run the lower grade gas, and the computer backs off the timing and richens the mixture to compensate, what is the drop in mileage? I know my pygmy Jimmy gets a little better mileage on the higher grades of gas (I run them when climbing mountains, to try to let the thing run cooler and better), but I don't know if it's in the 7-10% range it would need to be to make it worth using Super all the time.
Anyway, stock, the dealer (and ours is a good one) said to run premium - the downside with a stock tune was just a bit lower mileage and lower performance.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 41,789
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From: Houston,Texas USA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
The reason the term ETHYL was used is at that time Ethyl in Baton Rouge La. was the only company in the U.S. who manufactured lead for gasoline. In the early 60's Houston Chemical in Beaumont Texas started manufactureding lead for gas. Since all gas refinerys bought lead from both places you did not know who's lead was in the gas. The term Ethyl then had to be removed from the pumps. This started the new terms we us today. Premium etc. Frank
Actually, the word ethyl comes from the anti-knock compound tetra-ethyl lead (TEL) and was first produced by the Eythl Gasoline Corp., which created by Standard Oil of NJ (ESSO) and General Motors Corp. in 1924.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
