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On premium gas "conspiracy"

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Old 07-05-2007, 11:32 PM
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snStarter
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Default On premium gas "conspiracy"

So in the past week I've had two people tell me, citing some radio talk-show "rocket scientist" that there's really no difference as far as your engine is concerned between premium and regular. Oh the premium, I'm told, will help your engine run "cleaner".

Where the HECK is this coming from? I mean I grew up knowing about "ping" and octane ratings, and the compression on the Corvettes certainly seems to require a high-octane rated gas even though the engine management system might be able to compensate for mid-grade and maybe help you get home without much trouble.

But one of these guys owns a C6 and he's a total believer. So I figure there's no convincing him, either of them really, but I'd like to have some basis in fact.

Anyone have any? And who the heck is this talk-show guy?
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Old 07-06-2007, 12:27 AM
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Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Today's engine management systems will retard the timing if it detects "ping". Retarding the timing will reduce power output. Your engine will probably run fine, just with less power.

Now, on the other had, if your engine is designed to run on regular grade fuel, putting in higher octane fuel is just a waste of money.
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Old 07-06-2007, 12:33 AM
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When my tuner pulled a copy of my stock tune from my C6 with HP Tuners software, he showed me that it had two different timming and fuel tables for high octane and low octane gas. There is a real difference and your C6 knows how to tell and runs your car accordingly. Those asshats you heard on the radio are uninformed just like the general public.
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Old 07-06-2007, 12:42 AM
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...but I bet many dealers fill them up with '87. I insisted going with the salesman when he went to fill mine up. Guess with what? Yup, 87! I said "this takes 92, not 87". He called his boss and got the OK. Glad I went along.
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Old 07-06-2007, 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by C6Brian
When my tuner pulled a copy of my stock tune from my C6 with HP Tuners software, he showed me that it had two different timming and fuel tables for high octane and low octane gas. There is a real difference and your C6 knows how to tell and runs your car accordingly. Those asshats you heard on the radio are uninformed just like the general public.
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Old 07-06-2007, 12:52 AM
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Wayne O
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That's nothing....I heard some guy on the radio talking about how Hillary is going to be a swell President and that the Democrats won't raise your taxes. This guy even thought Al Gore knew what he was talking about!
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Old 07-06-2007, 01:12 AM
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Hell yes Al Gore knows what he's talking about. What the heck, he did invent the NTSB didn't he ?
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Old 07-06-2007, 01:13 AM
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Originally Posted by 4 MY EGO
Hell yes Al Gore knows what he's talking about. What the heck, he did invent the NTSB didn't he ?
You mean he invented the Internet.
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Old 07-06-2007, 01:55 AM
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Let's not get into a political debate on this part of the forum. Both parties have their unique problems. We won't solve them here.
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Old 07-06-2007, 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Zymurgy
Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Today's engine management systems will retard the timing if it detects "ping". Retarding the timing will reduce power output. Your engine will probably run fine, just with less power.

Now, on the other had, if your engine is designed to run on regular grade fuel, putting in higher octane fuel is just a waste of money.
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Old 07-06-2007, 02:02 AM
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People are out to get Gore. Did you hear about the trumped up charge against his son? The police claim to have stopped him for driving over 100 MPH in a Prius loaded with a laundry list of illegal drugs. I knew something was fishy when they said a Prius could go over 100 MPH.
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Old 07-06-2007, 02:15 AM
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Originally Posted by shopdog
People are out to get Gore. Did you hear about the trumped up charge against his son? The police claim to have stopped him for driving over 100 MPH in a Prius loaded with a laundry list of illegal drugs. I knew something was fishy when they said a Prius could go over 100 MPH.
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Old 07-06-2007, 02:50 AM
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Default we are so lucky

like the majority of americans i wake up every day happy george bush is
our president(oh that silly little issue about gore actually getting more votes)...yep, what a wonderful 8 years---he didn't raise your taxes,he cut them for the multi-millionaires,where is he getting the money for
our mission accomplished iraq war? BORROWING IT FROM THE CHINESE,and we pay interest on it and eventually we will all pay dearly....american currency continually sinking because of the billions soon to be trillions of dollars in circulation...

yep the past 8years sure showed us that we and the supreme court all made the right decision. now will it be mitt,gualiani,thompson,mcain?
what a stellar group to chose from!

hated to spoil the love fest!
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Old 07-06-2007, 02:53 AM
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Might have been the new, twin turbo Prius...
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Old 07-06-2007, 03:03 AM
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Originally Posted by snStarter
So in the past week I've had two people tell me, citing some radio talk-show "rocket scientist" that there's really no difference as far as your engine is concerned between premium and regular. Oh the premium, I'm told, will help your engine run "cleaner".

Where the HECK is this coming from? I mean I grew up knowing about "ping" and octane ratings, and the compression on the Corvettes certainly seems to require a high-octane rated gas even though the engine management system might be able to compensate for mid-grade and maybe help you get home without much trouble.

But one of these guys owns a C6 and he's a total believer. So I figure there's no convincing him, either of them really, but I'd like to have some basis in fact.

Anyone have any? And who the heck is this talk-show guy?


This is odd but I switched to 87 octane a few weeks ago and my car runs better. My car is stock.
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