regular gas
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 19
From: Santa Clara, CA
I drove a 30 mile each way hilly commute in my C5 racking up 40K miles in a short period of time. I used 87 about 2/3's of the time. Never had a ping or a knock, never had clogged injectors, never, ever could tell the difference in performance. Got 24MPG. 
Thus far I have used 91 in my C6 mainly because it is a low mileage driver. I would not hesitate to go back to 87 if I picked up the mileage. The way I see it - no ping or no knock, no reason not to go with 87.
Thus far I have used 91 in my C6 mainly because it is a low mileage driver. I would not hesitate to go back to 87 if I picked up the mileage. The way I see it - no ping or no knock, no reason not to go with 87.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: LA CA
this is how i look at it.... difference in 93 and 87 generally about 20 cents... 15 gallons = $3
If Im spending all this money on this car I can afford another $12 a month to make sure I have no problems and it performs like it should....
If Im spending all this money on this car I can afford another $12 a month to make sure I have no problems and it performs like it should....
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Not a fair comparison, the 4 speed auto is much more efficient than a 6 spd manual.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 2
From: Latrobe PA
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
just to be safe i would add GM injector cleaner to the fuel at every oil change as it is cheap insurance
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: roanoke va
It is a stupid idea, you shouldn't be buying a high performance,$60,000 car if you can't afford to pay for 93 octane. You will get ping eventually, which is when your engine will actually create a ping sound, you will hear, this is because your engine needs better gas. Just put 93 in!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 982
Likes: 2
From: Falls Church VA
I am looking forward to when gas prices hit about $10.00 per gallon... will have fewer people on the road 
and, yes I agree with
"Originally Posted by bestvette
It is a stupid idea, you shouldn't be buying a high performance,$60,000 car if you can't afford to pay for 93 octane. You will get ping eventually, which is when your engine will actually create a ping sound, you will hear, this is because your engine needs better gas. Just put 93 in!"
and, yes I agree with"Originally Posted by bestvette
It is a stupid idea, you shouldn't be buying a high performance,$60,000 car if you can't afford to pay for 93 octane. You will get ping eventually, which is when your engine will actually create a ping sound, you will hear, this is because your engine needs better gas. Just put 93 in!"
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
I like to make sure the injectors are clean no matter what gas I use, and Chevron's Techron is condidered to be the best additive for this. Its available even at WalMart, but the best deal is at Costco (where else!) where you can get a six bottle case for less than half the price. I put one in the tank after winter and then maybe once or twice more every year.
The problem with depending on the gas for this is that now you really don't know what brand of gas is being sold at a particular station anymore.
The problem with depending on the gas for this is that now you really don't know what brand of gas is being sold at a particular station anymore.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,308
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
You will loose at least one MPG by droping down one grade.
Let's do the math:
EPA estimate MPG City is 18 MPG.
18 MPG * 18 gallon tank = 324 mile range.
17 MPG * 18 gallon tank = 306 mile range.
18 miles difference.
Gas today in Jacksonville, Fl--- 93 oct. $3.51, 89 oct. $3.41
Cost to fill with 93 oct = $63.18
Cost to fill with 89 oct = $61.38
It costs $1.80 less to fill with 89 than it does with 93 octane.
However you can only go 306 miles. To go the same distance, you have to buy 19 gallons.
19 gallons of 89 oct. @ $3.41 = $64.79 or $1.61 more.
It costs $3.41 more to go 324 miles on 89 oct. than it does with 91.
Where's the savings in that.
Let's do the math:
EPA estimate MPG City is 18 MPG.
18 MPG * 18 gallon tank = 324 mile range.
17 MPG * 18 gallon tank = 306 mile range.
18 miles difference.
Gas today in Jacksonville, Fl--- 93 oct. $3.51, 89 oct. $3.41
Cost to fill with 93 oct = $63.18
Cost to fill with 89 oct = $61.38
It costs $1.80 less to fill with 89 than it does with 93 octane.
However you can only go 306 miles. To go the same distance, you have to buy 19 gallons.
19 gallons of 89 oct. @ $3.41 = $64.79 or $1.61 more.
It costs $3.41 more to go 324 miles on 89 oct. than it does with 91.
Where's the savings in that.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Knocking can damage your engine if the computer doesn't properly adjust timing using 87 octane. It's not the recommended fuel but it will work temporarily if you can't get anything else. Hey, you guys using regular gas in your $60k sports car can save even MORE money buy using recycled oil from the dollar store in your engine! Why bother with synthetic!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Knocking can damage your engine if the computer doesn't properly adjust timing using 87 octane. It's not the recommended fuel but it will work temporarily if you can't get anything else. Hey, you guys using regular gas in your $60k sports car can save even MORE money buy using recycled oil from the dollar store in your engine! Why bother with synthetic!
Then we don't need all those "Kumho, Michelin, KDWs, Wide Oval, Badyear" threads...just Bandag!!!!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Everett WA
I'm in the Pacific NW also, I always run regular Monday through Thursday for my commute, then on Friday I fill up with super for the weekend. I'm pumping over $150 a week in gas since I commute from Everett to Whidbey Island. I really don't notice a difference in mileage or perfomance. Although I haven't really done a from empty mpg verification. But since I drive the I-5 regularly, i'm sure I could do a 60mph run on both tanks just for kicks to see if it makes a difference.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 19
From: Santa Clara, CA
Knocking can damage your engine if the computer doesn't properly adjust timing using 87 octane. It's not the recommended fuel but it will work temporarily if you can't get anything else. Hey, you guys using regular gas in your $60k sports car can save even MORE money buy using recycled oil from the dollar store in your engine! Why bother with synthetic!
1) Never track it or do a burn out - bad for the drive train
2) Never drive it on the freeway - might get a chipped windshield or a paint chip.
3) Never park near a curb - might get curb rash
4) Never sit on the seats and fart - it might scorch the leather.
5) Etc. Etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
Every knowledgable bit of info I have read about my LS2 is that it is a pretty hardy engine, and regular 87 will not harm it at all.
However, I did buy this car for fun & not a commute vehicle, so I always put in premium unless faced with no other alternative. I do notice the performance & fuel mileage drop off with 87 the few times I had to run it, so for me it isn't worth saving a few bucks on a tank of gas to run regular.
However, I did buy this car for fun & not a commute vehicle, so I always put in premium unless faced with no other alternative. I do notice the performance & fuel mileage drop off with 87 the few times I had to run it, so for me it isn't worth saving a few bucks on a tank of gas to run regular.
why cheap out on a performance car?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: Suffern/Mahwah Border of New York/Jersey
?