regular gas
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 2
From: Latrobe PA
regular gas
I have been running 87 octane in my vette for the last 3 tank fulls and have not noticed a difference in performance. Do you think this is a bad idea?? The manual says 92+ is recommended but not necessary.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Your car. Your money. Only you can decide if it feels right to you. The car will retard the performance to match the reduced octane until it can't reduce it anymore. Once that happens you will get knocking and pinging. That can damage your engine. Pay attention to what the car is telling you.
I can't imagine that they put that in the manual just for kicks.
The manual states the following:
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be
slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
I can't imagine that they put that in the manual just for kicks.
The manual states the following:
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be
slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
Last edited by talon90; Apr 22, 2008 at 08:02 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,732
Likes: 34
From: Monument CO
Your car. Your money. Only you can decide if it feels right to you. The car will retard the performance to match the reduced octane until it can't reduce it anymore. Once that happens you will get knocking and pinging. That can damage your engine. Pay attention to what the car is telling you.
I can't imagine that they put that in the manual just for kicks.
The manual states the following:
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be
slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
I can't imagine that they put that in the manual just for kicks.
The manual states the following:
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be
slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
why cheap out on a performance car?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
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!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 424
Likes: 1
From: WA
I dunno, I've used 87 in my C6 for most of the winter, can't use the power anyway in stop and go so it isn't a problem. If Washington's Pacific NW ever gets a summer I'll fill her up with the "good stuff" so I can play lead foot with the estimated $5.00 + a gallon juice.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
you will also loose MPG as i have seen this on a road trip with a fellow corvette owner who used regular and i used hi test. he alway took more gallons than i did at a fillup and he had a 6 speed manual and i had a 4 speed auto with a 3.15 rear gear
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 2
From: Latrobe PA
So really not saving if MPG is less. I guess no real reason to use it!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 0
From: Some where in Amerika, sadly watching how is turned into a Socialist Republic.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
errr...well, not really. The ECU has both a High octane, and Low octane timing map. When low octane fuel is detected (through the knock sensors) it will pull back to the low octane tables. These primarily involve reduced timing which is why mileage goes down a bit...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 0
From: Some where in Amerika, sadly watching how is turned into a Socialist Republic.
Actually you're absolutly right, you just lose a little performance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: 1BadC6 New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '08
Plain stupid sorry Higher octane gas burns at a slower rate evening it out. Your injectors will get clogged and lead to other problems
Its your car if you dont like it sell it. dont treat it like crap
lol
Its your car if you dont like it sell it. dont treat it like crap
lol
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Hemet Calif
My Vette gets better mileage than my 04 Ford Ranger V-6 by 5 to 8 mpg. I think I can run faster in the 1/4 mile than the Ranger. I'm more than happy to treat that special Vette to some good fuel any day for what rewards she gives me!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 168
From: Frederick, MD
Really there is no top gas out there as far as brand goes. Gas is gas, it is just some companies add more additives to their gas after it is shipped from the refinery.
However, since I'm most likely to put more strain on the Vette then other cars I would probably stick with Chevron/Exxon/Mobil 1/Shell/etc.
I was worried about breaking in my car right since the dealer probably put the cheapest 85 octane (lowest here in Utah) gas in the car when I picked it up. I put 91 Exxon in it after driving it all weekend. I'm almost up to 500 miles now and if I'm not I sure will be after my trip Saturday since we are cruising around some National Parks in Utah.
However, since I'm most likely to put more strain on the Vette then other cars I would probably stick with Chevron/Exxon/Mobil 1/Shell/etc.
I was worried about breaking in my car right since the dealer probably put the cheapest 85 octane (lowest here in Utah) gas in the car when I picked it up. I put 91 Exxon in it after driving it all weekend. I'm almost up to 500 miles now and if I'm not I sure will be after my trip Saturday since we are cruising around some National Parks in Utah.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
Really there is no top gas out there as far as brand goes. Gas is gas, it is just some companies add more additives to their gas after it is shipped from the refinery.
However, since I'm most likely to put more strain on the Vette then other cars I would probably stick with Chevron/Exxon/Mobil 1/Shell/etc.
I was worried about breaking in my car right since the dealer probably put the cheapest 85 octane (lowest here in Utah) gas in the car when I picked it up. I put 91 Exxon in it after driving it all weekend. I'm almost up to 500 miles now and if I'm not I sure will be after my trip Saturday since we are cruising around some National Parks in Utah.
However, since I'm most likely to put more strain on the Vette then other cars I would probably stick with Chevron/Exxon/Mobil 1/Shell/etc.
I was worried about breaking in my car right since the dealer probably put the cheapest 85 octane (lowest here in Utah) gas in the car when I picked it up. I put 91 Exxon in it after driving it all weekend. I'm almost up to 500 miles now and if I'm not I sure will be after my trip Saturday since we are cruising around some National Parks in Utah.