Fuel Grades
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
Drive 15,000 miles a year and average 16MPG, mid grade (89 octaine) cost you $4,078.13 for the year (based on national average today of $4.35/gallon)
Drive the same 15,000 miles and the same 16MPG using premium (91+), your gas bill is $4,237.50 for the year (national average today of $4.52/gallon)
For the YEAR, you saved $159.37 or a TINY bit over 1 cent per mile. Of course, if you feed your corvette mid grade all the time, in 25 years you will have saved enough money ($3,984.25) for a decent down payment on a Malibu (a 2008 Malibu that is).
Jimmy
Last edited by jimmyb; Jul 8, 2008 at 04:00 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Altamonte Springs FL
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 255
Likes: 55
From: Jacksonville Florida
What long term damage?
No one has really gone into the effects of the long haul. 
The manual does not state that "87 is fine".
It states that 87 may be used. 91 is recommended.
The ECM compensates for lower octane by retarding timing. This equates to loss of operating efficency, which reduces power AND gas mileage.
So, where is the gain?
Also, retarding the timing (not burning all the fuel) can damage the 02 sensors and cats.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 90
Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. No one has really gone into the effects of the long haul.
The manual does not state that "87 is fine". It states that 87 may be used. 91 is recommended. The ECM compensates for lower octane by retarding timing. This equates to loss of operating efficency, which reduces power AND gas mileage. So, where is the gain? Also, retarding the timing (not burning all the fuel) can damage the 02 sensors and cats.
No one has really gone into the effects of the long haul. The manual does not state that "87 is fine".
It states that 87 may be used. 91 is recommended. The ECM compensates for lower octane by retarding timing. This equates to loss of operating efficency, which reduces power AND gas mileage. So, where is the gain? Also, retarding the timing (not burning all the fuel) can damage the 02 sensors and cats.I found this link to be enlightening.
http://moteroweb.eresmas.com/gasoline.htm
Last edited by vdavenp802; Jul 8, 2008 at 04:51 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 133,592
Likes: 30
St. Jude Donor '11, '16
Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. No one has really gone into the effects of the long haul.
The manual does not state that "87 is fine". It states that 87 may be used. 91 is recommended. The ECM compensates for lower octane by retarding timing. This equates to loss of operating efficency, which reduces power AND gas mileage. So, where is the gain? Also, retarding the timing (not burning all the fuel) can damage the 02 sensors and cats.
No one has really gone into the effects of the long haul. The manual does not state that "87 is fine".
It states that 87 may be used. 91 is recommended. The ECM compensates for lower octane by retarding timing. This equates to loss of operating efficency, which reduces power AND gas mileage. So, where is the gain? Also, retarding the timing (not burning all the fuel) can damage the 02 sensors and cats.I like sheetz and wawa, they get their gas the same place the Tier 1 stations do!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I don't get it. Pay about $50k for a sports car and then you are going to try to save about $2 at most a tank with cheap gas that will cut back your performance. It is almost better to buy a cheaper sports car and put the right gas in it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
