Which Octane for Corvettes
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Eastern
Which Octane for Corvettes
There are many independent scientific studies that have been conducted that claim that using Premium or Higher Octane Gasoline have no benefit in todays computurized high tech engines. Using Regular grade gasolines will not harm, will not decrease gas mileage, and will not increase exhaust emissions.
Here is one of many articles:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/...s_premium.html
I personally use Premium, but at what extra cost if it has no benefit?
Here is one of many articles:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/...s_premium.html
I personally use Premium, but at what extra cost if it has no benefit?
Last edited by 4SUMERZ; Nov 3, 2012 at 09:31 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
your owners manual tells you 91 and above. 91, 93, sometimes if you need to, less octane. you decide, it is your car.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...i-got-gas.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...i-got-gas.html
Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 625
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From: San Jose CA
The Vette has a high compression engine. To run as designed requires 91+ octane. They do have knock sensors to de-tune operatingparameters as fail safes to mitigate damage.
Last edited by BackInBlack05; Nov 3, 2012 at 09:32 PM.
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From the Scientific American article:
"Most modern cars, however, are designed to employ a specific compression ratio, a measure of how much room is available to the fuel when the piston is at the bottom and the top of the cylinder. This compression ratio—somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to one—tolerates lower octane fuels (such as regular gasoline, good old 87 octane) without knocking. "The compression ratio is fixed by the designer of the engine," Green says. "The regular fuel will burn properly and the premium fuel will burn properly and therefore there is no reason you should pay the extra money." High-performance engines, such as those in some sports cars or older, heavier automobiles, often boast much higher compression ratios. These cars—for example, Shepherd's Subaru WRX—require premium gasoline and will definitely knock without it."
"Most modern cars, however, are designed to employ a specific compression ratio, a measure of how much room is available to the fuel when the piston is at the bottom and the top of the cylinder. This compression ratio—somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to one—tolerates lower octane fuels (such as regular gasoline, good old 87 octane) without knocking. "The compression ratio is fixed by the designer of the engine," Green says. "The regular fuel will burn properly and the premium fuel will burn properly and therefore there is no reason you should pay the extra money." High-performance engines, such as those in some sports cars or older, heavier automobiles, often boast much higher compression ratios. These cars—for example, Shepherd's Subaru WRX—require premium gasoline and will definitely knock without it."
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Cary NC
Yes, but it is a scheme that has value. Practically everyone who develops a useful standard sells it, even maybe oversells it, but that doesn't mean the standard doesn't have value to the user.
Last edited by CaryBob; Nov 3, 2012 at 09:40 PM.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Somers NY
I "AGREE" with the OP, get regaler grade, & SAVE $2.00 when you fill up... Smart move, hell if you fill it often enough you can get a ZR1 and run that will run on 89 octane also...
I paid over $30,000 for my 05 (I bought it used) and I've been saving so much $$ by using 87 I will be able to but a C7 as soon as they come out.... I'm looking to see if I can find 87 or 85 octane and save another .03 cents a gallon...
OH BTW I also saved enough to send my car to Cartek for a "Supercharger" and I still run it on 87 ...
I'm looking for any other posts by you that may help me save some $$
Do you think I can get by with Walmart brand oil instead of wasting $$ on Mobil 1 synthetic??
Please give me as many hints as possible to save $$... I already go to the FREE car wash at the local gas station if I fill it up....
The kid put a little curb rash when he misjudged the curb after he drove it through the car wash... But I didn't mind as I had saved Sooooooooo much $$ by getting PI$$ A$$ 87 gas....
Looking forward to some money saving tips...
I paid over $30,000 for my 05 (I bought it used) and I've been saving so much $$ by using 87 I will be able to but a C7 as soon as they come out.... I'm looking to see if I can find 87 or 85 octane and save another .03 cents a gallon...
OH BTW I also saved enough to send my car to Cartek for a "Supercharger" and I still run it on 87 ...
I'm looking for any other posts by you that may help me save some $$Do you think I can get by with Walmart brand oil instead of wasting $$ on Mobil 1 synthetic??
Please give me as many hints as possible to save $$... I already go to the FREE car wash at the local gas station if I fill it up....
The kid put a little curb rash when he misjudged the curb after he drove it through the car wash... But I didn't mind as I had saved Sooooooooo much $$ by getting PI$$ A$$ 87 gas....
Looking forward to some money saving tips...
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From: Bayou Country LA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I hope you don't smoke or drink. More is spent on those in one year than the price difference between regular and premium. Maybe you shouldn't go out to dinner because it costs more than eating at home. I don't understand the point you are trying to make. I will follow the instructions in the owners manual.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,913
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From: Cary NC
There are many independent scientific studies that have been conducted that claim that using Premium or Higher Octane Gasoline have no benefit in todays computurized high tech engines. Using Regular grade gasolines will not harm, will not decrease gas mileage, and will not increase exhaust emissions.
Here is one of many articles:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/...s_premium.html
I personally use Premium, but at what extra cost if it has no benefit?
Here is one of many articles:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/...s_premium.html
I personally use Premium, but at what extra cost if it has no benefit?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,349
Likes: 2,443
From: Eastern
I hope you don't smoke or drink. More is spent on those in one year than the price difference between regular and premium. Maybe you shouldn't go out to dinner because it costs more than eating at home. I don't understand the point you are trying to make. I will follow the instructions in the owners manual.
It's not about saving money. It's maybe another scheme for the gas companies to make more billions of dollars from the consumer.
There are alot of studies out there, is all I'm saying.
Last edited by 4SUMERZ; Nov 3, 2012 at 09:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Eastern
If our vehicles need high octane to prevent knocking, I can relate to that, but some fuel companies make claims that regular cars, that use regular gas, could get better gas mileage by using premium. No tests prove that to be the case.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Saint Albans, WV
There is absoutely no benefit to putting higher octane in a vehicle than is called for from the factory. Cars designed for 87 run best on 87.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: Eastern
The Department of the environment would frown on that 
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Swedesboro New Jersey
Besides higher octane premium fuel is a cleaner fuel as well. It is blended from refinery blend stocks that are much cleaner than 87 octane. For example less metals such as calcium nickle and vanadium.