87 octane in vette?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,520
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From: Hampshire, IL
87 octane in vette?
Hi guys Can I put 87 octane in a c6 without any damage? I get free gas at my work. Will the c6 run with a hp drop? Will it do anything else? It seems that the Cal. people add Torco to raise the octane. Is there any other product that will really raise the octane to workable rate?
I'm so confused HHHelp !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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Originally Posted by jesse12804
c6 can run on either regular or hi-test.hi-test recommended not required.Yes,it'll run less powerful,but it'll run.
EPA requires all cars sold in the USA be capable of running 87 octane. There will be people who will state emphatically you can't do it, EPA says otherwise. As stated above, a slight HP loss at peak, but you won't see a significant drop in MPG, especially on the highway. My daughter runs 87 octane in her C5 and gets ~25 MPG in combined city/highway driving. Before an autocross, she runs the tank down low and fills up with 93 octane for those last few HP. Beware of any additives for anything, if GM thought additives were necessary to enhancing the life of the car, they would have specified them. However, if it makes you "feel" better, spend away...the best that can happen is you waste money, the worst is wasting money and messing up your car.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by glass slipper
Before an autocross, she runs the tank down low and fills up with 93 octane for those last few HP.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Nulltime
Hmm here's my thought. Do it and put an octane booster in or mix in a bit of the 100 octane stuff. Instead of running $40 a tank you'll end up running $10 at most? and keep most of your performance.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Hagerstown MD
Originally Posted by glass slipper
EPA requires all cars sold in the USA be capable of running 87 octane. There will be people who will state emphatically you can't do it, EPA says otherwise. As stated above, a slight HP loss at peak, but you won't see a significant drop in MPG, especially on the highway. My daughter runs 87 octane in her C5 and gets ~25 MPG in combined city/highway driving. Before an autocross, she runs the tank down low and fills up with 93 octane for those last few HP. Beware of any additives for anything, if GM thought additives were necessary to enhancing the life of the car, they would have specified them. However, if it makes you "feel" better, spend away...the best that can happen is you waste money, the worst is wasting money and messing up your car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: www.shockerracing.com
I saw a video somewhere that was an interview with Dave Hill and they asked him about running 87 octane and he said that you could run 87 octane but why not get your full performance out of your Corvette? If I am not mistaken a vette has an 18 gallon tank. $.20 difference in price from 87-93 octane fuel. 18x.20= $3.60 more per fill up seems worth the extra few dollars to me.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by ShockerRacing
I saw a video somewhere that was an interview with Dave Hill and they asked him about running 87 octane and he said that you could run 87 octane but why not get your full performance out of your Corvette? If I am not mistaken a vette has an 18 gallon tank. $.20 difference in price from 87-93 octane fuel. 18x.20= $3.60 more per fill up seems worth the extra few dollars to me.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,524
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From: Arizona
Originally Posted by radstoy
I run 89 octane routinely. Did a baseline dyno pull and put 340 hp on the pavement. Runs well on middle grade. 
But, there might be that much difference in HP naturally between individual cars.
There also will be variations in measurements between individual dynos, and daily variations of temp and humidity, that could easily bury the octane HP delta.
Guest
Posts: n/a
All OBDII GM V8's have a knock sensor (or two) and will retard timing well before any harm is done to the motor. There are even high and low octane timing maps in the ecu to compensate for whatever fuel you put in your car. So yes, you can run 87 octane but there will be less power output.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
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I've ran maybe two tanks of 87 in my LS1 since new. Right off the showroom floor it was filled with 87 I was told and it pinged too much for my liking on the 300 mile trip home. Now with my 10.7-1 heads the 87 I accidentally put in the tank made the engine sound like marbles in a can at all throttle speeds. Hence 93 for me. Prices be damned! 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,520
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From: Hampshire, IL
I think it helps
Thanx guys. It seems as if I get free gas of 87-89 octane, I can add some high test & bring it up or leave it alone to see what happens. The responses were helpful. Does the c6 manual state any required # or just a premium gas? I am going to order a c6 the last day of the year. People tell me that it is the best time to work a deal. 
OZ
OZ
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,923
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From: California
So True
In the owner's manual it clearly states that 87 is Ok but 91-93 is recomended. I owned a couple of Benzes and it clearly says "premium unleaded only". At one point I put 87 and the car pinged like crazy. So never again. About EPA stating that all cars should be able to run 87... hmm..... I dont think so. Those guys need an update.