C7 Z06 Discussion General Z06 Corvette Discussion, LT4 Corvette Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Suspension Setup for Street or Track

Fuel additives

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 08:33 PM
  #1  
K6XT's Avatar
K6XT
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
From: Grangeville Idaho
Default Fuel additives

Hello
New to Z06 and forum. Ours is a 2017 coupe auto 7,000 miles on the clock at purchase. I searched without success for my subject so here goes.

Our manual wants us to use 93 octane. There's none of that anywhere near us 200 miles from the nearest freeway. It also says do NOT use MMT additives and a few other chemicals, taking what seems the best of them out of consideration. Never mind the purveyors of MMT additives all say they'll work fine without damage in any gas engine.

Well what's a Z06 driver to do? Is there some experiential consensus here on what to use - if anything - that works and won't damage the Z06?

We're upgraders from a 2006 Z51 Procharged car. Next yr I'll be an octogenarian, plus nowhere near a track, so track days are in the past. Nothing now but fun opportunistic street throttle usage and a good radar detector.

Thanks for any advice and regards
Art & Moe
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 09:05 PM
  #2  
7LitreC5's Avatar
7LitreC5
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
Default

I haven't logged any data on my Z06 yet to look for knock retard but at our altitude here in Colorado, 91 may be adequate.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 09:22 PM
  #3  
Twin_Guns21's Avatar
Twin_Guns21
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 210
Likes: 65
From: Calabasas, CA
Default

91 is adequate. Look into a flex fuel conversion which will give you about 75 WHP and the option to use a blend of pump and ethanol which will allow you to run at around 100 octane.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 09:34 PM
  #4  
JKU007FL's Avatar
JKU007FL
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 474
Likes: 406
From: South Florida
Default

Some people here like BOOSTane but I have no experience with it.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 10:02 PM
  #5  
SladeX's Avatar
SladeX
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 873
Default

boostane is mmt

yes it will work, your spark plugs will gain a small orange tinge. mmt is used in canadian fuels as a fyi and there's no issues there with it on any canadian cars. If you follow the directions, you'll just need to add enough to bring it to 95-96 octane to eliminate most knock. There is a 98 octane tune, but best to use that tune with a good race gas combo rather than guesstimating.

Last edited by SladeX; Oct 20, 2020 at 10:04 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 10:21 PM
  #6  
MMD's Avatar
MMD
Safety Car
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Default

Torco Accelerator:

https://torcousa.com/products/accelerator

also refer to the Blending Document referenced within this link. You only need to boost your octane if you are experiencing engine pinging.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 10:29 PM
  #7  
SonnyAK's Avatar
SonnyAK
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 701
From: Southern Illinois
Default

Sorry, but it sounds like you have to move!
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 10:43 PM
  #8  
Ruderegime's Avatar
Ruderegime
Pro
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 677
Likes: 145
Default

Klotz
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 20, 2020 | 11:55 PM
  #9  
NortonCO's Avatar
NortonCO
Drifting
Veteran: Air Force
All Eyes On Me
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 1,957
From: Colo Spgs, CO
Default

Originally Posted by K6XT
Hello
New to Z06 and forum. Ours is a 2017 coupe auto 7,000 miles on the clock at purchase. I searched without success for my subject so here goes.

Our manual wants us to use 93 octane. There's none of that anywhere near us 200 miles from the nearest freeway. It also says do NOT use MMT additives and a few other chemicals, taking what seems the best of them out of consideration. Never mind the purveyors of MMT additives all say they'll work fine without damage in any gas engine.

Well what's a Z06 driver to do? Is there some experiential consensus here on what to use - if anything - that works and won't damage the Z06?

We're upgraders from a 2006 Z51 Procharged car. Next yr I'll be an octogenarian, plus nowhere near a track, so track days are in the past. Nothing now but fun opportunistic street throttle usage and a good radar detector.

Thanks for any advice and regards
Art & Moe
Higher elevations require lower octane fuel than sea level. You're fine with 91 ocatane over 6K ft elevation like Allison. (I've run 91 in my 800+ RWHP GT500 for the past 8 years with no problem.) On those occasions I visit the track, I make the trip to one of the few places that dispenses 100 octane race gas.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 02:25 AM
  #10  
MontanaBob's Avatar
MontanaBob
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 193
Likes: 76
From: Montana
Default

I have a 2018 ZO6/ZO7 and live in the Rockies as do you. I live at 4,500 feet and frequently drive at 7,000 with no problem. The highest octane available in this area is 91 octane. The closest source of 93 is 200 miles distant.

Here are three quotes from my Owners Manual:

Fuel (LT4 6.2L Supercharged V8 Engine)
Premium Required Fuel

"Use premium 93 octane unleaded gasoline in your vehicle. Unleaded gasoline with a 91 octane rating may be used, but it will reduce performance and fuel economy."

"For the LT4 6.2L supercharged engine, use premium unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM specification D4814 with a posted octane rating of 93. If unavailable, unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 may be used, but with reduced performance and fuel economy. If the octane is less than 91, the engine could be damaged and the repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 93 octane, the engine needs service."


Whatever you do, make sure that use Top Tier fuel! It's available anywhere but not all stations carry it.

Others suggest octane boosters. I have chosen not to use them, the reason being that there reports of its containing manganese which can solidify and cause engine damage. I have also read it can leave an orange residue in the supercharger which could result in GMs invalidating your warranty. I repeat, I have no personal experience with boosters. I just decided that I don't want to take that chance.

The bottom line is that I have experienced no issues with my car in 16,000 miles and have had the car as low as as sea level and as high as 10,000 feet. That said, the car has noticeably higher power on 93 octane. I will also say that I push my car hard and frequently operate at wide open throttle when conditions permit, and I am an octogenarian!

Montana Bob
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 07:09 AM
  #11  
rtv900's Avatar
rtv900
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,038
Likes: 928
From: near philly
Default

nobody designs cars for the US that can't run 91 without damage. Performance may drop but it won't damage it.
If they did that how would they prevent any of the cars ever ending up in California where they outright banned 93 long ago?
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 01:09 PM
  #12  
K6XT's Avatar
K6XT
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
From: Grangeville Idaho
Default

Is retard data something the car records, that owners have access to?
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 01:25 PM
  #13  
7LitreC5's Avatar
7LitreC5
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
Default

It is there but you need a tool and/or software to record it.

As others have said, timing will automatically be retarded so that no harm will come to the engine.

At our altitude (I'm in Colorado as well), the cylinder pressure and boost will be lower than at sea level due to the less dense air here. What this means, is that we can get away with less octane than at sea level. That being said if you want to have your car tuned to run on race gas or E85, there is additional power to be found.

Originally Posted by K6XT
Is retard data something the car records, that owners have access to?
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 02:26 PM
  #14  
MontanaBob's Avatar
MontanaBob
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 193
Likes: 76
From: Montana
Default

Originally Posted by 7LitreC5
. . . Is that we can get away with less octane than at sea level.
7LiterC5,

According to what I have been told by the owner of the local service station, where I trade, you are absolutely correct. I asked him whether he could get 93 octane. He said "No", and explained that, at higher elevations, higher octane is not required to prevent knock, so his supplier, Sinclair, doesn't bring it in to our area. I would assume that other brands would respond in kind.

My guess is that one of the requirements of being a Top Tier seller, is that their octane ratings must be accurate, something the off-brand dealers must not be able to guarantee. That is why it is so important to stick with Top Tier dealers.

Montana Bob
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 02:59 PM
  #15  
K6XT's Avatar
K6XT
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
From: Grangeville Idaho
Default

Originally Posted by 7LitreC5
It is there but you need a tool and/or software to record it.

As others have said, timing will automatically be retarded so that no harm will come to the engine.

At our altitude (I'm in Colorado as well), the cylinder pressure and boost will be lower than at sea level due to the less dense air here. What this means, is that we can get away with less octane than at sea level. That being said if you want to have your car tuned to run on race gas or E85, there is additional power to be found.
OK I have a OBD2 tool must be in there. I'll go look
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:01 PM
  #16  
K6XT's Avatar
K6XT
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
From: Grangeville Idaho
Default

Originally Posted by MontanaBob
7LiterC5,

According to what I have been told by the owner of the local service station, where I trade, you are absolutely correct. I asked him whether he could get 93 octane. He said "No", and explained that, at higher elevations, higher octane is not required to prevent knock, so his supplier, Sinclair, doesn't bring it in to our area. I would assume that other brands would respond in kind.

My guess is that one of the requirements of being a Top Tier seller, is that their octane ratings must be accurate, something the off-brand dealers must not be able to guarantee. That is why it is so important to stick with Top Tier dealers.

Montana Bob
A couple weeks ago having read about Top Tier in my C7 manual I found their website which explains in detail what it means to be Top Tier certified. Fortunately we have a couple of rated stations locally- but like in MT no 93.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:20 PM
  #17  
lordofwar's Avatar
lordofwar
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,555
Likes: 637
Default

Originally Posted by K6XT
Hello
New to Z06 and forum. Ours is a 2017 coupe auto 7,000 miles on the clock at purchase. I searched without success for my subject so here goes.

Our manual wants us to use 93 octane. There's none of that anywhere near us 200 miles from the nearest freeway. It also says do NOT use MMT additives and a few other chemicals, taking what seems the best of them out of consideration. Never mind the purveyors of MMT additives all say they'll work fine without damage in any gas engine.

Well what's a Z06 driver to do? Is there some experiential consensus here on what to use - if anything - that works and won't damage the Z06?

We're upgraders from a 2006 Z51 Procharged car. Next yr I'll be an octogenarian, plus nowhere near a track, so track days are in the past. Nothing now but fun opportunistic street throttle usage and a good radar detector.

Thanks for any advice and regards
Art & Moe
Klotz additive.no mmt
https://www.amazon.com/Klotz-Higher-Octane-Booster-Gallon/dp/B008YEHRUK

Last edited by lordofwar; Oct 21, 2020 at 03:22 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Fuel additives

Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:29 PM
  #18  
SladeX's Avatar
SladeX
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 873
Default

Mmt was widely used until mid 90s as an octane boost and stabilizer until the epa got concerned it may have an effect on emissioms equipment. They outright restricted its use and coincidentally pushed ethanol at same time to be blended.

As stated mmt is used in other parts of the world with no ill effects and a ton of canadian z06 and zr1 owners who use it because it is in all canadian fuel. You never hear of any canadian mmt related z06 failures, and aside from the more orange tinted spark plugs, no harm.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 03:59 PM
  #19  
NortonCO's Avatar
NortonCO
Drifting
Veteran: Air Force
All Eyes On Me
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 1,957
From: Colo Spgs, CO
Default

Originally Posted by MontanaBob
My guess is that one of the requirements of being a Top Tier seller, is that their octane ratings must be accurate...
TOP TIER is a fuel standard, unrelated to octane requirements/ratings, written by auto manufacturers to assist in keeping engines cleaner.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2020 | 04:25 PM
  #20  
solotronics's Avatar
solotronics
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 196
Likes: 60
From: Texas
Default

A barrel of toluene and mix in 1:3 with pump. Toluene is already a component in pump gas mixtures and it's the primary thing in Sunoco 260 and other high octane race gas. You can look up the msds sheets for different race gas to see what's in them, many are toluene/xylene and isooctane.https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/SUNOCO-260-GT-Plus-_US-SDS_05Jan2017.pdf

http://www.serioussolutions.com/evo/octcalc.htm



Last edited by solotronics; Oct 21, 2020 at 04:33 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:41 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE