• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

87 octane in an 02 ZO6...

ZO6Vettever

ZO6Vettever

"Bad Booger" 02 Black ZO6
Howdy gang, haven't been here for a while but I just got to shout this out. Took a road trip from Fl. to Pa. and ran 87 octane. No problem, 1000 RPM, 6th gear, floored it and pull, pull, pull. No ping, absoulty no noticeable differance in performance. Gas mileage, 29.3 MPG. I've been feeding "Bad Booger" high test for 6 years and he's drinkin' the cheap stuff (like me) from now on.
 
Yeah, you can run 87, but you'll eventually get the ping, then all hell breaks loose. You know, I don't know if you can even hear it in a modern car. I'll keep feeding mine the good stuff. 120,000+ miles and ticking...and I'd like to keep it that way. :lmao:
 
The std LS 1 engine can run 87 and if I'm not mistaken it's spelled out in the owners manual.

I run 89 in my LS3 and the computer adjusts to the octane in most cases.
 
shakedown067 said:
Yeah, you can run 87, but you'll eventually get the ping, then all hell breaks loose. You know, I don't know if you can even hear it in a modern car. I'll keep feeding mine the good stuff. 120,000+ miles and ticking...and I'd like to keep it that way. :lmao:
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I agree. I run only Chevron, Texaco or Shell and have 155k with no issues. I figure that saving $2/$4 a tank isn't worth it to me. Shoot, that's the price of an Egg McMuffin and a coffee.
 
I'm not sure you would hear pinging unless it is already a severe problem. These engines have knock sensors on them that will pull timing if pinging is detected. Power and fuel economy will normally be sacrificed by retarding the timing. So although you may not hear pinging while using lower octane gasoline, you really may not be doing you nor your engine any favors using it.
 
Is there any truth to it? Or is it just a way of marketing for the oil comanies to sell you the same product under two different labels and pay more for the exact same product?
 
Here's a link to what Tier 1 fuel is about and who provides it. It's been around since 1997.
http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html

Back in the day I would top off my chevy with Sunoco 260 when pulling in the the St. Pete Drag Strip, did it make a difference. I thought it did. I do know that at 25k mile my fuel gage became erratic and slugish. I switched to the Top Tier fuel based on a recommendation of a member on a dirrerent formum and have never had an issure since.
 
Z06 Rocket said:
Is there any truth to it? Or is it just a way of marketing for the oil comanies to sell you the same product under two different labels and pay more for the exact same product?
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I often wonder what are the chances that the guys driving the tankers put the gasoline into the wrong tanks when they deliver at the stations. Or in some cases regular gasoline is deliberately put into the high test tank so the station owner makes more profit.
 
Rich Z said:
I often wonder what are the chances that the guys driving the tankers put the gasoline into the wrong tanks when they deliver at the stations. Or in some cases regular gasoline is deliberately put into the high test tank so the station owner makes more profit.
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I would bet it happens A LOT more than anyone will admit........ (wink wink nod nod) .... I took care of you Mr gas station owner......
 
Rich Z said:
I often wonder what are the chances that the guys driving the tankers put the gasoline into the wrong tanks when they deliver at the stations. Or in some cases regular gasoline is deliberately put into the high test tank so the station owner makes more profit.
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You know, I've never thought of that one. I have a few people I can ask and will get back to you. I would hope there would be severe penalties if caught though.
 
If I remember the pumps are calibrated and tested on a regular basis by the department of Agriculture or third party. I am not sure of the frequency but I am sure in that heavily regulated industy they don't let something like that happen especially the gas tax rate is in the 13-15% range. I am sure the govt. does not let anyone mess with their money.
 
mickeystoysz16 said:
If I remember the pumps are calibrated and tested on a regular basis by the department of Agriculture or third party. I am not sure of the frequency but I am sure in that heavily regulated industy they don't let something like that happen especially the gas tax rate is in the 13-15% range. I am sure the govt. does not let anyone mess with their money.
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But do they actually test the octane rating of the gasoline that comes from each pump during the calibration? From what I understand, the pumps are tested to make certain that 1 gallon registered actually delivers 1 gallon and the price per gallon is accurately reflected in the total amount shown.
 
I believe that Florida does have inspectors that do spot checks on retailers to ensure that they are pumping premium as advertised. I don't know what penalties they face if they are caught dispensing regular grade from a premium pump and I'm sure that there aren't too many of these state inspectors on the job.

I've been alternating fillups with regular/premium and adding some Lucas lubricant at each fill up. When I bought my "05" with just under 30K miles, the original owner told me he always ran regular in it.

It may be mental, but I think the engine has smoothed out a bit since I've been using the Lucas. I don't let the tank get below 1/2, and I have yet to take a trip. I'm certainly not a fan of ethanol for my cars or my Yamaha outboard.:thumbsdown:

What kind of additives are you guys using, if any?
 
I only use octane boost before an autocross, and twice a year I use seafoam, 1/2 in the tank, and 1/2 I slowly ingest through the brake booster to clean the injectors and such. The vette (120K+) and truck (220k+) run like a top! I try to use only shell and chevron fuels. They have enough additives already.
 
:iagree: on the seafoam. I used to have a '72 chevy pickup with a smallblock 350 and Qjet carb. Every year I put a can of seafoam throught the system.

I have never used it on the vette or Silverado though but from what I understand the Seafoam product is supposed to clean out all of the deposits on the valves and pistions that could heat up and cause detonation which is also the reason for the higher octance fuels.
 
The knock sensors level will default to the low octaine tables. You should never here the "ping" as the knock sensors detect and the PCM puls timing faster than we can here it.

If you have been running for any amount of time with the oil ingestion into the intake air charge the amount of carbon buildup on the valve tulips and the piston tops/combustion chamber the PCM will be defaulted to the low octaine tables anyway.
 
Is there any relatively easy way to tell whether the PCM is using the low octane tables?
 
Well, I drive "Bad Booger" (firstCorvette was "Booger" this one's "Bad") about 3000-4000 miles a year. At 19 MPG average, preminum will not break the bank. In fact it's about fifty bucks a year so I'm back to the good "Bad Booger Juice". Interesting that it really seemed to not know the differance. I'm a 64 year broke SS dissability income guy. Obama is trying to make things worse. If Booger blew up I couldn't replace him so he drinks the good stuff and I'll drink the cheap whiskey. Thanks for all the insight and I may be old but can still do the stop light drags. God, I love that car!:thumbsup:
 
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