Sully1882

so now that here in NW Arkansas our 91 /93 octane is almost to $3.00/ gal I am considering running regular unleaded in the vette for a bit instead of having to drive my truck some more. I hate the idea but jeeze the prices of gas are just ridiculous! What do you guys think? Do any of you ever run the 87 or 89 regular unleaded? Pros and cons?

Thanks,

Thomas

Tigershark3

IMHO not worth the risk for the difference in the prices. It's my understanding that timing will compensate to a point for the lower octane but really the savings is small and not really worth the risk. My $.02 anyway.

jimcork1

I expect $4.00 / gal so don't let $3.00 be a shock. Until the US decides to go with "other fuels" $5.00 / gal won't shock me.

There is a really bad road ahead if we don't start using more coal, nuclear, solar. We "the US" has the energy and in the very near future I expect oil prices to force us to use other energy sources. I would gladly drive a Diesel Merecedes to keep my Gas burner Vet on the road.

To answer your question, I won't consider anything other than prem. fuel for the vet unless there is NO prem. Best of luck. 99 Nassau Blue.. Jim

Wah

Consider this. Whatever the gas price is at, the premium is approximately only 20-21 cents/gal higher. It's $2.00-2.10 per 10-gallon fill up. The cost difference is the same whether the price is $3/gal or $30/gal.

Not even worth mulling over.

If you want to save money, change your driving habit. You do know that during coasting the injectors are basically shut down, right ? So, coast a lot This is a rule of thumb. Try using the brakes as little as possible (but don't crash just because you don't want to use the brakes !). Look way, way ahead and plan throttle/brake sequences wisely.

For example, see the light changing to yellow or already red at an intersection a few thousands feet ahead ? Lift the throttle (don't depress the clutch pedal), let it coast. The trick is to avoid using the brakes as much as possible and coast the hell out of the car (watch the rpm near idle, don't lug the car). If you don't have to stop at the light (idling uses fuel too), it's a bonus. With a bit of luck, you don't have to stop (everytime the car starts from a stop it uses more fuel and reduces the life of the clutch by a very tiny portion) and all the way to the light, your injectors are shut down.

Make that a habit and you will see an improvement in gas mileage. There are other specific practices that revolves around that rule of thumb, but practicing coast down is enough for now

doje

I paid $3.49 for super in the San Francisco area yesterday. Also, on the California coast (very secluded area) gas is over $4 rigth now.

jrose7004

The savings isn't great enough to cover the damage you could be doing to your engine.

rws.1

Gas is and will remain cheap from a Corvette perspective...
It is one of very few things I buy other than oils that don't have Corvette tax built in...

Zilla

By going to a lower grade of gas your fuel mileage may drop and you end up paying more in the long run. Just my .02

StuzVette

...I planning on cruising on Super no matter the cost...

...I recommend the same...

mph1972

I remember having to use 91 for the first half of my cross-country road trip after using the 92-93 for so long prior to that and my car had a knock and it just seem to run sluggish for a few months, while I ran 93-94 to get things back to normal. I will just pay the extra dollar or more to keep my NYTMARE running the way it should.

Micah

vettesmith02

Driven that way since the last gas crisis in '79.

However, what gets saved that way generally goes down the injectors during WOT.

Can't be good all the time.

CalHusker

I am still getting great milage even tho it is a bit more per gallon. 27 to 30 mpg. cant complain about that

Vetteman Jack

The local gas stations in my town do not sell premium - the best I can get is 89 octane mid-grade. So, there have been occasions that I have run the 89 octane. So far, I have not noticed any pinging or decrease in gas mileage. If I run across a station with premium, I'll put it in, but otherwise, mid-grade will have to do.

ben dover

I only buy premium if it's available - not that much difference in the cost of a fill-up.

Scuba Ghost

The difference between mid-grade and Vette juice is .10 per gallon. Is it really worth the risk? If you take 15 gallons to gas up you are saving a whole $1.50. Not to sound snobish but if you can afford a Vette the extra dime should not make any difference to your wallet.
Think about it.

killain

My 50th annv. corvette says in the manual that it's OK to run it on 89 octane or 91 if you want top performance.

BlackArrow

I have used 89 several times when I couldn't find any higher grade when on road trips. Here in Nebr. it is hard to find 91 outside of the Omaha-Lincoln area, so I use 90.....I know of one station here that carries 91 here in Kearney. My owner's manual says that 87 is ok to use abeit at a reduced performance level. To tell the truth I can't tell any difference between 90 and the 93 I found in the Chicago area on a road trip.

doje

Whenever I am on a road trip, I carry a couple bottles of octane booster just in case I can't find premium. So far, I have never had to use them.

Yello95

I will pay whatever the price is to continue using premium....premium keeps it cleaner and I get better gas milage...

NSTG8R

although a college student .. i was raised right, nothing but premium.

my fuel costs went from $37 / tank to about $45 / tank .. in a matter of a few weeks.

it's eight bucks id rather be spending elsewheres but thats how the cookie crumbles.