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East coast cars and mid western fuels

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Old 11-07-2007, 10:50 AM
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killain
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Default East coast cars and mid western fuels

How does a corvette lS-1 engine tolerate the different fuels you need to use as you cross the country? Is the fuel in the midwest vastly different from the Sunoco supreme 93 octane I use here around Phildalphia and what is the fuel like in say California? Do East coast cars run differently on these different blends?
Old 11-07-2007, 11:06 AM
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YELLOHHH
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There is a very good chance that your car won't run west of the Mississippi. You may want to arrange for a rental.
Old 11-07-2007, 11:09 AM
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if your car is stock or has the stock timing/fuel table, it should be able to run on 87 octane without problems. some people say they hear knocking but I never had any issues with it.
Old 11-07-2007, 11:13 AM
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noahdr
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I just finished a road trip from NC out to CO and didn't have any problems. I was kind of worried one time I had to fill up at a gas station and all they had was that new corn oil stuff but it ran just fine even on that so I dont think you'll have any problems.
Old 11-07-2007, 11:14 AM
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Should not be a problem. I've driven up to Maine, CT, MA and all over and never had any problem other than the a$$nine cost for the crap. They have synthetic oil. How's about some synthetic gasoline.
Old 11-07-2007, 11:55 AM
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If your car is stock or not tuned for 93, it will run fine on all grades. The computer will retard timing to compensate which will equate in a small drop in performance. That's what knock sensors are for. As far as stock corvettes go... theres nothing different between the models based on where it was sold.

But to answer your other question, most CA gas stations have 91 and that is likely what you would be running if you drove out here. There are a few scattered places with 93, and a probably rare couple with with higher than that.
Old 11-07-2007, 04:34 PM
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killain
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Originally Posted by DefenderC5
If your car is stock or not tuned for 93, it will run fine on all grades. The computer will retard timing to compensate which will equate in a small drop in performance. That's what knock sensors are for. As far as stock corvettes go... theres nothing different between the models based on where it was sold.

But to answer your other question, most CA gas stations have 91 and that is likely what you would be running if you drove out here. There are a few scattered places with 93, and a probably rare couple with with higher than that.
Thanks a lot, I usually use 91 octane or 93 every third tankful or so. But I was wondering how the will operate on a cross country trip. Thanks!
Old 11-07-2007, 05:23 PM
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99mallett
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Too bad nobody in the Midwest has Corvettes...
I'm thinkin about tradin my tractor in on one, but since all we have around here is inferior gas, maybe I should keep the john deer.

Why would you think that cars on the East coast run differently than anywhere else?


.
Old 11-07-2007, 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 99mallett
Too bad nobody in the Midwest has Corvettes...
I'm thinkin about tradin my tractor in on one, but since all we have around here is inferior gas, maybe I should keep the john deer.

Why would you think that cars on the East coast run differently than anywhere else?


.
Well shiat, I better take the o'l Farmall H down to the barn and drag the '53 Fuelie out......

Seriously though SD has 91 all over, so does every other state, it's all in what you find where. SD for instance has it everywhere because we tend to have a few motorcycles during the summer, and that's all most of them run... (or, tha'ts why a manager of a local get'n go told me once... I think it was "Herb" induced..) A couple stations even have *gasp* 93 octane Shell fuel.. some of it is even deoxyngenated "For collector car and off road vehicles only" gas.. (WTF? Who cares, really)

Anyway, you'll be quite fine I imagine. just avoid the E85 pumps.
Old 11-07-2007, 08:51 PM
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I took a 6000 mile trip earlier this year to California, took a different route there and back, hit most of the states from Ohio to California, and never had a problem. Like somebody else said, the highest octane I could find on the west coast was 91, but she ran just fine. I did take a couple cans of Techron with me, though!
Old 11-08-2007, 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted by noahdr
I just finished a road trip from NC out to CO and didn't have any problems. I was kind of worried one time I had to fill up at a gas station and all they had was that new corn oil stuff but it ran just fine even on that so I dont think you'll have any problems.

Corn Oil? LOL I grew up in Nebraska and we never had corn oil. You must be talking about ethanol which is alcohol made from corn.
Old 11-08-2007, 06:26 AM
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In 04' I took My 01' on a nearly 10K trip to the West coast and back.

I DID notice "pinging" under hard acceleration using the West coast 91 octane fuel.

Here in Central Ohio, I only use 93/94 octane Sunoco, and have never had "pinging" under acceleration.

I don't know what to make of this, but it did happen.
Old 11-08-2007, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by YELLOHHH
There is a very good chance that your car won't run west of the Mississippi. You may want to arrange for a rental.
Man I love your posts
Old 11-08-2007, 08:55 AM
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You'll be fine as long as you wear your cap backwards.
Old 11-08-2007, 09:18 AM
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Your car should run just fine regardless of where you have to buy gas.
Old 11-08-2007, 11:14 AM
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AU N EGL
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Originally Posted by killain
How does a corvette lS-1 engine tolerate the different fuels you need to use as you cross the country? Is the fuel in the midwest vastly different from the Sunoco supreme 93 octane I use here around Phildalphia and what is the fuel like in say California? Do East coast cars run differently on these different blends?
Sunoco 93 is almost like 98-100 octane OTHER brands. YES you will notice a difference when you use other 93 or 91 octane brands. Plus some fuels are 10-15% ETOH

When ever I can get Sunoco 93 on the road I do it. A Sunoco station just opened 4 miles from my house.

Last edited by AU N EGL; 11-08-2007 at 11:16 AM.
Old 11-08-2007, 04:06 PM
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Tyler valo
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Originally Posted by DefenderC5
If your car is stock or not tuned for 93, it will run fine on all grades. The computer will retard timing to compensate which will equate in a small drop in performance. That's what knock sensors are for. As far as stock corvettes go... theres nothing different between the models based on where it was sold.

But to answer your other question, most CA gas stations have 91 and that is likely what you would be running if you drove out here. There are a few scattered places with 93, and a probably rare couple with with higher than that.
It's weird you say that. 99% of all gas stations I've seen in East Tennessee have 87 - 91- 93. I find it so weird when people talk about only running 91.

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Old 11-09-2007, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Tyler valo
It's weird you say that. 99% of all gas stations I've seen in East Tennessee have 87 - 91- 93. I find it so weird when people talk about only running 91.
On the left coast of the People's Republic of Kalifornia, you'll find 91 as the predominately "high grade" here. They are trying to save all of the endangered rats, snowy plovers or some other nonsense. There are still three grades, 87-89-91 I think...

Long tube headers make mother nature cry.... apparently.
Old 11-09-2007, 12:48 PM
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I live in Ca and Co and I hate coming back to Ca because the highest Octane is 91. We have 87-89-91 here. When I am home in Co I get to choose between 85-89-93 which makes more sense to me. It kills me how often I see expensive cars putting 85 octane in their cars, man I could never do it, not even in my Honda.
Old 11-09-2007, 12:51 PM
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There is always VP Racing fuels in CA
http://www.vpracingfuels.com/index2.html
Wildomar, CA
Phone: 951-674-9167
Fax: 951-674-7367
vppacific@vpracingfuels.com

Street Blaze 100
Oxygenated with ethanol, this CARB-legal fuel is specifically engineered for high-performance street cars

• Color: Orange
• Oxygenated: Yes
• Motor Octane: 96
• R+M/2: 100
• Specific Gravity: .746 at 60° F

Last edited by AU N EGL; 11-09-2007 at 12:54 PM.


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