Octane

[Patrick]

I'm sure this question has been asked before, so please bear with me while I ask it again: what is the best octane rating to look for in gas for my Z06's engine? Since purchasing her, I've been giving her 91-octane (the highest octane you can purchase in Colorado, believe it or not.) Should I continue with that? Go lower? Or move somewhere with 93 octane for sale?

-Patrick

 

[DRTH VTR]

I believe that 93 octane is recommended. However, it will run on regular gas. When the knock sensors detect detonation, the timing is retarded to decrease knock. This results in decreased power and performance. That may be oversiplified, but mostly correct. The Z06 will run on lower grades of gas, but with decreased performance. In my area, Sinclair is the only pump gas with a 93 octane rating. Chevron and the others are 91.

 

[94C4]

91 octane at all high altitude stations. It should work fine. The 93 is only needed at lower elevations.

 

[JHL]

Move over here to the Czech Republic, the Shell station round the corner from my hotel sells 99+ gas and I saw it in a lot of stations as I drove through Germany. I don`t know if the octane rating in Europe is the same as the US ???



J.

 

[Patrick]

Move over here to the Czech Republic, the Shell station round the corner from my hotel sells 99+ gas and I saw it in a lot of stations as I drove through Germany. I don`t know if the octane rating in Europe is the same as the US ???



J.

Hmm... good question: is there a difference between how the US and Europe calculate Octane Ratings? Somebody around here is bound to know that.

For now, I'll keep dealing with the outrageous price of 91-Octane go-juice for my baby. I should relate this story, though. In 1993, when I was working in California, I had occasion to take a vacation in San Diego. On a lark, during this vacation, I rented a Vette for a few days. (Don't knock it- it's where I developed my desire to own a Corvette.) At any rate, when I went down to take delivery of the rental, the service guy told me when it came to refueling, his advice was to use the 91 octance (even at sea level) as the 93 was a little rich for the Vette engine.

I have no idea if this advice is correct (since I was renting, I obviously followed it), but since purchasing my own Vette, the philosophy I've employed is the best fuel available is what I should purchase.

Any different views on this?

-Patrick

 

[Edmond]

What would happen if you put that really high octane gas in it? I've seen it at Gas City and it's like $5.00 a gallon.

 

[80vette_ca]

but since purchasing my own Vette, the philosophy I've employed is the best fuel available is what I should purchase.

Any different views on this?

-Patrick

I have taken the same stance, maybe we are crazy for wasting money on needless octane ratings but to tell you the truth it makes me feel better when I put higher octane in any car...Where I’m from some of the gas companies are promoting gasoline blended with ethanol, any thoughts on that, I hear that it supposed to act like an octane booster and also run cleaner but I’m spectacle as I don't like adding weird chemicals into my engine. Oh by the way the highest i can buy at the pumps is 92 at most of the Shells..

 

[BlackZ28Turbo]

What would happen if you put that really high octane gas in it? I've seen it at Gas City and it's like $5.00 a gallon.

I believe the benefit to the higher octane fuel is to reduce the chances of detonation when making more power. When I turbocharged my Camaro it was recommended that I run a 93/104 mix when running the car pretty hard. When I cranked up the boost I usually ran all 104. When I was just cruising the car she ran just fine on 91 or 93 octane.

And yes it was $4.75 a gallon and the car got about 8 miles to the gallon. Kind of an expensive ride.

I've been told the alcohol injection kit is another way to reduce detonation without paying the higher costs for fuel.

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Octane is simply the resistance to burning.
European formulations are much different, man I wish we had their fuel here.
The fact is that 91 or better is what is recommended for Corvette, LS1 or LS6. This is in your owners manual.
Remember, you only need what is specified by your owners manual. Any more is simply a waste of money. Fuel formulations are dictated by the EPA, and must perform certain functions to be sold.
Additives and ethanol, MTBE, and others are only there to reduce emissions, and provide no performance improvements. Ethanol, will actually reduce your mileage per gallon.
As a sidebar, the higher octane you use, the more carbon you will deposit in your combustion chamber. This will also lead to spark knock.
This is why 12345515 or Chevron Techron is a recommended fuel systems cleaner, because it will reduce carbon buildup within your engine, and keep spark knock down.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Patrick]

As a sidebar, the higher octane you use, the more carbon you will deposit in your combustion chamber. This will also lead to spark knock.
This is why 12345515 or Chevron Techron is a recommended fuel systems cleaner, because it will reduce carbon buildup within your engine, and keep spark knock down.
Allthebest, c4c5

Thanks, C4C5!
I'll have to look for the 12345515 label, as we don't have Chevron here.

-Patrick

 

[DRTH VTR]

Thanks, C4C5!
I'll have to look for the 12345515 label, as we don't have Chevron here.

-Patrick

I think that is a GM item number, available from GM outlets.