i always use 91 but once I tried some 93 and didn't notice any difference. i'll never go lower than 89 but will probably always use 91

 

I have only run 91 octane in my car.

 

Have you ever seen a bottle of kitchen cleanser that has "fatal if swollowed" written on the label? Ever test that to be sure they aren't lying? Of course not.

The owners manual says 91+ gives the best performance. Most 10 second or faster guys at the track will tell you 91+ gives the best performance. Most people here at ls1tech will tell you that 91+ gives you the best performance.

An ls1tech moderator even agrees:

The only funny thing I see here are people actually using 87 octane and trying to talk other people into doing the same

 

I am not trying to talk anyone into using 87. I haven't gotten that idea from reading here - however, the reverse is true. Those running premium have actually said - "only use premium".

I think it comes down to what you do with your car. I have owned my 2000 for a little more than a month. I have yet to do a WOT run. The wet, cold, and potentially icy conditions just have not allowed that. Also, it's just not how I drive any more. Furthermore, I do not go to the track.

Does the pedal ever see the floorboard? Sure - but it's the exception, not the norm. There are a lot of people (not all) saying I am hurting my engine by using 87 - what do you think you are doing to all the components in the car in addition to the engine by running that hard so frequently?

I am not a techie - I have never torn down a motor. However, I can hold my own on technical issues and repairs. I also agree with some here who have said - let the numbers decide - everyone here has an opinion, and without hard data or numbers - opinions are what are being expressed.

If you want to run premium you are abiding by GM's recomendation - period. But if you are not driving the car like you stole it - I don't see where any data (including GM's verbiage in the owners manual) suggests there is a problem with 87.

We need to make informed decisions on everything we do and buy in life. Buying what a manufacturer says is the "best" - because it costs more does not always mean it's true. Wouldn't you agree?

 

HAHAHAHA. I feel the same way. Use bp premium, it's the best fuel out there (besdies racing fuel)

BTW ever look on a corvette dashboard, on my dads 04 it says right next to the needle "premium fuel only" it has the ls1...

All edits performed at once:

Edit: I thought this was hilarous... "And what's classified as normal? Driving like grandma and grandpa? There are times when driving fast is appropriate. Going to the track is one. It'll be great when you're running 14's @100mph pinging all the way down the track on 87 octane."

Edit 2: I don't care what anybody else uses nor am I trying to persuaid anybody on using 91+. I know for a fact that BP refines petrolium differently than other manufactures and it burns cleaner and better. I burn it not only because of the fuel additives that help keep my motor clean, but because it is better for the enviroment, for whatever that is worth. Some people burn 87, go for it, it wasn't designed for it, but it will work. My opinion is that it's stupid to buy a camaro and cop out on premo gas, it is a legendary performace car correct?

Edit 3: Why in the f*k am I only getting 12mpg. I just bought my 00 SS and put in bp premo both times, it's been 387 miles and i've had to fill it up twice already. It's stock under the hood except for a k&n filter, is it tuned? It's not leaking anything. Also it's my first manual car, so i'm driving it like a big vag. Shouldn't it be getting better gas mileage?

 

Isn't the compression ratio higher on this motor for the vette?

Isn't it 9.5:1 for the Camaro and 10.1:1 for the LS1 in the vette?

That doesn't come free.

 

No.


It's 10.1:1 in any LS1. Doesn't matter if it's a Camaro, Corvette, or Firebird.

 

The reverse is not true. People here, including myself, are saying "we" would only use premium gas in "our" cars.

How you drive your car is your business. Personally if I just wanted an fbody for the looks and never cared about performance then I would have just gotten a V6. They were meant to use 87 octane, are more affordable to buy and are usually cheaper to insure.

But that's just me.

These motors are built to hold up well. You're not hurting your motor with 87 octane but it will affect performance. I basically live at the track and have seen time and time again how well these motors hold up. I worry more about the transmission and rearend then I ever would the engine. At least for power levels below 500 rwhp.

The track numbers are what decide it for me. I'll take performance over saving liteally a few dollars any day of the week and twice and test-n-tune Sunday.

I don't think there is a problem. But most people here at ls1tech want performance, mod our cars and are willing to spend a few extra bucks for the good stuff (93 octane for me).

This is not a case of GM "lying" to us. And if you think it is then get a hold of the people at myth busters and see if you can get them to prove us all wrong.

Until then I will continue to stand with the vast majority and use 93 octane in my car. It costs what about $4 more per tank to use premium? You can't even get a pack of smokes for that anymore

I think cigarettes are around $5 a pack here. Makes me glad I quit smoking six years ago

 

It cost me about $3 more than regular per tank. And everyone criticizes me for "waisting" my money on premium.

 

i had a 93Z back when i was in highschool and i would use the cheapest 87 i could find... brand didnt matter. I ended up having to change the fuel pump and using the fuel cleaners for the injectors.

It could have been coincidence... but ever since i got my 99Z, ive never put anything less then 91. Just because i ended up spending 400+ to fix it myself.

 

I can't beleive this isn't locked yet, whoever drives an LS1 and puts 87 in it should be pistol whipped! Why buy a performance car and put **** gas in it? Its like putting a turbo kit on your car and running it with the wastegate wide open so it won't build boost. Or disconnecting a spark plug or two or whatever the retarded case may be Absolutely stupid, IMO if you run 87 in a LS1 you should You are being a cheap bastard not spending the extra few bucks a tank or you shouldn't own a LS1 b/c you can't afford to even put the right gas in.

 

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I do like the looks of the F-bodies. After losing my '96 - I couldn't even come up with another car I would want (used anyway). But as someone pointed out earlier - the point for filling up with premium is having the performance available when needed - not pounding the hell out of it all the time. That is the reason I like having this particular motor.

...and that's cool. That's your purpose - its what you do and what you enjoy. For me it's a daily driver that has some fun on tap.

Back in the day, premium used to have a higher detergent content - that's not the case anymore.

My father-in-law used to sell gasoline. He used to buy fuel weekly from whoever had the best deal - Exxon, Shell, Citgo, etc.. Of course there are exceptions to everything, but octane aside - don't be so sure you are getting anything better based upon the name.

No reason for name calling. I'm playing devil's advocate here. Opinions and open minds are how ideas are concieved.

 

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I could quote a ton more but I think you get the point.

Believe it or not there are people who don't "pound the hell" out of thier cars and still use premium. Most people here in this thread use premium. Most people registered here as ls1tech use premium. The GM owners manual recommends the use of premium.

There has to be a reason for that.

My car wasn't always a weekend toy. I had to daily drive my Formula for two years. That's two years in Chicago seeing rain, snow, ect. Even then I used premium gas. For many of us it's just not worth saving the extra 3-4 bucks.

If the idea is to put 87 octane in my gas tank then that's one idea I would rather see aborted then conceived

 

^^^what he said^^^

 

I deeply apologize for creating this thread lol

 

I've been an LS1 owner (actually, now a 4-time LS1 owner) since 1999. I have never used anything but 93 octane in any of them. My '00 Trans Am was raced often, and modded somewhat heavily. But my other 3 LS1s have just been weekend cruisers, and they only see WOT action once in a while. Granted, I drive them a little harder than my DD, but 90% of the time it's just cruising.

No worries. This one has more than run it's course.

 

We are truly in the newbie tech forum if people are actually recommending 87 octane.

Psssst...guys...that sound of marbles rolling around in a coffee can...that's spark knock. Run some decent gas for God's sake.