will cheap gas hurt the lt1?
 

hey yall,i have been cheap gas since i bought my 96 like 4 months ago.Today i wass reading my owners manual and they said DONT USE 89 they say use 91 or better. Since i dunno the previous owner used do u think i should start using 91 gas or what.I mean the manual said that if i use the 89 gas it will hurt it is this true?I do have a slight miss bout 1500 to 2000 grand? I'm really im tripping now!:confused:

no..it shouldent...BUT ill let you in on a secret, many of my friend got into a discussion why i always put in premium, well its simple i told them...put it in and record your mileage and compare to cheap gas, my mileage went up so much that it was cheaper to go with premium...now all of my friend changed their minds and they all do it to...document it ad see typically 2-3 miles per gallon or more

so if i put in premium gas ill get better gas mileage kool.GM stated ill accelate better if i go premium. so ill go premium for hear on out if ill get 2 or 3 miles good if my car runs better im really glad. Does ya car run better on premium?

Now my car is coming up on 100k what should i do to the car as far mods go? im about to put bosch plugs in her.I got msd super condutor plug wires on there.Is there anything else i can do to make her last I LOVE MY 96Z!!

I have never been a fan of bosch plugs... stick with ac delcos or ngk's imo.

yea i like to go with NGK plugs too, another cheap mod u can do is a CAI (cold air intake), unless ya already got one. & some nice headers.

i have no mods on my car all stock everybit of 98,237 miles so i wanna keep her runnin its best.so what bout the headers what do yall think i should go with i like the lt headers will they bolt up to my stock exaust?cai which brand is the best. i wass thinkin bout cam swap but scared to blew up her lol!

well you can buy hella sh** on summitracing.com, they're great to buy from. search under your engine, and you'll find headers on there, they will just replace your stock exaust manifold. i like PaceSetters, and stick with the long tubes & ceramic coated. i have a moroso CAI, but K&N is also popular.

>I think that the hi octane fuel will "lower" detonation at higher acceleration demands, but at lower RPMs like highway cruising lower octane shouldn't matter.

it shouldnt hurt the engine but it definitely wont run its best. as far as mods go definitely start with headers. my pacesetter longtubes woke my car up BIG time.

>remember what goes in must come out... cold air induction (CAI) and a good free flowing exhaust (watch your states emissions laws) If you go long tube headers you will most likely have to relocate your catalytic converter(s), but if you go mid length or "shorties" then they just bolt up to either your existing Y-pipe or one with their kit.

As for your low RPM mis well it could be your Optispark if it the original, here are lots of problems with those.
I actually like the Bosch platinum spark plugs, but can't use them with my supercharger.
So new plugs, wires and possibly Opti (expensive) along with oil change and you should be good (tune up helps too)
for starting mods: CAI, headers, catback exhaust.
:cool:

i normally use name brand high octane in my Z and get about 25mpg highway, but one time i got some US GAS or some cheapo gas station in new jersey and i only got 19mpg highway the rest of the trip! i almost got left stranded in the boondocks in maryland because i didnt realize my needle was dropping so fast. lower octane can cause detonation or pinging when the engine is under load, this months issue of HOTROD has a nice article on why you should run whatever octane the manufacturer recommends unless you have a tune specifically for low octane.

Its very easy to get detonation at part throttle, particularly when lugging the engine at low RPM in the wrong gear.

The PCM will recognize the low octane fuel, via the knock sensor, and retard the timing to protect the engine. No damage will be done, but performance will suffer. This is particularly true in the summer when coolant and inlet air temperatures are high, increasing the probability of detonation.

I would just use the premium fuel that the owners manual calls for. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't going to make that much of a difference at the pump, you are only saving a buck or two using the lower octanes versus the premium fuel.

premium gas is like 2.97 a gallon i went to store today and filled her up on premium gas so ill see what is what.as far as header ill like to go mid cause i like to bolt up to my stock exaust tips i like those or i might get some maganaflow or somehting gives me a sound like no other. i got bosch plugs and so msd wires waiting for the weekend to throw them on.my low rpm miss its only up from like 1500 to 2000 so im guessing not a opti cause its only in the range im tellin u bout its revs good no backfiring or anything can it still be opti?

^^^^All true.

I just filled the tank last week with 87 octane and I will probably get around 210. The tank before, after 4 full tanks of 91 ( the best AZ has ) I gradually stepped up from 200 mpt to 250mpt. Not to mention performance sucks. I am a believer now. I will Get 91 forever.

Reason for going to 87 was because in my TPI T/A 87 gave better mileage and power. I got 313mpt with 87. So I figured, why not. I've only owned this 4th gen for 3 months so I think the previous owner gave it 87.