2001 LS V8 on Regular Gas

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wampa1

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Hey hey,

quick question.

Can I run my LS v8 on regular gas? I know it calls for premium, but it's really expensive right now (3.80 a gallon CDN) and I was wondering if I could get away with regular. I mostly drive in the city, with a small ammount of highway for the most part and occasionally (read: when gas isn't too expensive) go for drives down the country-side.

Just wondering what others have experienced when or if they tried it...

Thanks a lot.
 
Yes you can, your engine has a knock sensor that will detect detonation and retard timing to compensate for it.

That being said, it's still a bad idea. THe LS has a high compression engine that really needs high octane, and if the knock sensor goes you risk serious engine damage. You will also get slightly worse mileage on regular. Given the price differential is only about 5%, I don't think it's worth it.

Of course, I'm not the one buying your gas so do what your wallet tells you.
 
Do not do it.

If you do a search on this topic - you find many LS owners that have had issues - everything from minor rough engine to engine warning light.

It is true that the engine does have a knock sensor - but the LS engineers told us that the PCM does not have the adjustably within it's range to deal with regular gas reliably.

The LS runs at LBT (lean best torque) fuel (approximately 12:1 air/fuel ratio, compared to the normal stoichiometric 14.6:1) at wide open throttle (or wide open pedal for 2003+). Spark is normally the minimum of MBT and "borderline" (the spark level at which knock begins occurring). Running closer to MBT when you're borderline limited would mean running higher octane fuel - so the LS recommends 91+ to avoid any issues.
 
From personal experience - Even 89 was HORRIBLE. Took quite a while to get things back to normal.

Stick with 91+.

-Matt
 
Listen to Quik...he has hit the nail on the head. The ECM can only do so much. Furthermore, even if it could avoid detonation, it would be pulling so much timing your mileage and power would seriously suffer...and you end up using more gas...and spending more on fuel. Think about it....the premium is only costing you a couple of bucks more. That's less than one gallon of regular...and you will eat that up in poor performance....and risk damage to the engine. Then you can talk about spending some serious money.
 
Yeah...you're only saving three bucks per fill up (300+ per year) on an LS. Not even enough money to buy a pack of smokes... But the potential for reduced performance and damage could end up costing you a hell of alot more.
 
Hey I thought about running regular, but if you do the math it really isn't that much more. Here where I am it $2.30 reg. vs 2.50 prem.. Ok that's 0.20 more per gallon, so for every 5 gallons thats $1.00 more. When it comes to trying to keep this engine fine tuned I think it's worth the few extra dollars.:)
 
It will run on 87 most of the time, but it will be more prone to hard pinging and maybe even an occasional knock. Hot weather and hills make it worse.

89 seems to run well in my 04 LSV8 with maybe once in a great while a small ping under load.

91 of course is the book safe answer.

The cost differential works out to something like $70 per year(89 vs 91) for me at 15,000 miles commute per year. So it doesn't make a lot of economic sense to do it. I do get better mileage with 89. 87 might even be a tad better, but only in cold weather.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson
 
I believe the gas mileage is better when you use 91+ anyway, that's at least what I read on my Mileage Until Empty.
 
Wow,

I didn't expect such a fast and thorough response... I spose you're right that it isn't that big of a difference...

Right now it's 3.38 a gallon for regular and 3.70 for premium sooooo not a lot of difference...
 
My LS knocked and ran sooo rough onthe 89 octane. I'm always using 91+ now. I'd rather pay the few extra pennies now than risk a thousand for a new engine.
 
I'd rather pay the few extra pennies now than risk a thousand for a new engine.
Click to expand...

It's gonna be a helluva lot more than 10 dollars for a new motor.








And yes I know you meant a thousand dollars not a thousand pennies, but it'll be alot more than that for another one of these motors anyways.
 
no no no no no no no no regular gas????? do a search here...this has been covered a bunch.
 
i agree... i tried regular gas once and my engine pinged and knocked and made all these weird noises... i never went back to regular crap again...
 
wampa1 said:
Wow,

I didn't expect such a fast and thorough response... I spose you're right that it isn't that big of a difference...

Right now it's 3.38 a gallon for regular and 3.70 for premium sooooo not a lot of difference...
Click to expand...

That's an Imperial gallon, right? I sure hope it is!!
 
It's per american gallon (3.75 Litres...) It's almost a dollar a litre in Canada. It works out to around... $3.30 USD a gallon here. Not cheap...
 
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