Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. Use premium
unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher for high power performance,
when towing a trailer or with a high
payload requirement. But when
operating with a light load as
a normal
condition, you may use middle grade or
regular unleaded gasolines.
The gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the U.S.
and CGSB
3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything
to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED” right
on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 91
for premium, 89 for middle grade and
87 for regular.
If the octane is less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If it’s bad enough, it
can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 91 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane
fuel to get rid of it. It’s the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a
problem.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates), such as MTBE or
alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.”
Fuel that
is no more than 15% MTBE is
fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol.
Properly-blended fuel that is no more than
10% ethanol is
fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5%
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
GasoUnes for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit
control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming in your engine
and fuel system. That helps keep your
engine in tune and your emission
control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be
doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with
oxygenates. General Motors
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Sewice & Appearance Care
I
164
recommends that you use gasolines
with these blending materials, such as
MTBE and ethanol. By doing
so, you
can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the country that have
high carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are
now producing reformulated gasolines.
These gasolines are specially designed
to reduce vehicle emissions. General
Motors recommends that you use
reformulated gasoline. By doing
so, you
can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the country that have
high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station
operators if their gasolines contain
deposit control additives and
oxygenates, and if they have been
reformulated to reduce vehicle
emissions.
Fuels in Forei’ Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the
U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find.
Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even
one tankful, your emission controls
won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get
fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All of that means
costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can
also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN)
.
General Motors Overseas Distribution
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Corporation
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Engine Coolant Heater ................ 47. 170
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage
............................................. 85. 88
Engine Identification ........................ 195
Engine Oil
......................................... 168
Additives
........................................ 170
Capacity
.......................................... 199
Checking
& Adding ....................... 168
Disposing of Used
Oil .................... 170
Energy Conserving
......................... 169
Pressure Gage ............................ 84, 86
When to Change
............................. 170
Engine Overheating
.......................... 145
Engine Specifications
....................... 200
Engine, Starting
.................................. 45
Ethanol in Gasoline
.......................... 163
Exhaust Dangerous Gas in
...... 53, 54, 131, 135
Parking with the Engine Running ... 54
Expectant Mothers, Use
of
Safety Belts ....................................... 21
Expressway Driving
.......................... 127
Extender, Safety Belt
.......................... 34
Exterior Appearance Engine Exhaust
............ 53. 54. 131. 135
(see Appearance Care ) ..
Fabric Cleaning
(see
Appearance Care )
Fan Warning ..................................... 142 Filling
the Fuel Tank
........................ 165
Filter
Air Cleaner
............................. 171. 200
Fuel
................................................. 200
Oil
........................................... 170. 200
Flashers. Hazard Warning
................ 140
Flat Tire
............................................. 151
Flooded Engine
................................... 46
Fluid Brake
...................................... 178. 201
Capacities
....................................... 199
Power Steering
....................... 176. 201
Transmission
.................. 174. 201. 203
Windshield Washer
................ 177. 201
Fluids
& Lubricants ......................... 201
Fog Lights
........................................... 63
Folding Rear Seat
............................... 14
Foreign Countries. Fuel In
............... 164
Freeway Driving
............................... 127
Front Axle
......................................... 174
Front Reading Lights
.......................... 68
Fuel ................................................... 163
Alcohol in Fuel ............................... 163
Capacity ................................. 199, 240
Filling Your Tank
........................... 165
Fuels with Alcohol
......................... 163
In Foreign Countries
...................... 164
Requirements
................................. 163
Exhaust Warnings
...... 53, 54,
131, 135
Gage ........................................... 83, 85
Fuse Panel ......................................... 197
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ................. 196
Gages Coolant Temperature
................. 85. 88
Oil Pressure ................................ 84. 86
Voltmeter
................................... 85. 87
Gasoline
............................................ 163
Gasoline Tank. Filling Your ............. 165
Gas Station Information
.................. 240
Gear Positions
Gearshift Lever
Glove Box
........................................... 44
Graphic Equalizer
Fuel
............................................. 83. 85
(see
Shifting the Transmission)
(see Shifting the Transmission)
H
(see Audio Systems )
alogen Bulbs .............................. 181
Hazard Warning Flashers ................. 140
Headlight
& Taillight. Removing
and Replacing
................................. 181
Headlights ........................................... 62
High-Low Beam Changer
................ 62
Instrument Panel Intensity
Control
........................................... 63
“On” Reminder ................................ 62
Harness.
Trailer Wiring
............ 137. 200
235
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