You can be injured and your vepicle could be
damaged
if‘ you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient .knowledge,
experience,
and the proper replacement
parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sare to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. %nglishs’ and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confhsed.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break ‘
or fall off. You could be hurt. ,.
Fuel .. b ’ .’. ‘ _. . .. ,. --
-The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number .. I
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You ,will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number”
m the Index.)
’Y i,
If you don’t have the 3.8L supercharged Code 1 engine,
use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
If you have the 3.8L supercharged, Code 1 ehgine, use
premium unleaded gasoline rated at 9 1 octane or higher.
At a
minimum, the gasoline you use should meet
specifications
ASTM I34814 in the United States
and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Can& Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and ehgine protection.
Gasolims meeting the AAMA specification could
provide
improved driveability and emission control
system protkction compared to other gasolines.
Be sure
the posted octane for premium is at least 91
(at least 89 for middle grade and 87 for regular), I€ 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 have the 3.8L supercharged Code 1 engine, in an
emergency, you may be able to use a lower octane -- as
low as 87 -- if heavy knocking does not occur. If you
are using 91 or higher octane unleaded gasoline and you
still hear heavy knocking, YQW engine needs service.
/
ProCarManuals.com
If you’re using fuel rated at the recommended octane or
higher and you stiil 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 pinging. It’s the heavy, constant
knock that means you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up ’label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be eected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or-your vehicle may fail a smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure.
In the event it is determined that the
cause
of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called MMT.
If you use such fuels, your
, emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on.
If this happens, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything
to the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if
they mcomply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. 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.
ProCarManuals.com
