GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

DIESEL COLD WEATHER FUEL RECOMMENDATION

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH A GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. ACCORDINGLY, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SETS FORTH, IN GREAT DETAIL, THE TYPES OF DIESEL FUEL RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH LIGHT-DUTY DIESEL ENGINES. GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION IS TO USE NO. 2-D DIESEL FUEL WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 20 FAHRENHEIT. FOR TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 FAHRENHEIT, EITHER A NO. 1-D OR A BLEND OF NO. 2-D AND NO. 1-D DIESEL FUEL SHOULD BE USED. THE BLEND OF NO. 1-D AND NO. 2-D DIESEL FUEL IS MARKETED UNDER SEVERAL NAMES SUCH AS "WINTERIZED", "CLIMATIZED", "BLENDED", ETC. GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA MAKES THIS RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE, AT CERTAIN LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, PARAFFIN WAX FLAKES CAN FORM IN NO. 2-D DIESEL FUEL. THESE WAX FLAKES COULD RESTRICT THE FUEL FILTERS AND MAY PREVENT ENGINES FROM OPERATING PROPERLY. SUDDEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS, AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL LOCAL SHORTAGES OF RECOMMENDED DIESEL FUEL, COULD CAUSE ANY DIESEL-EQUIPPED VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE TEMPORARY OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES. TO SOLVE THE RELATED ENGINE OPERATION DIFFICULTIES IN THOSE SITUATIONS, IT HAS BEEN THE WIDELY ACCEPTED PRACTICE FOR MANY YEARS TO BLEND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF UNLEADED GASOLINE WITH DIESEL FUEL. MANY DEALERS AND OWNERS MAY BE AWARE OF THIS LONG-STANDING PRACTICE. HOWEVER, DUE TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THOSE IN THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY, GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDING GASOLINE BLENDING WITH DIESEL FUEL.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.