GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Fuel (Premium Required)

The following information appears in the General Motors Owner's Manual for this vehicle.

Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher. At a minimum, the gasoline should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could provide improved driveability and emission control system protection compared to other gasolines.

Verify that the posted octane for premium is at least 91. If the octane is less than 91, you may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. In an emergency, you may be able to use a lower octane -- as low as 87 - if heavy knocking does not occur. If you're using 91 or higher octane unleaded gasoline and you still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.

If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission Standards, as indicated on the underhood tune-up label, your vehicle 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 affected. 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 a qualified service outlet for diagnosis to determine the cause of failure. If the cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadlenyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). Ask your service station operator whether or not this fuel contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT are used, spark plug life may be reduced and your emission control system performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel may turn on. If this occurs, return to a qualified service outlet for service.

To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States are now required to contain additives that will help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system. These actions allow 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 comply with the specifications described earlier.

Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that contains methanol. Do not use methanol fuel which can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts. This kind of damage would not be covered under your warranty.