Hello All,

Well, I'm the proud owner of an '09 LT. Silver and real basic (for now )

Anyway, looking at the owner's manual, .....and trust me I read this five times just to be sure......., it said that 87 octane is fine for the 2.4L, but that the 2.2L and 2.0L should use premium (!)

This is opposite of what has been discussed here and a bunch of other places that the 2.4L should run premium and that the 2.2L is fine with regular.

Anyone else notice this in the manual???

 

The manual has a typo. The 2.4 produces full power with premium fuel. God Bless, Marc

 

This copied out of the 09 Manual

Gasoline Octane
If the vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine (VIN Code B), use
regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, you
might notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
If the vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code V) or
the 2.0L L4 engine (VIN Code X), use premium unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher.
You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but the vehicle’s acceleration could
be slightly reduced, and you might notice a slight audible
knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock.
If the octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, the engine needs service.

 

OK....well, just looked again and my 2009 manual has the same paragraph, but the 2.2L and the 2.4L notations are switched. I'll go ahead and fill 'er up with regular then :)

 

I use the midgrade myself and then every now and then when I have some extra funds fill out with premium. This way, the midgrade gives me close to the power of premium and the fuel range of regular unleaded.

This is of course my opinion so to each his own. What I mean is that I notice the difference in Blue but some may not notice a difference at all in their own HHRs.

Just my 2 cents!

Blue

 

I have a 2.0 and usually fill with premium and accidentally put 87 in yesterday and I almost got nailed making a left hand turn due to poorer acceleration.

 

In my 2.2 LE8 i do notice a difference between 87, 89, and 91

I use a half tank of 87 every day, and fill up with a full tank of 91 every 2 weeks, which i run as dry as possible. The local service dept suggested this to help keep the injectors clean, as well as running a bottle of techron in it once a month due to the miles i put on her.

Theres definitely a difference in power between the three grades, if I didnt use as much fuel as I do, I would run 89 or 91 all the time, but the costs add up.

 

Glad i read this post...guess I'll have to start fillin it up with 91

 

I couldn't believe it! Just went out and grabbed the manual... I find it hard to believe that they didn't put "premium recommended" in the gas cap or on the dash somewhere. At least it isn't required, so if you haven't been, it ain't hurtin nothin.

 

Online 2009 manual reads the same as what an08HHR posted.