I use my SS for business, so I always fill the tank in New Jersey while working there. I always use premium fuel, since I have the GM Turbo Upgrade kit. Since the gas prices have risen I had been using bargain fuel. I was still using premium, but purchasing from the cheaper, "no name" stations.

Over the last couple of seasons, I've been taking weekly trips between the Hudson River Valley of NY State and the Adirondack Mountains in NY State (about 180mi each way). On each and every trip, I would log a series of misfire trouble codes. Not isolated to 1 cylinder either. It consistently logged PD300, PD301, PD302, PD303 and PD304. This represented a "pending" general misfire, then a pending misfire on each cyl. There was no loss of performance. I didn't feel a thing. Just the check engine light would illuminate. I did a lot of research, but nothing was consistent with the logging all 5 of these codes once on each trip. Some research pointed to injectors, but only 1 or 2 codes would point to this; other research pointed to coils, but again on 1 or maybe 2 cyls. But with 4 cyls each and every time, how could this be?

My son has a Cobalt and hits their forums regularly. Some of the Cobalt LNF owners reported the same 5 codes when using less than trustworthy fuel, often citing contents of water "blips" or lower than published octane ratings. He asked about what company I purchased fuel from. I told him that it is always premium, but none of the major suppliers. He suggested that I spend an extra buck per tank and try one of the major suppliers.

I started with a 1/4 tank and filled with Sunoco Ultra 93. I went on the first trip to the Adirondacks last month and for the first time since spring, had no misfire codes. I just completed my 4th trip to the Adirondacks, now consistently using either Sunoco Ultra 93 or Shell V-Power 93. I use these particular brands because they are available on the route I travel in Jersey. The codes have not come back. They're gone. The throttle seems to be more responsive and I do not get any occasional shudder than I now recall during the "cheap gas" period.

I did not want to report this until I obtained a level of consistency. While some of my vehicles that are less performance oriented may deal with the cheap gas without noticeable issue, it seems that the LNF is more temperamental to the quality of fuel used.

Anyone experience any similar symptoms?

 

Well "no name" gasoline is a crap shoot as you've found out, I've always avoided it because I'm picky about what goes in the tank and through my engines.

Some states have very strict standards on what is dispensed from the pumps, and some don't, New York is one of the less strict states.

With a high compression & finicky engine like the one in the SS's, saving a few cents is a false economy if you do damage internally, nothing like a burned valve or melted piston crown to ruin your day.

 

Just read this great info 87silver this info just may save some of
Us some headaches and engine codes.
It would be interesting to see if the codes came back if you put in the cheaper brand
Thanks again for the info

 

OK, for starters, you are supposed to be using only fuels approved as "TOP TIER". Your owners manual has a section on this. Check it out. Suppliers of top tier gas have additives in the fuel which your engine requires to function. If you get fuel from other than top tier suppliers, you are supposed to supplement with the GM fuel additive plus periodically in conjunction with your oil change schedule. Your two suppliers mentionned, only Shell is a top tier supplier, Sunoco is not. Top Tier has a website which gets updated as needed to let you know which companies are participating. I printed out a reduced size of the listing and taped it on the inside of the vanity mirror flap on the sun visor to use when travelling.

 

Wow sunoco is not top tier
That is probably one of two company's
I have never heard trouble with gas.
Mobil about 20 years back I consistentley heard of issues with.
Thanks for the info.

 

When you come down to the bottom line ....Top Tier is a licensing issue where companies pay a fee to be tested and qualify for the rating. It's a cross between a money-making scheme and a legitimate standard (kinda like the old "who's who" books you pay to get listed in). It guarantees the companies meet a detergent standard, but not being on the list doesn't mean the company ISN'T just as good.

Ford recommends BP for its cars, right in the owners manual and on the gas cap and it's not Top Tier.

Personally I run Marathon. I try to stay away from non-American companies.

 

I usually rotate between Shell V power and BP (old amoco). I am surprised that BP is not a top tier provider. Here is a list I found online:

TOP TIER Gasoline Retailers:

USA Canada
76 Stations Chevron Canada
Aloha Petroleum Esso
Chevron Petro-Canada
Conoco Shell Canada
CountryMark
Entec Stations
Exxon
Hawaii Fueling Network (HFN)
Holiday Stationstores, Inc.
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
MFA Oil Co.
Mileage Stations
Mobil
Ohana Fuels
Phillips 66
Quik Trip
Rebel Oil
Road Ranger
Severson Oil
Shell
Texaco
Tri-Par Oil Co.
U.S. Oil

 

Same here about BP. They seem to be the best in my area. The only other one IN my area is Mobil and some Shell. I usually don't go to Shell out of convenience. It's BP and Mobil for me.

 

I havent had any issues with BP, Mobil and Sunoco premium gasses. the wife wanted to fill it with costco gas and I shot that down. The pennies your saving are actually doing more harm that good to the engine. take care of it and it will take care of you!

I used a comprable motor oil once and in less than 2,000 miles spun the turbo bearing which resulted in a new warranty turbo, but after that Mobil 1 is what they say and thats what it gets.

 

Why ???? Costco advertises their gas has 5 times the cleaning additives the Federal Government requires. I would think it would be better than many no-name brands of gas that many members are using just because of a price difference. Hell, and it probably is better than some name brands like Atlantic-Richfield (AM-PM), Sinclair, for example.

I do use it on occasion. A friend has a '08 Z06 and uses Costco almost exclusively (he's the Manager of the Store). Now, that's not a valid, honest to god, absolute reason......but it is a thought.

The fact of the matter.....even by GM's admission, in the Owners Manual......it's not an absolute to use top tier gas. But, you do need to assure the octane and quality of the fuel you purchase is compatible with your engine.