[installer]

Anyone have good luck with "no ethanol" ?

 

[jacko]

Anyone have good luck with "no ethanol" ?

I've never put a gas ethanol mix in my E, if that's what you mean. Just 87 octane pure gas. Runs great!

 

[BadAV]

87 octane but all gas here includes 10% ethanol.

 

[Papas Truck]

87 octane, exclusively. Gas generally has 10% ethanol. My previous ride (2001 El Dorado) always used Hi test. I felt that I got a little better average milage that way. Just my opinion, not based on any real evaluation. Both vehicles were/are primarily used for highway driving, getting low to moderate exposure to everyday urban driving.

 

[redvett]

My current ride is a 2008 CTS4 DI and i have tried all gas grades and see no improvements in fuel economy. BTW the CTS DI uses the same engine the current Enclave has.
2011 Enclave on order.

 

[GoldEnclave]

87

 

[minggoblue08]

Only have used 87 in our E but have been curious about what beneifts (if any) 91, 92 or 93 would bring.

The E's are able to run on E85 are they?
My mom just replaced her 07 Escalade with an 10 and it can run on Flex Fuel (which surprised me)

 

[AA/78U-Blue Gold]

Only have used 87 in our E but have been curious about what beneifts (if any) 91, 92 or 93 would bring.

The E's are able to run on E85 are they?
My mom just replaced her 07 Escalade with an 10 and it can run on Flex Fuel (which surprised me)

I would check the manual before throwing E85 in; I don't think this motor is ready for that

 

[GoldEnclave]

I would check the manual before throwing E85 in; I don't think this motor is ready for that

Agreed. :shrug:

 

[minggoblue08]

This may need to be in a new thread but what GM engines are Flex Fuel capable?
6.2
6.0?
5.3
3.9
what about the other V6's or 4 bangers?

 

[bocoogto]

Always 87 octane. Whenever possible, without ethanal. Ethanol costs 1-2 mpg compared to pure gasoline in my Enclave and '93 Roadmaster. You gain nothing by using 91 octane in this engine-performance or mpg.

 

[jimtoonz]

After trying all the available grades in my area, I would say that 87 is the way to go. There is no discernible difference in performance when using the higher grades. The lower heat energy in E10 will impact your mileage, so weigh that against your concerns(if any) over CO2 emissions.

 

[izzycohen]

Its hard to avoid Ethanol here in the Midwest. I pretty much buy 87 here in Illinois. I travel a lot and usually buy 89 outside of Illinois because the prices are so much lower. Missouri and Iowa have the best gas prices. Indiana and Wisconsin are also good. Michigan is kind of like Illinois.

 

[rblt]

My colleague at work convinced me to run high octane. Well that is if I must use gasoline, as he swears by diesel engines. I haven't noticed a difference in performance or mileage, but supposedly it runs cooler and is easier on the engine and has been further refined or something. I can hear the laughter now... One thing I have noticed either at Shell or Chevron is that the 87 pump is labelled " May contain up to 10% Ethanol", the 89 is labelled "May contain up to 5% Ethanol" and the 91/94 is labelled "Contains no Ethanol". Does that mean that Ethanol is a lower cost than gasoline, or is it used to reduce emissions but in turn reduces the octane rating and hence cannot be used in higher octane rated fuels.

 

[AA/78U-Blue Gold]

Ethanol is supposed to help reduce emissions, but that is here in the U.S.; I am guessing that is the same reason for your country as well :shrug:

 

[bigtallvandy]

My colleague at work convinced me to run high octane. Well that is if I must use gasoline, as he swears by diesel engines. I haven't noticed a difference in performance or mileage, but supposedly it runs cooler and is easier on the engine and has been further refined or something. I can hear the laughter now... One thing I have noticed either at Shell or Chevron is that the 87 pump is labelled " May contain up to 10% Ethanol", the 89 is labelled "May contain up to 5% Ethanol" and the 91/94 is labelled "Contains no Ethanol". Does that mean that Ethanol is a lower cost than gasoline, or is it used to reduce emissions but in turn reduces the octane rating and hence cannot be used in higher octane rated fuels.

Your colleague may have convinced you, but the 3.6DI doesn't need it and does not appear to perform any better in terms of fuel economy or perceived power/performance. Start logging your fuel economy and prove it out for yourself if you feel so inclined. But the good gas isn't necessary really.

Premium fuel at the pump is just basically gas with fewer impurities in it, thus it detonates at a higher thermal point than does a lower octane fuel (has more impurities in it, thus can detonate at a lower thermal point). Detonation or 'pinging' can cause serious damage to an engine. So yes, it's 'easier on the engine' so to speak and it has been refined to a higher quality product. Your vehicle will handle 'regular unleaded' pump gas in stride and do just fine.

I run a tank of premium fuel from Petro Canada or Shell when I'm dumping in some fuel system cleaner to maximize the cleaning action. Other than that, I run regular unleaded. The $$$ saved at the pump can go to padding your pocketbook.

 

[rblt]

Thanks bigtallvandy. As far as Shell, whats your take on the "nitrogen enriched", is there anything to its enhanced valve cleaning properties, or do you figure it is just another marketing ploy?

 

[bigtallvandy]

Thanks bigtallvandy. As far as Shell, whats your take on the "nitrogen enriched", is there anything to its enhanced valve cleaning properties, or do you figure it is just another marketing ploy?

Valve deposits in a DI engine are definitely an area of concern.

The only way anyone is going to prove the cleaning properties is to do tear-downs of their engines and inspect. I'm not about to do that, as I suspect will be the same for most other folks at their pumps. Precisely what the petro companies bank on. I've been filling the tank of my own cars since I was 17. I have yet to have a fuel related problem with using Shell or Petro Can, Esso or other top tier brand.

I guess you could look at it this way... your engine (and thus valves) start out clean. If you run only Shell gas, then you shouldn't ever have any valve deposit issues provided it's washing the valves. But in a DI engine... what's up with that!?! You don't get the traditional fuel wash that is in tuned-port or multi-port or older injection designs (i.e. throttle body). The fuel is injected directly into the cylinder at an extremely high pressure (this is why the DI design can get some fuel wash of the cylinder walls, some getting by the piston rings and making its way into the engine oil causing dilution of the oil). But it doesn't really wash the intake valves like the fuel did in earlier designs.

So does the 'nitrogen enriched' marketing apply to the DI engine? :shrug:



S

 

[Vanguard]

The Enclave owners manual clearly states that 87 octane fuel is the requirement. While an ethanol mix must maintain the rated octane rating, the ethanol portion has less energy (BTU) than gasoline. You will notice reduced fuel economy with ethanol. The use of ethanol blends is a political football that has much debate left before being settled. For those of us living in BC or Ontario, July 1 brings an additional 8% to the price we will pay at the pump. :angryfire: :deadhorse:

 

[AA/78U-Blue Gold]

For those of us living in BC or Ontario, July 1 brings an additional 8% to the price we will pay at the pump.

**** :facepalm: