2009 Escalade questions.. engine, fuel, etc

[EXTnumber2]

Hey guys.. looking into Escalade #3. Coming from an 07 with bad piston slap, I do not want to repeat that again as I am very picky and I prefer Ford 5.4L V8s smoothness. However I cant stand the navigators styling... so here we go.. looking at 2009 model year. Are there any issues with piston slap or is it mostly (only) 07s that had this. Also is 2009 the first year that you can run 87 octane fuel according to the manual? I was told they allow 87 in 2009, 10, 11 Escalades. 07 and 08 are 91+octane. I hate using premium fuel, I put high miles on and IMO there should be no need to run 91 when the competitors (navigator, etc) do not need it either.
Any other serious issues with the 09?
Thanks.. Cheers

[chirochris]

my 09 is great...no issues run 87 all the time...my opinion the best yr because in 2010 they started taking things away from it that i like...09 is the complete package

[CadX6]

From the time it was new. my 07 had moderate piston slap on startup for about the first 5 min. Only put about 24K on it but it never got worse while I had it. My 09 is dead quiet.

I've run 89 octane continuously in my 03, 07, & 09 as kind of a compromise. Hasn't seemed to affect performance or mileage compared to the few times I did run 91.

I agree about the things they've deleted on the 10 & later. The 09 has bluetooth & the usb connection isn't that big of a deal for me - I have a Seido mount that charges my Iphone & my PA20-GM provides iPod audio thru the factory stereo very nicely.

[hannity]

Hey guys.. looking into Escalade #3. Coming from an 07 with bad piston slap, I do not want to repeat that again as I am very picky and I prefer Ford 5.4L V8s smoothness. However I cant stand the navigators styling... so here we go.. looking at 2009 model year. Are there any issues with piston slap or is it mostly (only) 07s that had this. Also is 2009 the first year that you can run 87 octane fuel according to the manual? I was told they allow 87 in 2009, 10, 11 Escalades. 07 and 08 are 91+octane. I hate using premium fuel, I put high miles on and IMO there should be no need to run 91 when the competitors (navigator, etc) do not need it either.
Any other serious issues with the 09?
Thanks.. Cheers

I have been researching the Escalade, the bad part is that I researched it after I bought it because of all the problems my 2k10 is having. Anyway from what I have seen about the piston slap is that it can happen to any engine by any manufacturer. Howver the use of the ohv and the way gm builds them, leaves these engines at a greater propensity to develop the piston slap. The reason I was even looking into this is because amongst the issues my truck is having, I now notice the piston slap in the mornings. The first few times I heard it I never knew what it was (first GM vehicle) then I noticed it was getting louder and when I took my caddy in for warranty repair I asked my service advisor to look into the noise. He said he'd check it out, little did I know that he already knew what it was. When i picked up my truck he told me that was normal. However piston slap is not supposed to be normal. I think you should make up your mind on what you should do. It depends on how much you like the truck. It's like having a super gorgeous sex crazed woman as a wife that will cheat on you and give you problems. Juxtaposed to a good looking woman who is ok in bed and is faithful. Same is for cars as it is for women, you just have to choose what you are williing to put up with. You know that the first engine did it and they have kept the same engine, dimensions and build as the previous model. So, it's up to you.

[bstiffmanofsteel]

It's like having a super gorgeous sex crazed woman as a wife that will cheat on you and give you problems. Juxtaposed to a good looking woman who is ok in bed and is faithful.

That is a beautiful analogy! I often use them, but never that one... Well written!

[EXTnumber2]

LOL thats funny.. I always used the analogy of a hot woman=escalade.. problematic, headaches, but man it feels good to drive 'em and so luxurious.
For me I cant stand the piston slap. My first one had the 6.0L and it was queit.. great motor. I never even knew what piston slap was until I had the 6.2 2007. After searching on here I learned the terrible truth about this piston slap problem. None of my many 5.4L ford engines had ever had this so I didnt expect it.
For the 09 I will have to test it on a cold day I guess if you say your 2010 has it.
Also does it actually allow you to run 87 octane in your owners manual on the 09+ years or do you just run it anyways? I only use what is recommended.. so if it says 91 thats what I would use.
Thanks for the info guys.

[chirochris]

no clue never looked..i have had escalades before and ran 87 in them all and never had an issue so i just assumed it was ok in my 09...

[CadX6]

Also does it actually allow you to run 87 octane in your owners manual on the 09+ years or do you just run it anyways? I only use what is recommended.. so if it says 91 thats what I would use.
Thanks for the info guys.

From the 09 Owner's manual:
If the vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine (VIN Code 5),
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 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 2),
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.

[hcvone]

From the 09 Owner's manual:
If the vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine (VIN Code 5),
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 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 2),
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.

It is very true with the knock sensors of today you can run lower octane fuel, but the 6.2 is a high performance engine with over 400 hp and 400 ft lbs of torque, running lower octane fuel cuts hp between 10-20 hp depending on who you believe.

[hannity]

LOL thats funny.. I always used the analogy of a hot woman=escalade.. problematic, headaches, but man it feels good to drive 'em and so luxurious.
For me I cant stand the piston slap. My first one had the 6.0L and it was queit.. great motor. I never even knew what piston slap was until I had the 6.2 2007. After searching on here I learned the terrible truth about this piston slap problem. None of my many 5.4L ford engines had ever had this so I didnt expect it.
For the 09 I will have to test it on a cold day I guess if you say your 2010 has it.
Also does it actually allow you to run 87 octane in your owners manual on the 09+ years or do you just run it anyways? I only use what is recommended.. so if it says 91 thats what I would use.
Thanks for the info guys.

Thanks, I'll look in the owners manual sometime tomorrow and see. I do love this truck, but I'm concerned about the long run. So far it's only been just over 5000 miles for me. I want to get out of this vehicle at some point and into a LX instead.

[LITTLEELVISDAN]

Love my 09 over my 04.. Yep slap on cold mornings and alll.... And have never ran anything lower than 93 oct on either model

[Big Windy Ext]

My solution to piston slap is remote start . I had a 2002 Suburban w/170,000 miles and sounded scary when started at −10 F the noise rarely results in failure and you have 100,000 drivetrain warranty if it does . While the Ford 5.4 may be quiet it is gutless , the Navigator looks like Clark Griswalds family truckster just a tad overdone w/chrome . I do give credit to Ford for much better electronics , Synch or whatever it is called is a much better system than the old GM stuff . The octane thing , its a 400Hp engine , give it the good oats and enjoy the music of it once its warmed up and not slapping lol

[hannity]

Thanks littleelvisdan, I see that octane rating is not the solution to these engines.

[DTEK01]

Is this a low temp thing? I have an 07 with 68k on it and not one ounce of piston slap. But it only gets to around 25-30 degrees out here in the winter (SoCal).