[craigmm]

What type of gas should I really be using in my Catera. I've read posts about using premium and others about using unleaded. Can someone answer this question for real.

BTW i've been using regular unleaded.

 

[Eagleta2]

Hi Craig.. I have a 97 with 44K on it.

Being the dutiful owner, after reading the owners manual I started to use premium gas - just like it said and the car ran great.

After about 2 tanks-worth of premium I put in a tank of regular unleaded. About 40 miles into the tank the Check Engine light came on. I went to Autozone and had it scanned. I forget the number right now but it was an emission system failure. Told the guys at Autozone that I bought cheap gas and they cleared the codes for me. I drove the car to 1/2 a tank and refilled with premium; no CE light since.

Like you, I assume, I was concerned with the price of gas going up, up, up, that I was spending extra money for nothing. I know now that is not the case. I have been buying premium ever since. Everytime I start to feel bad about being forced into it... my wife lovingly informs me that it costs me an extra $3.50 to fill the tank. And, if I need to worry about affording $3.50 - maybe I should not have bought a Cadillac!



Just my $.02

Geo

 

[laidback66]

Oh how i wish I paid your prices for fuel! :bigroll:

Over in the UK we pay around $7 a gallon for "premium" fuel as you call it!! :bonkers:

It is best to run on the highest octane rating you can. The car has a "knock sensor" that detects the combustion temp of the fuel and adjusts the timing accordingly, so a lower grade fuel will cause the sensor to retard the timing and reduce performance of the engine!
Likewise, higher octance level will cause the sensor to advance the timing and give you smoother running.

 

[00Catera]

After hearing news report after news report on regular vs premium I figured I'd listen to
the "experts" and go with the 87 octane. I haven't looked back since. I haven't had any
problems or noticed any change in performance. I really think the premium gas is a big scam.

 

[inconnu]

i am using regular gas too since last six month,so far so good knock on the wood .........ouch i got sliver :lildevil:

 

[Warez]

I use regular 87 as well, the owners manual states that the car will run fine on 87 but with slightly slower acceleration.

 

[Warez]

Oh how i wish I paid your prices for fuel! :bigroll:

You guys pay the same amount as we do, the difference is all tax. I don't understand why Europeans just take that crap, why don't you make an issue out of it when the next election comes around!

 

[OpelOmegaB]

You guys pay the same amount as we do, the difference is all tax. I don't understand why Europeans just take that crap, why don't you make an issue out of it when the next election comes around!

One of the reasons is that they have roads and not washboards with potholes like in this country. There is also WORKING public transportation.

And it cost prohibitive to drive around in useless gasoline guzzling
"urban assault vehicles" or big ******* trucks.

There are definately more important issues when the next elections come around. Most Europeans live with the fact that they don't have the "god given right" for cheap gasoline like in the US.

There are very few Opel Omegas with the 3.0 l V6 driving around over there. Most have the 4 cylinder diesel or a 4 cyl. 16 v gasoline engine.

 

[Warez]

One of the reasons is that they have roads and not washboards with potholes like in this country.

You obviously have never been to the UK or anywhere else in Europe for that matter.

I will confidently say that the US has the best roads in the industiralized world.

Most Europeans live with the fact that they don't have the "god given right" for cheap gasoline like in the US.

I'm form Canada where we pay approximately the same for gas as you do in the US and we certainly don't feel we have any birth right to cheap gasonline.

But when literally 90% on the price of gas is tax, I think it's simply absurd and no one in Canada would tolerate that.

There are very few Opel Omegas with the 3.0 l V6 driving around over there. Most have the 4 cylinder diesel or a 4 cyl. 16 v gasoline engine.

The funny part is that my Catera gets WORSE fuel economy than my LT1 96' Impala SS which has 300hp + and more weight.

 

[OpelOmegaB]

You obviously have never been to the UK or anywhere else in Europe for that matter.

I go to several European countries at least twice a year for a few weeks.

I will confidently say that the US has the best roads in the industiralized world.

I agree to disagree.

I'm form Canada where we pay approximately the same for gas as you do in the US and we certainly don't feel we have any birth right to cheap gasonline .

I was talking about the USA and not Canada.
Lucky Canadians, you buy your gas on line, we still have to get it at the pump.

But when literally 90% on the price of gas is tax, I think it's simply absurd and no one in Canada would tolerate that.

Your estimate is a little too high. In Germany for example it's 48 % for diesel
and 65 % for gasoline.

The funny part is that my Catera gets WORSE fuel economy than my LT1 96' Impala SS which has 300hp + and more weight.

My Catera gets about 23 mpg. I think, that's pretty decent for a V6 with
200 hp.

 

[craigmm]

thanks for the info. you know i'm in the midwest and premium is cheaper than regular right now. i always though that was insane.

 

[madcat_ss]

I've always used 87 oct. with my Cat and never had a problem.

 

[Dharrison]

I have a 2001 Catera w/37,000 miles. I've been putting cheap gas in the car for about a year now. Three weeks ago, the CE light came on. The mechanic had it for 2 1/2 days, he never found the reason for the light - so he said it must be because I was putting in the cheap gas. Since then, I've put one tank of premium gas in the car. Will the CE light go off automatically if this is the problem, or will I need to have someone reset the light? Also, can Autozone reset the light for me or will I need to take it back to the mechanic???

Thanks.

 

[agr1234]

Eagleta2,

I couldn't agree with you more.

I have owned my Catera for about 3 months now and I have only used Premium. I just wanted to follow the suggestions by Cadillac and "baby" my car.

When gas went to $3/gallon, I wanted to switch to Regular, but my wife too, suggested that I would only be saving a few bucks.

 

[~DIRTY~]

I have a 99 sport ive been running 87 for 4 years, lately it has been cuttin out at 60+ like its spitting just every so often. If I add a tank addative ( chevron with TECRON) it runs unbelievably good has alot more power and just feels GOOD. Could this just be the gas quality or could it be something else? I get no codes comming up, just simply have to have the addative in the tank...