Cheap gas

Hey guys, wanted to give everyone a forewarning: DON'T BUY CHEAP GAS.

With the help of the tips and maintenance section I just replace the fuel pump on our 2001 GP. In my opinion it was a premature failure due to the fact that it went out with no warning and without running out of gas. It only has 116,000 miles and my wife just about only put that "Raceway", "Racetrack", or "Wal-Mart" fuel in it every fill up. Ever wonder why some of these type of gas stations have the cheapest prices? It is because some not all, (There are exceptions to cheap gas prices) have up to 10% ethanol per volume in the gasoline. That's great and all, but our fuel systems in most of our GP's (and most all automobiles not flex fuel designed or "E85") are not designed to handle this mixture. It is terrible for the plastic and rubber components in our fuel systems. I was hearing this but never thought about it until it happened to me and realized that is the only type of gas this car has seen in over a year. If you've seen the price of a fuel pump it is not the easiest repair to swallow, but must be replaced. No quick patch. I just wanted to let you guys know that even if gas at shell or chevron or where ever might be a few cents more, IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY. I am just hoping I don't see anything else go out from our cheap gas usage. Also from an engineering side of things regular petroleum has a higher BTU content per volume as compared to ethanol blended @ 10%. That equates to better mpg's which also equals more $$$ in your pocket.

I respectfully disagree that the fuel system *is* designed to handle E10. Several states mandate this by law and not by the fuel supplier being cheap...Arizona being one of them that I'm familiar with.

I agree the fuel system is not designed for E85.

After working on many vehicles and talking to family members, etc, my personal opinion is the latest GM in-tank fuel pumps setup on SFI/port fuel injection systems appear to be good for 100-130k each, and possibly more if you're lucky...but there are a fair number of failures in this mileage range. If you get more miles than that you are doing well, but IMHO should you expect to keep the vehicle longer than that your best bet is to plan a time to change it.

My personal philosophy is this: I'd rather lay under the car/truck for *hours* at a time fixing things in my own shop with all the right tools handy than have to try to figure out what to do next on the side of the road, possibly at night, with the cars going by at close range and probably no tools other than a tire iron handy.

Again, personal opinion is that cheap gas hurts you with increasing intake valve deposits where the more expensive grades of gasoline have additives to continue to break these down.

Just to add some more data to the intervals...

of the 4 vehicles listed below, 1988 R-30 pickup, pump failure @ 185k miles. 1991 S-10 pickup, original pump still going @ 182k. 2000 GTP, pump failure @ ~130k. 2002 Yukon, pump failure @ ~120k. The pickups are TBI pumps which produce a significantly lower pressure ~10 psi as opposed to ~60psi for the SFI/port fuel injection systems. Current plans are to replace the S-10 pump as soon as I get a day to do so.

CrazyHorst I will agree with you there on some points. I am still going to avoid the E10 from Wal-Mart etc if they have it posted. I guess with any electrical device you are hit or miss on life expectancy. Several mechanics in my area have explained to me that they have see an increase in vehicles coming in with fuel system issues. They have contributed most to the cheap gas. What are we to do though? We want it as cheap as possible now-a-days! To me I would rather get a better BTU content anyway.

In the Chicagoland area all the gas has to have 10% ethanol. It is mandatory state law. E85 will not run in my GP, in order to get E85 to run with no problems I have to use half E85 and regular.