Fuel for '97 z71?

[97gmc]

What grade fuel is everyone using for your truck? I have been running premium gas since I bought my truck (3 months ago). What is the diffrance performance wise between regular and premium?

[banshee350twincyl]

I use regular unleaded. Thats all GM reccomends.

[Silverado Brethern]

there is absolutly no point in buying a higher grade fuel, all GM truck engine are designed to be used with regular 87 octane. it wont make you faster or make your engine run cleaner, just donate more money to the towel-head oil sellers.

[planedude]

The higher grade fuel causes less strain on your catalytic converter, also keeps the fuel injectors cleaner. I have a 1996 k1500 and I find it idles smoother with supreme fuel. Just my opinion.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by planedude

The higher grade fuel causes less strain on your catalytic converter, also keeps the fuel injectors cleaner. I have a 1996 k1500 and I find it idles smoother with supreme fuel. Just my opinion.

While I respect your opinion that the higher grade fuel may cause less strain, one should figure the cost over the life of the catalytic converter of using the premium fuel vs. the cost of a new one. If a truck has a 25 gallon tank and you fill up each time , using premium fuel costs you an extra $5 a fillup, ( using the cost factor of the higher grade of gas costing 20 cents more a gallon.) It would pobably be cheaper to use regular unleaded fuel and replace the catalytic converter when it goes bad, rather than use the higher grade and hope the cat lasts longer,( not taking into consideration other factors which cause catalytic converters to fail - rust, damage from driving where you shouldn't, etc.) As for the fuel injectors, if you are that concerned about them being clean, just run a bottle of cleaner every once in awhile. Regular fuel has additives that keep the injectors clean in sufficient quantities. Again it would be cheaper to use a bottle of injector cleaner over the added costs of the premium fuel. Whatever the results, it all boils down to our personal preferences based on what we have learned, been taught from other people, or have read.

[planedude]

I also find that I get more miles out of a tank of fuel. So i guess you would have to factor that in as well.

[Silverado Brethern]

I really find any of that hard to believe cuz there is no GM gas engine that is designed to run on anything other than regular. That would be something interesting to hear a "study" or w/e done about tho.

[planedude]

My buddy just had a converter changed on his 2000 and the GM dealer blamed it on pour fuel. I can't explain it but all the experience I've had with premium fuel and the people I talk to they find it better.. Cost 1200 for a converter. Anyway no point in beating this one to death, Like everything peole have their opinions. Nice to have a good debate on the subject though.....

[Silverado Brethern]

1200 for a converter!!?? better be 24K gold for that much!

[CBRF Engineer]

The only time I've notice a increase in mpg from premium fuel is when I run the non oxygenated stuff.

[J-Ri]

If you have excessive carbon built up in the combustion chamber, it raises the compression (although just slightly) which requires higher octane. Perhaps that is why it runs smother with premium? Don't really know, just though I'd throw that in.

If you use higher octane than is required, gas mileage will be reduced because not all the fuel burns. Octane is basically just a measurement of of how slow the fuel burns (reduces ping/detonation in high compression engines)

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by planedude

My buddy just had a converter changed on his 2000 and the GM dealer blamed it on pour fuel. I can't explain it but all the experience I've had with premium fuel and the people I talk to they find it better.. Cost 1200 for a converter. Anyway no point in beating this one to death, Like everything peole have their opinions. Nice to have a good debate on the subject though.....

$1200 ???!!! No wonder some people refer to dealerships as "stealerships"! I would have gotten quotes from local garages and muffler/exhaust shops as well. It could also been a converter that was destined to fail early due to some unseen factors, ( shoddy workmanship on assembly line, problem with the quality of parts used to put it together, etc.) Of the 19 or so vehicles I have owned in the last 20 years or so, I can safely say that only 1 or 2 have ever had to have the cat replaced. And one was because the outer shell had rusted apart, and the other was on a vehicle that I had recently purchased used and the former owner had abused it. Most of the vehicles I have bought are at least 7 years old and close to 80-100,000 miles on them, and the cat was still doing it's job.

[97gmc]

Thank y'all for all the input...

$1200 for a Coverter!

J-ri, What do you mean by not all the fuel burns?