LS4 Performance Grand Prix GXP | Monte Carlo SS | Impala SS | LaCrosse Super

Ethanol 08 Impala Ss

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 12:14 PM
  #1  
rocker1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Angry Ethanol 08 Impala Ss

Is anyone having trouble finding fuel without too much ethanol? The problem is my check engine light came on with only 3000 miles on the car? Took it to the dealer and they said the fuel had 24% ethanol in the fuel! 15% is the max.I ran the remaining fuel out and tryed 4 differant gas stations and keep having the same result! The check engine light wont go off !!! Taking it back in Monday!
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 12:54 PM
  #2  
Mike's 01WS6's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters Missouri
Default

You could try another dealer to make sure thats the problem. Im not sure how the dealer would be able to tell you how much ethanol was in the fuel, the SS doesnt have the sensor in it like the E85 cars do. Try taking it to autozone to see what code it has for sure.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 03:09 PM
  #3  
BuffaloSS's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,421
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, NY
Default

Some pumps have warnings around here...stating that the fuel might contain as much as 10%. Nothing for me to worry about.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 04:22 PM
  #4  
rocker1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Default

Nothing on the pumps around the Detroit area that states the percentage of ethanol. As for the sensor the tech told me that the car does detect the percentage of ethanol. perhaps I'll take it to another dealer and see what they say and while I'm there get the hot/cold system recall taken care of ! just got that in the mail the other day!!! hope it was'nt a mistake buying this car. Getting nervous bout having problems already with such few miles on the vechile!!!
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 04:25 PM
  #5  
20SS07's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
From: Reading, Pennsylvania
Default

Yea the pumps here in PA and the ones I go to in Delaware usually have the standard up to 10% warning on them which is a safe amount. If the gas REALLY has that much ethanol that gas station shouldn't be selling it especially without a disclaimer.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 04:31 PM
  #6  
rocker1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Default

Yea, gonna check into how much ethanol the stations are supposed to be putting in with the gas, probally why the price is coming down so much.
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2008 | 08:50 PM
  #7  
fastLS4's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Default

Stick with better brand names of gas and you will not have this problem.

Last edited by Xsta Z 28; Sep 16, 2008 at 09:31 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2008 | 10:19 AM
  #8  
rocker1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Default

91+ bp, speedway, citco, even shell v-power and still havin problems, we'll see what the dealer says this time when I take it back in ?

Last edited by Xsta Z 28; Sep 16, 2008 at 09:31 AM.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 7, 2008 | 12:14 PM
  #9  
fastLS4's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Default

You really need to learn how to use the . or period key.

Speedway is not a major brand. Only BP, Shell, Sunoco and Marathon are, Dumb ****.!!!
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2008 | 02:42 PM
  #10  
05CherryGXP's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
Default

Neil, yeah pretty much everywhere everyone buys gas from the same regional supplier. The only difference is the additives that get put in the gas, like the Shell V-Power additive which I've heard a lot of people claim gives them KR.

The other big difference is that a lot of the name brand stations are franchises, and they get monitored. A regional manager or something comes by and gets up on the station to make sure it is doing everything properly, which makes reduces the odds of some shady station owner putting extra ethanol in the gas or otherwise diluting it.

Plus the BP 5% off credit card is cool.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2008 | 04:54 PM
  #11  
06WHITEMCSS's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
Default

Gotta love the BP rewards card, All I use. I usually get a $25 gas card every month.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2008 | 09:10 AM
  #12  
dcrews's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Default

There's a special tool that GM has to determine the alcohol content in fuel. All you do is take a sample (fuel rail, tank, whatever), and put it in this machine and it gives you the % of alcohol.

Originally Posted by Mike's 01WS6
You could try another dealer to make sure thats the problem. Im not sure how the dealer would be able to tell you how much ethanol was in the fuel, the SS doesnt have the sensor in it like the E85 cars do. Try taking it to autozone to see what code it has for sure.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 11:47 AM
  #13  
live2ride's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Default

The other thing to consider is the low volume stations selling gas with ethanol. If there are no circulating devices in the tanks the fuel can separate giving the unlucky customer a higher percentage of alcohol.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 12:11 PM
  #14  
2006ImpalaSS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Joliet, Illinois
Default

93 octane

as much as 10% ethanol.... like BuffaloSS said.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 04:53 PM
  #15  
Area47's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 0
From: K.C.
Default

there is a sensor for ethonal content in the fuel system itself. this is how some cars, or ecm's rather to tell it ti switch octane maps to compensate for it.

the tech2 can pull this from the ecm.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 05:22 PM
  #16  
Brian396's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa IL
Default

Area, I thought GM did a way with the sensor in 06?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2008 | 09:46 PM
  #17  
hexxLS4's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Default

all the gas stations in my area state that there can be up to 10% ethanol in it. Ever since they've been doing this, I've seen a significant drop off in my MPG...anyone else notice the same thing?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2008 | 11:22 PM
  #18  
zjt's Avatar
zjt
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: AK or AZ, depends
Default

Originally Posted by hexxLS4
all the gas stations in my area state that there can be up to 10% ethanol in it. Ever since they've been doing this, I've seen a significant drop off in my MPG...anyone else notice the same thing?
Ethanol contains 66% of the energy density of gasoline, that would affect this, but not terribly. Maybe a lead foot has something to do with it
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2008 | 05:04 AM
  #19  
06 SS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: LITH, IL.
Default

Originally Posted by hexxLS4
all the gas stations in my area state that there can be up to 10% ethanol in it. Ever since they've been doing this, I've seen a significant drop off in my MPG...anyone else notice the same thing?
Just for the last couple of decades that we have been stuck with that garbage in the Chicago area. Used to stop at the first station without it on my way out of State and on the way back in. Now they have it there as well. Lobbyist Masters pay to have it forced on us. They pay money to the politicians. That money is used to elect politicians. Ethanol producers make more money then the extra they pay the politicians. Essentially we pay twice. Once at the pump with lower mileage, once for the subsidies that make it cheaper to produce ethanol. Making ethanol takes more oil energy than it produces and it is a dirtier process than using petroleum alone, not even a 'green argument' to offset it. So...the politicians get a sweet deal. We get less fuel economy. We fill up more. They take more in taxes (and then siphon it off into the general fund to buy their pet projects instead of the road improvements that it is supposed to go for), they get free (to them) money from lobbyist to get re-elected. The ethonal produces get a law that says we have to use their product, subsidies from taxes that lower their cost of producing it (which means it goes right to their bottom line, pure profit, minus the cash sent back to the politicians, so no real cost to them, quite the opposite)

Not a conflict of interest or anything, I am sure the Will of the People is to pay more so a group of private companies can profit from it. Otherwise, why would someone elected in a democratic republic allow it?

end of rant.

Yes, over the years, to varying degrees mostly based on the car I had at the time, I have lost between 6-8% fuel economy vs the numbers I got with gasoline over gasahol.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2008 | 09:47 AM
  #20  
Area47's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 0
From: K.C.
Default

Originally Posted by Brian396
Area, I thought GM did a way with the sensor in 06?
newp. they just went to a more half assed way of timing control. it knocks too much, it drops maps. you stick 87 octane in it, it drops maps.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:49 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE