GM Owners: GM Warns DO NOT USE Acetone as a Fuel Additive

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
204
Location
River Falls, WI
Info - Fuel and Oil Additives - Facts and Myths/Maximizing Fuel Economy #05-00-89-072 - (Oct 24, 2005)

2006 and Prior All GM Cars and Trucks

2003-2006 HUMMER H2

2006 HUMMER H3

2005-2006 Saab 9-7X

Please direct this bulletin to the Service Manager, the Service Consultants, and the Sales Staff. A copy of this bulletin is encouraged to be given to your customer as it is written with the consumer in mind. You may also post this bulletin in your customer lounge or waiting area.

A Statement About Fuel Economy
As gasoline prices have increased, the consumer has shifted priorities to become increasingly concerned with fuel consumption. GM is presently proud to offer 20 cars in the U.S. with EPA highway estimates of at least 30 mpg. The information below contains reasonable and prudent advice for your dealership and the consumer to get the most from every gallon of gas.

The information below is presented in two easy to understand sections:

• What Not To Do: Engine and Fuel Additives, Alternate Fuels, and "Miracle" Products

• What to Do: Maximizing Fuel Economy/Minimizing Costs

WHAT NOT TO DO: Engine and Fuel Additives, Alternate Fuels, and "Miracle" Products
Various unproven products to improve vehicle fuel economy have been reported ranging from magnets that align molecules to chemical combustion improvers.

Most products claiming to provide benefits are based on unsubstantiated claims. Those that do present "scientific" results generally either have too little supporting data to be conclusive, have not conducted experiments in a controlled fashion, or cannot be substantiated by anyone else but the product's manufacturer.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission summarizes results for products tested by the federal government at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/gasave.htm. A review of the list shows that the majority did not work, and for those that showed some effect, the benefit was too small to be cost effective.


Harmful Ideas That May Damage Your Vehicle and Increase Emissions
One more recent poor idea to improve fuel economy that should not be attempted is to blend either kerosene or diesel fuel into gasoline. Why? Both kerosene and diesel fuel are distillate fuels meant for use in compression ignition engines, not spark ignition engines. They have very low octane and since they are heavier (higher density) than gasoline, they will cause heavy engine deposits and degradation of engine oil.

Notice: Never put Kerosene or Diesel Fuel in your Gasoline Engine vehicle. This may result in inconsistent performance and permanent damage to your vehicle that is not covered by your New Vehicle Warranty.

Chemicals that are normally used as solvents also should not be used. These include acetone, ketones, and methanol. These solvents can be incompatible with your vehicles rubber or sealing components, and may dissolve the vehicle’s paint finish. In the case of methanol, corrosion of metal parts in the fuel system also may occur.

Notice: Never use acetone, ketones, or methanol additives in your vehicle. Some of these solvents may damage or corrode your fuel system. They are also very damaging to the painted surfaces of the vehicle if spilled.

WHAT TO DO: Maximizing Fuel Economy/Minimizing Costs
The best fuel economy possible is the direct result of proper maintenance and good driving habits. Listed below are GM's recommendations to achieve the best mileage possible. The first group are things to consider for your vehicle, while the second are tips relating to your driving habits.


Vehicle Considerations:


• Tire Pressure - One of the major contributors to poor fuel economy are under inflated tires. Tires low on pressure create drag that the vehicle’s powertrain must overcome, wasting dollars in fuel. Always keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure as shown on the vehicle placard. This not only serves to increase gas mileage but cuts down on tire wear, further decreasing your costs per mile.

• Air Filter - A vehicle that has a dirty air filter can’t efficiently draw air into the engine. This restriction forces the engine to expend energy to "breathe" wasting fuel in the process. Change recommendations are found in your vehicle Owner’s Manual.

• Proper Viscosity "Starburst" Rated Oil - Always use the proper viscosity oil in your engine. Oil that has a higher than required viscosity will create more drag on the internal components of the engine, causing more work for it, especially when cold. Each Owner’s Manual contains information on the proper type of oil for your vehicle. Look for the "starburst" symbol on the front of the bottle, and the SM rating on the API circle on the back label. If you are in doubt, stop by your dealer for an oil change, and any other services required. Most current GM vehicles are equipped with oil life monitors to further assist on the "when" to change your oil. (Aveo/Wave/Optra/Epica currently do not have oil life monitors).
Notice: GM Vehicles DO NOT require additional engine oil additives. Some additives may cause harmful effects to the internal seals and additionally void the terms of your vehicles New Car Warranty.


• Top Tier Fuels - Some fuel manufacturers provide gasoline advertised asTOP TIER DETERGENT GASOLINE (Chevron, Conoco, Phillips 66, Shell, Entec Stations, MFA , 76, Somerset Oil, QuikTrip, and Kwik Trip in the U.S. and Chevron in Canada. These fuels are preferable when and where available. They help to keep your fuel injectors and intake valves free of deposits. Clean engines provide optimal fuel economy, performance and reduced emissions. When Top Tier fuels are not available, consider a bottle of GM Fuel System treatment PLUS, P/N# 88861011 (in Canada, #88861012), at oil change time which will remove intake system and injector deposits. GM does not recommend any other fuel system cleaner.
Important: DO NOT confuse Top Tier Fuels with Higher Octane (Plus/Premium Grade Fuel) commonly sold at most all gas stations. Plus and Premium fuels are required in some high performance GM vehicles. However, they do not necessarily represent higher detergency present in TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.


Important: For additional information regarding Top Tier fuels and availability, please refer to Corporate Bulletin Number 04-06-04-047E for U.S. or 05-06-04-022 for Canada.


Notice: E85 FUELS: Only vehicles designated for use with E85 should use E85 blended fuel. E85 compatibility is designated for vehicles that are certified to run on up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. All other gasoline engines are designed to run on fuel that contains no more than 10% ethanol. Use of fuel containing greater than 10% ethanol in non-E85 designated vehicles can cause driveability issues, service engine soon indicators as well as increased fuel system corrosion. See Corporate Bulletin Number 05-06-04-035 for additional information.


• Use the Recommended Grade (Octane) Fuel Purchasing higher than required octane fuel is a waste of money. Using higher octane fuels in a vehicle that only required regular unleaded fuel will neither increase performance nor improve gas mileage. In all cases refer to your owners manual and ONLY use the octane rated fuel recommended for your vehicle.
Important: In high performance GM vehicles that DO require Premium (91 octane or higher) fuel, you MUST use fuels of at least this octane. Use of lower octane fuel may result in reduced performance, knocking, and/or permanent engine damage not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty.


• Check Engine/Service Engine Soon Light - Is the Check Engine/SES light on? When this light is on, the vehicles On-Board diagnostics computer has noticed that something is wrong. GM vehicles have many sensors that the computer uses to both control and sense actual fuel usage. When the computer lights the Check Engine/SES light it has lost some ability to run efficiently. This may result in increased fuel consumption, increased emissions, and/or driveability concerns.

• Spark Plugs - Even though current GM vehicles have 160,000 km (100,000 mi) service intervals for spark plugs if your vehicle is at that point in it's life, have the spark plugs changed to assure proper running and continued efficient, trouble free operation.


Changes In Driving Habits:


• Slow Down, Drive Smoothly - Avoid quick/full throttle acceleration from a standstill in town and high cruising speeds on the interstates. While the optimum MPG for highway cruising speed varies from vehicle to vehicle, faster is almost always worse. If your vehicle is equipped with a Driver Information Center that displays Instant Fuel Economy, select that read out and vary your cruising speed while on the highway. The display will change continuously with uphill and downhill sections but you should quickly be able to identify on level ground the speed range that your vehicle does the best in.

• Empty Your Trunk - Avoid leaving unnecessary items in your trunk. It takes power to move increased weight and that means more gasoline consumption and reduced performance. While the change may be slight, multiplied by thousands of miles, it all adds up.

• Avoid Extended Idling - There is no need to idle your engine till it reaches operating temperature. Idling wastes fuel.

• Combine Trips - Your vehicle uses much more fuel when the engine is cold. This is especially true in the winter months when the engine will take the longest to warm up. Combine errands or trips so that the vehicle only needs to warm up once to encompass many different stops.


GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION


© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
 
The above TSB just looks like an excuse to VOID warranty repairs for issues that more then likely weren't related to the consumer added products. And, the rest of it is just 'fluff'. No news there!

So where do I fill up my new GM product since every gas station around here has methanol, ethanol, OR MTBE in the fuel? I guess it'll be a lawn ornament
grin.gif

What do I tell the corrupt service writer trying to sell a fuel treatment or fuel injection service packed with distillates(kerosene)? Hypocrite!
confused.gif


You would think that by now most automakers would be using seals/hoses/line/gaskets that would be safe with most chemicals that might find their way into the oil, antifreeze, gasoline, or ATF. I guess that when profit controls purchasing, the lowest quality supplier wins.

Please direct this bulletin to the Service Manager, the Service Consultants, and the Sales Staff. A copy of this bulletin is encouraged to be given to your customer as it is written with the consumer in mind. You may also post this bulletin in your customer lounge or waiting area.
dunno.gif

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer".
confused.gif


Its more profitable to replace injectors when old ones clog, to replace engines when intake gaskets leak, to replace parts that wear out that might've lasted longer with lubricity additives or a better maintenance interval.
 
Plain and Simple!

GM as Well as Others Im sure.

Don't want U to use any type of additives within your fuel tank or oil pan or tranny, that will prolong the life of either.

They want your auto only to last until the last payment is payed.

Job security for them.
 
in the FTC link, the fuel economy improvers tested included some unusual products. I liked the "gyroscopic wheel covers". there's also a product listed called "Fuelon Power" - an FP60 knock off?
 
If everyone took good care of all their autos and used the good additives that are out there, that we know that works.

We might keep these autos for an average of 10 yrs. Some longer such as myself.

Let's see... We don't buy new autos... GM-Ford-Dodge-Ect don't sell autos...

Now let's read between the lines.
 
Geez you guys are a tough crowd....just sharing information that I have been wondering about myself...

I am not an additive junkie, chemist, or anything like that, but just wondered about the claims of acetone and solvents for an additive.

There are manhy different things to pour into our tanks, and while some may swear by them, I just think that folks need to be cautious.

Far as not liking GM...fine with me...I like GM ...
cool.gif
 
I didn't see anything wrong with the TSB. It contained a lot of good common sense tips that are good to share with joe average. What do you people see in there that is so bad? You already should know that throwing in chemicals that do not belong is a at-your-risk type of issue, OF COURSE they won't condone the use of snake oil - or worse.
 
Tony, remember something

Most people on this website, do, or believe they do, know more about oil than the dealerships they bought their cars from. Therefore, right or wrong, they believe they know better than the dealer what to put in the oil.
 
*dumps three gallons of acetone, because a lot helps a lot, in the tank and fires the old lady up*

I believe that's what carmakers try to prevent by categorically advising against fuel and oil additives.
 
Tony: Don't get my comments wrong...Thank U for posting that informantion.

It just brought back some old memories of a fella who lived next door to me, a few yrs ago who worked for GM in OKC.

Who Used to always say.
"We tell the public what We want them too know."
"The More Cars We sell, The more Money We Make."
"The More Money GM makes, Everyone is Happy."

Now take that for what it is worth, but he had a big office with a big oak desk.

Reminds me of our government!
The public don't need to know the truth.

But please don't take my posts in the wrong text.
I'm just a product of my enviroment.
 
I think the bulletin is reasonable.

What were you expecting? I think "GM sucks" as much as the next fat person, but you didn't really think they would say "Go ahead, dose up on acetone", did you now?
 
*dumps three gallons of acetone, because a lot helps a lot, in the tank and fires the old lady up*

I believe that's what carmakers try to prevent by categorically advising against fuel and oil additives.


Yep. How many of us have seen the kid buying Slick50® ..maybe mulitple bottles? People may not be dumb (many of them) ..but that doesn't mean that they cannot do dumb things when they step out of bounds knowledge-wise.

We do dumb things here too...but we don't do them as dummies. Most of us do them to see what happens.

It's kinda a more socialized version of "Hold my beer ..and watch this!!"
 
offtopic.gif


Some good points as noted. As the above post indicates -- more is better -- applies to the kiddies as well:

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The coroner's office in Dayton thinks it's found a connection between cold medicine and infant deaths.

Using new, highly sophisticated equipment, the Montgomery County Coroner's Office has done testing on babies who died for no obvious reason. The office says in ten of these children 12 months and younger, it found the presence of common cold-fighting agents.

Montgomery County Coroner Dr. James Davis says in many of the cases, the drug levels were extremely high. He says he believes the children died because parents and caregivers didn't read labels and gave cold remedies in dosages not recommended for infants.

© 2005

The Associated Press
 
Shaman said:
quote:

Most people on this website, do, or believe they do, know more about oil than the dealerships they bought their cars from. Therefore, right or wrong, they believe they know better than the dealer what to put in the oil.

This statement was confirmed by a local dealer. I was told that I should not use synthetic oil because it will cause leaks. This guy is on the cutting edge of oil technology. He keeps up to date on the latest information on how to take care of my car. I feel comfort in the fact that my car is in the good hands of a factory authorized dealer and their staff.
 
quote:

Most people on this website, do, or believe they do, know more about oil than the dealerships they bought their cars from. Therefore, right or wrong, they believe they know better than the dealer what to put in the oil.

Took my '05 Sport Trac to the dealer this week for one of my free oil changes (I get 4). My receipt said 5w-20, when the 4.0 SOHC is one of the engines that Ford specifically DOES NOT recommend 5w-20 for. Debate with self whether to take it back and argue about it, run it 5000 anyway, just put the right stuff in myself, or hope maybe they put in 5w-30 and just coded the work order for 5w-20. Drop $8 at Wal-Mart for 4 quarts of Motorcraft 5w-30. Drain out two-day-old oil and it's black, so I wonder if they change it at all when it's "free". Before it goes back for the next one I'm going to put a mark on the filter.
 
JohnnyO, you might want them to put in the correct oil. Sounds simple, but your problem is why I change my oil at home. They just don't care. After all it's your car, what does it matter to them. The dealers are having problems with oil when they have to deal with more than one viscosity. To some there may be do difference between 5w-20 and 5w-30 or 10w-30. They put the wrong stuff in and your engine still starts, so what's the problem? Who cares?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top