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97chevy350 Enthusiast

97chevy350

Posted
Posted

I have noticed that the gas quality has been gettin a lot worse recently, I dont know if it is just around here (northern WV) or what. I imagine its like this all over. I have a 97 k1500 with a 5.7. About 8 or so months ago, I noticed some spark knock or whatever you wanna call it, and moving up to the middle grade took care of it. Well I had my pcm reprogrammed a couple months ago (timing and all that good stuff) and b/c of the timing, you have to run 93, no big deal. Well it ran great at first and this was right about the time the hurricanes started hittin. A couple of weeks ago i noticed the spark knock was comin back even with the 93. I noticed also, my moms 2002 buick began doing it pretty bad as well as my dads 99 silverado with the 5.3 (no reprogram). Neither of them had ever had any problems before. There is a sunoco in town and they have 94 so i filled up with it today and it helped, but im still getting a little spark knock. Is octane boost the only way, and if so what kind to use?

mmmikkke Senior Enthusiast

mmmikkke

Posted
Posted

I haven't noticed any spark knock issues.

 

But with my '95 K3500, I had an experience just like that, I kept creeping upward in octane to get rid of the knock. Told the service rep at the dealer and he told me to go back to 87 cause that was what the truck was designed to use.

 

I did, and after a while, the knock went away.

 

I've noticed that the gas smells skunkier as it wafts out of the filler neck as I'm pumping gas in at the station.

 

I think the Saudis have been making heavier crude available, and maybe it's getting mixed in with the lighter "sweet crude" that is normally used. So that makes the gasoline have more of a smell.

 

Anybody else notice the change in odor?

Black02Silverado Senior Enthusiast

Black02Silverado

Posted
Posted

Mine smells like french fries, oh wait thats the waste veggy oil for the Jetta, :seeya: No difference in the gas here in NC, just a nice $1.98 a gallon price for regular.

plainvanilla Enthusiast

plainvanilla

Posted
Posted
I haven't noticed any spark knock issues.

 

 

I did, and after a while, the knock went away.

 

I've noticed that the gas smells skunkier as it wafts out of the filler neck as I'm pumping gas in at the station.

 

I think the Saudis have been making heavier crude available, and maybe it's getting mixed in with the lighter "sweet crude" that is normally used.  So that makes the gasoline have more of a smell.

 

Anybody else notice the change in odor?

 

 

 

 

I know that most refineries switch over to a winter grade during the fall/winter, it is made differently and they say you should not notice a difference, but I know what you mean. Have you noticed at different brands or just everywhere in general?

97chevy350 Enthusiast

97chevy350

Posted
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Posted

I have noticed it everywhere, I have done Chevron, BP, and Sunoco, havent tried Exxon since this started. 1.98 a gallon sounds nice. Were still around 2.20 up here.

MS3DALE Senior Enthusiast

MS3DALE

Posted
Posted
Mine smells like french fries, oh wait thats the waste veggy oil for the Jetta,  :seeya:   No difference in the gas here in NC, just a nice $1.98 a gallon price for regular.

 

 

 

 

 

Man Nick,Where you live at in N.C.? The last time I talked to my buddy on Monday who lives near Hickory,He said gas was still around $2.50 a gal.

 

Tony,I'm not too far from you and I haven't noticed any spark knock or problems.

I try to stick with Shell or Chevron since they are on GM's "Top-Tier" gas list (I have to come down your way for Chevron however,There are no Chevron's here in S.W. PA.)

I also run Sunoco a lot (Because it is the official fuel of NASCAR and I like to support the companies that help support my favorite sport) And have not had any problems with it either.

 

I should note that I do run 93 octane in the truck because thats how I have it programmed to run with the Hypertech.I run 87 octane in my Corsica.

97chevy350 Enthusiast

97chevy350

Posted
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Posted

Rich, I was up your way not too long ago. I ran a tank of chevron and it was better than the BP i had in there before (I was runnin low and BP was the only thing close) and the Sunoco made a big difference, after i put sunoco in (94) I could barely i mean BARELY hear the pinging, (Im just really picky about my truck). But the truck ran great with it. Another thing I didnt really think of either, my parents usually put sheets or something else in theirs (my dad mixes 89/91 in his 99 silverado). We only have one sunoco and one chevron and they arent particulary easy to get to when there is traffic, but Im with you about the Sunoco thing, Im a BIG Nascar fan.

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