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Chevrolet Equinox Maintenance and Repair

1523 messages,  Last post on Nov 17, 2009 at 5:23 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Equinox Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Equinox, Electrical, Engine, SUV


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#1214 of 1523
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by packer3
Aug 24, 2008 (6:15 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 22, 2008 1:31 pm)

I'm not a scientist, I worked part time for an unbranded family gas station for over 25 years until they sold the gas part of it. I did however get a good education, gas is gas no matter who refines it, it's all the same.
Now on the other hand each gas company uses different additives, which can make a difference in cleaning properties if anything.
Using High Test is a waste if your car doesn't call for it.
At the station I worked at over the years, I leased new cars and bought old cars and none of my cars ever had any problems.
The main key was that we changed the filters in the gas pumps once a month, and pumped out residual water build up in the tanks once a month.
One thing I highly recommend is is to never, never, get gas at a station if you see a tank wagon unloading fuel, that can be the beginning of some of your problems to come.
Most important change your fuel filter every 20,000 miles no questions asked and use the Chevron Techron that J Dandy recommended it's the best.
#1215 of 1523
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by grosloup
Aug 25, 2008 (9:51 am)
Reply

Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 22, 2008 1:31 pm)

I never, ever put "cheap" gas in my Equinox. It's a 2005 with only 24,000 milles on it and the maintenance is done according to owners manual. It doesn't overstart everytime, it did it maybe 20 times (more or less) in 3 years, but still.... it's not suppose to.
#1216 of 1523
The Use of Low Grade Gas Can Cause Starting Problems by jim_dandy
Aug 26, 2008 (2:52 pm)
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Sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone by using the term "Cheap Gas".
 
Unfortunately, even the more expensive gas may not have the appropriate additives.
  
Gasoline quality is an issue few people think about.
The formation of harmful deposits can be controlled by adding detergent-dispersants to gasoline, the most common of which is polybutene succinimide. Used with a petroleum carrier oil, detergent-dispersants help keep the intake manifold and ports clean. These chemicals are more effective than the carburetor detergents that were once used in gasoline, but they must be used at concentrations that are three to five times higher than the older carburetor detergents.
 
At the "High" end of the fuel quality spectrum are "Top Tier" gasolines. These fuels are recognized by the vehicle manufacturers as having the most effective additives and in the highest concentrations. Gasoline retailers must meet the high Top Tier standards with all their grades of gasoline (not just premium) to be designed as a Top Tier supplier. In addition, all the gasoline outlets carrying the brand of approved gasoline must also meet the same standards. Gasoline retailers who are currently on the Top Tier list include Chevron, Chevron-Canada (B.C. only), Texaco (Chevron supplied only), Conoco, Entec Stations, Kwik Trip/Kwik Star, MFA Oil Company, Phillips, QuikTrip, Shell, The Somerset Refinery and 76.
 
Unfortunately, fuel quality isn't something that is easily policed. Many states have programs in place to monitor fuel quality on either an ongoing basis or "incident specific" basis. Most are run by the state's "Department of Weights and Measures". Even so, the focus of most of these programs is to make sure consumers aren't being cheated at the pump and get the full gallon they pay for. Some programs also check fuels to make sure they do not contain too much alcohol. The specific density of gasoline can be field tested to determine its volatility and alcohol content. But testing octane and the amount and type of additives in the fuel requires expensive laboratory testing. So this type of quality testing is rarely done.
 
Most gasoline refiners don't want to sell the public bad gas because they obviously want repeat customers. Even so, they also know that deposit formation is a gradual thing that occurs over time. So if they cut back on the additive package to save a few cents per gallon, nobody is the wiser -- and least not right away.
 
The problem occurs when people buy the lowest priced LAC gas they can find every time they fill their tank. The low level of additives (or low quality additives) in the fuel will not be adequate to keep their engine clean, and sooner or later they'll start to experience driveability problems.
 
Worse yet, if a bad batch of fuel leaves a refinery and ends up in people's vehicles, it can cause even more serious problems. There have been instances where too much residual sulfur in a bad batch of gasoline has caused a rash of fuel pump failures.
 
Here are some resources:
 
Gasoline quality
 
Techron
 
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
jd
#1217 of 1523
Re: The Use of Low Grade Gas Can Cause Starting Problems [jim_dandy] by commuter10
Aug 27, 2008 (10:35 am)
Reply

Replying to: jim_dandy (Aug 26, 2008 2:52 pm)

I completely agree with Jim Dandy. After finding out about Top Tier gas in the owners manual (and having gas related carbon buildup problems with a previous vehicle) I have used the brands listed on the Top Tier website almost exclusively in my 2006 Equinox. It starts and runs great. I have only had it turn over more than once or twice before it started a few times. The Top Tier brands are the way to go.
 
My Equinox has about 24,000 miles and had been very reliable.
#1218 of 1523
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [grosloup] by packer3
Aug 28, 2008 (5:01 pm)
Reply

Replying to: grosloup (Aug 25, 2008 9:51 am)

The over start mode is in all the Chevys, my 05 Malibu and Equinox did it, the gas has nothing to do with it.
What you will find out one day as alot of people did during the gas shortages in the 70's was that there cars ran the same just as cars do today and if they didn't you wouldn't see un branded gas stations, do you think Sams, Costco, WaWa's make there own gas, they buy from the big guys you buy gas from however you pay a higher stuborn rate.
#1219 of 1523
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [packer3] by grosloup
Aug 29, 2008 (9:17 am)
Reply

Replying to: packer3 (Aug 28, 2008 5:01 pm)

Right! Gasoline as I see it is all the same. Maybe a little more refined from one companie to another) but still... At the pump I guess you're paying more for the "brand" than the quality of the product. Another thing that I noticed is if your engine is running and you turn the key to the start position ... not happens, usually the starter would make a grinching metal sound, but the Equinox.... nothing.
#1220 of 1523
Re: The Use of Cheap Gas Causes Starting Problems [grosloup] by packer3
Sep 03, 2008 (5:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: grosloup (Aug 29, 2008 9:17 am)

It's an over start mode some car companies put in the cars today, due to such quiet engines some times you can't even tell the engine is running. GM had to do that when they were testing the Trail Blazer before it came out the engineers ripped up a few starters before they decided to put a safe mode in the starter.
#1221 of 1523
Removing cross bars by meandmymaxx
Sep 06, 2008 (2:00 pm)
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Not sure if this is the right place for this question or not. But, does anyone know how to remove the roof rack cross bars on a 08? I just picked up my 08 and tried to remove them and can't figure out how. I can move them back and forth, but not remove. Thanks
 
Chuck
#1222 of 1523
Equinox roof rack cross bars by jackswammi
Sep 06, 2008 (4:13 pm)
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They are really hard to get off or on. Mine didn't come with cross bars so the dealer ordered them for me and gave me a print out from the service manual on how to install them. You have to pry off the rear plastic covers on the roof rails and the the bars will slide in or out it you release the lock pins on the bars by lifting up the plastic tabs on the bars.Prying off the covers can break push tabs on the covers real easy or scratch the paint on the top of the car.I'd leave the cross bars on if I were you unless you really have to take them off. Maybe the dealer will do it for you, but probably not for free.
#1223 of 1523
Re: Equinox roof rack cross bars [jackswammi] by meandmymaxx
Sep 07, 2008 (4:30 am)
Reply

Replying to: jackswammi (Sep 06, 2008 4:13 pm)

Thank You, I appreciate the answer. I think I will take your advice and leave them on.

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