We just got this Cutlass for my daughter, with 51,000 on the clock. We have been told the injectors are prone to failure and/or plugging causing failure. We replaced the fuel filter, put in a bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner, and have advised her to use a better grade of gas (89 octane or better) and just bite the bullet in the extra cost. Anything else I can do or suugest to her? More frequent use of the FI cleaner? Is the better gas going to do her any good (I understand the higher octane isn't an issue.)

Yeah, I have some suggestions....don't use 89 octane or better. It's a waste of money. GM's motors (unless it's a vette, or boosted car) are designed and tuned for regular unleaded, so using 89+ won't help. Which motor does her cutlass have in it?

Check for recalls on the car. If there really have been problems, then maybe GM has done something about it (not bloody likely). You could also replace the injectors. It wouldn't cost that much to do, and she's gonna spend a lot more buying 89+ octane than it would cost to replace the injectors.

I understand the octane boost probably doesn't help, it's the expectation of a greater amount of the cleaning additives that was the question. The injectors are at least $75 each, and the intake manifold needs to be removed to replace them. The extra for the gas might be worthwhile if it helps.

Use a quality fuel, and replace the fuel filter.

If the injectors become plugged due to foriegn material that gets past the filter, they cannot be cleaned by conventional methods.


Gm cars are designed to use the crappiest low octane fuels you can find...don't waste your money on higher octane fuels...its a waste of money.