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A tale of low octane fuel, a grenaded Cadillac SRX and GM's response

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by cwerdna, May 29, 2010.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    A tale of low octane fuel, a grenaded Cadillac SRX and GM's response — Autoblog
    More details at http://www.automobilesdeluxe.tv/fol...th-gm-to-update-all-2010-cadillac-srx-turbos/.

    Interesting... I've already heard of possible engine damage due if you here continuous or severe knocking, but this is the first I've heard of anything where it was this bad.

    http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/gm-recalling-select-2010-cadillac-srx-crossovers-over-engine-fai/ mentions there's a recall on this now. It looks like it took 2 months from discovery of the problem by LAU for the recall to be issued... hmmm. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=DrillDown&type=VEHICLE&year=2010&make=CADILLAC&model=SRX&component_id=0&TYPENUM=1&SUBMIT=Retrieve%20Recalls&summary=true&prod_id=748773&PrintVersion=YES lists May 24th.

    edit: Hmm, from http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.g...s/Public/Recalls/2010/V/RCDNN-10V223-8930.pdf, they first hit this on December 12, 2009 and they assigned an engineer to look at it on March 10, 2010 w/the LAU incident.
     
  2. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Isn't a "mega-knock event" basically the definition of grenading the engine? I mean it's like "a rod punched a big hole through your engine block - it's due to a ultra-super-mega-knock!"
     
  3. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    That engine has been on sale in europe since 2005 (in the vectra) and even longer in aus. your fuel must really suck!
     
  4. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    It's even worse when we put in diesel instead of gas. How many different grades of gas are routinely sold in Europe?
     
  5. Ogo

    Ogo Prius Owner since 2008

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    Usually two. RON 95 and 100, in some countries also 91 and 98.

    Prius is rated as RON 95 minimum in EU.
     
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  6. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    The octane rating number is calculated differently in the US (avg of ROM + MON I think) and in Europe, so the euro numbers are going to be higher.
     
  7. silentak1

    silentak1 Since 2005

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    Interesting, first time that I ever hear of something as extreme as this. Glad to see that GM investigated very quickly.
     
  8. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Qiuckly? See http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.g...s/Public/Recalls/2010/V/RCDNN-10V223-8930.pdf (I'm having trouble w/the URL now. You may have to visit it and then File > Save As to get the PDF). The first incident was on Dec 12, 2009. They didn't assign an product investigation engineer under March 10, 2010 which was the date of the 4th failure.