Types of Fuel Used by a GMC Sierra -Explained!
The GMC Sierra is one of the most impressive trucks; it performs well and has made many drivers and owners pleasant because of its fantastic performance and features. It has a total of four generations with many options in engines. This article will cover everything you want to know about the correct types of fuel used for your GMC Sierra, Gasoline only or Diesel? Moreover, you can check our previous articles on Ford Fusion fuel types.
Let’s jot down a brief summary for you before we begin going into the details.
Hence, use Gasoline with a minimum Octane rating of 87, which is compatible with all of the 4 generations of the GMC Sierra. Some engines use a 91 or greater octane-rated gasoline to function well. Its flex-fuel variants can also work well on the E-85 (Ethanol 85) gasoline blends. Utilize a gas with a 93 octane-rating for the variant, such as 6.2 L, which cannot run well on gasoline with an octane rating of 87.
Types of Fuel A GMC Sierra Takes
Explanation
Below are given the detailed answers to all of your queries, from which types of fuel (gasoline or diesel) to the consequences of using the wrong type of fuel, and how it is linked to the type of engine according to the generations of the GMC Sierra. Keep on reading!
Types of Gasoline Based on Engine’s Type
Based on your GMC Sierra’s engine, the correct type of fuel is opted for. Below is the information regarding the machines offered by the GMC Sierra for all four generations and the compatible gasoline according to its specific generation, models, and engine type.
The GMC Sierra-1st Generation-1999 to 2006
For all the engines offered by the 1st generation GMC Sierra, Gasoline with a minimum Octane rating of 87 can be used, but it is recommended to use a mid-grade 91 octane or greater with engines above 6 L.
Following are the 6 engines that are offered by the 1st generation of GMC Sierra;
- 4.3 L V-6
- 4.8 L V-8
- 5.3 L V-8
- 6.0 L V-8
- 6.2 L V-8
- 6.6 L V-8
- 8.1 L V-8
The GMC Sierra – 2nd Generation-2007 to 2013
For all the engines offered by the 2nd generation GMC Sierra, Gasoline with a minimum Octane rating of 87 is recommended. The 2nd generation also introduced engines that are flex-fuel compatible. 4.3 L, 4.8 L, 5.3 L, and 6.0 L, it is recommended to use a mid-rate 91 Octane-rated or greater than this. Whereas, Gasoline with a 93 octane-rating is recommended for the variant, such as 6.2 L, which is incapable of running well on gasoline with an octane rating of 87.
Following are the five engines that are offered by the 3rd generation of GMC Sierra;
- 4.3 L V-6
- 4.8 L V-8
- 5.3 L V-8 (Flex-fuel)
- 6.0 L V-8 (Flex-fuel)
- 6.2 L V-8(Flex-fuel)
The GMC Sierra – 3rd Generation-2015 to 2018
For all the engines offered by the 4th generation, regular, unleaded gasoline with 87 Octane-rating is recommended. 5.3 L and 6.0 L, it is recommended to use a mid-rate 91 Octane-rated or greater than this. Whereas Gasoline with a 93 octane-rating is recommended for variants such as 6.2 L, incapable of running well on gasoline with an octane rating of 87.
Following are the four engines that are offered by the 4th generation of GMC Sierra;
- 4.3 L V-6
- 5.3 L V-8
- 6.0 L V-8
- 6.2 L V-8
The GMC Sierra – 4th Generation-2019 to Present
For all the engines offered by the 4th generation, regular, unleaded gasoline with 87 Octane-rating or higher is recommended. Regarding towing, a heavy-duty task, Gasoline with 91 Octane grading or higher is highly recommended for more efficient performance.
Following are the four engines that are offered by the 4th generation of GMC Sierra;
- 2.7 L in-line 4
- 4.3 L V-6
- 5.3 L V-8
- 6.2 L V-8
Which Other Gas Varieties to Use for GMC Sierra?
At present, we have a variety of gasoline options for our vehicles. But does GMC Sierra recommend any of these for its GMC Sierra ranges and generations? Let’s move further to clear out all of your confusions!
GMC Recommended Fuel
Top-tier detergent gasoline is highly recommended by the GMC itself. According to the manufacturers of the GMC Sierra use Gasoline with a minimum Octane rating of 87, which is said to be compatible with all of the 4 generations of the GMC Sierra.
For some engines, 91 or greater octane-rated gasoline is required to function well. Its flex-fuel variants can also function well on the E-85 (Ethanol 85) gasoline blends. The gasoline with a 93 octane-rating is recommended for the variant such as 6.2 L, which is incapable of running well on the gasoline with an octane rating of 87.
Reformulated Gasoline Fuel (RFG)
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) has a nature-friendly impact; therefore, if available, RFG is recommended to be used by GMC for your GMC Sierra and is said to increase your vehicle’s miles per gas number. It is also best recommended for the area having smog at a higher concentration to decrease air pollution.
Can All The Generations of GMC Sierra Consume RFGs As Fuel?
You must be wondering if all 4 generations of GMC Sierra are eligible for using Reformulation Gasoline Fuel, so the answer to this is YES! It has been suggested to consume RFG for all GMC Sierra’s generations.
E-85 or Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends
For obvious reasons, E-85 is mentioned when discussing ethanol-mixed gasoline. The maximum percentage of ethanol to be used with gasoline engines (regular unleaded) by 2010 was 10%. Your emission system and fuel tanks could be damaged if more ethanol is used. In 2011, the maximum percentage of ethanol allowed to be used, with an 85% of unleaded, regular gasoline engine tanks, was 15%. If your GMC Sierra has a Flex-Fuel engine, it is E-85 compliant and safe to utilize E-85 fuel. Recommended is regular gasoline (unleaded) with a 91 Octane-rating or higher. Moreover, if your engine gets damaged due to the addition of additives, the warranty does not cover it.
Gasoline having Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT)
Gasoline having Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl, abbreviated as MMT, is used to improve the octane of fuel with poor quality. It is also used to seize the knocking noise produced by engines. It is advised not to add this one to your gas tank since it can damage the system of your vehicle that controls the emissions.
Gas with Added Materials
The market has a lot of additives which prove to be very harmful to your vehicle’s engine due to the presence of metals in them. Do not use additives such as MMT, methanol, etc. To keep your engine clean, safe, and up to the emission standards, use top-tier gasoline (Detergent –gas).
Biodiesels
Biodiesel oils are very nature friendly since they are soyabean oil derivatives. Canola and yellow grease are the sources and are biodegradable. But for GMC Sierra engines (for all 4 generations), manufacturers do not recommend biodiesels since they are only compatible with diesel-based engines, which GMC Sierra’s any generation does not offer.
Question and Answer Section!
“My Engine Knocks Afterwards Refilling!”; What Does It Mean?
Using lower octane-rated gasoline in your GMC Sierra degrades the performance and economy of the engine. Gasoline will burn prematurely if you put a lower octane gas in an engine with higher compression, causing an unsmooth burn and engine knock. Hence, using the correct gasoline fuel with the correct octane grading is crucial.
I heard a fainting knocking sound from the engine, which indicated no danger. But if you hear a loud knocking, it is due to the lower quality and lower octane-rate gasoline. Fill your tank with premium or mid-rated octane gasoline to reduce this noise.
How to Locate a Flex-Fuel Vehicle?
A yellow bezel surrounding the inlet of the fuel tank indicates that your vehicle is flex-fuel. If you cannot find it there, you can check out the door of your fuel tank as well.
If your GMC Sierra has a Flex-Fuel emblem and a yellow gas tank cap, it signifies it is E-85 compliant and safe to utilize E-85 fuel.
For a flex-fuel vehicle, do not add lesser than 3 Gallons when fuels are interchanged. Also, a vehicle should be craven at least 8 miles right after the refilling instead of parking. Do not add any additives if your engine is flex-fuel since it can cause more damage to your vehicle.
Why Is It Essential to Use the Correct Types of Gasoline for GMC Sierra?
Now the question arises, why is it important to know about the correct type of fuel for your GMC Sierra? The answer to this is simple; to protect your engine from damage and keep your warranty from being void.
DRIVERS’ REVIEWS! Regular Gasoline or Premium?
After referring various forums, and reviews of the drivers using GMC Sierra around the world, the conclusion is that; the regular, unleaded gasoline with 87 Octane-rating has proves to work well for them. While the ones using the premium gasoline with 91 or higher (93) Octane rating has proved to work much better for them.
In contrast, others say they do feel an obvious difference and recommend using the premium one, especially when it comes to tough duty tasks such as trailer-hailing or towing and during certain weather conditions such as very hot ones.
Some also considered the cost since the premium ones are a bit more expensive than the regular, unleaded ones.
Conclusion:
The GMC Sierra is one the fantastic trucks that existed, performing well, and has made many drivers and its owners pleasant because of its outstanding performance and features. It has a total of four generations with many options in engines.
To conclude about the types of fuel GMC Sierra requires; use Gasoline with a minimum Octane rating of 87, which is compatible with all of the 4 generations of the GMC Sierra. Some engines require a 91 or greater octane-rated gasoline to function well. Its flex-fuel variants can also perform well on the E-85 (Ethanol 85) gasoline blends. Use a gas with a 93 octane rating for the variant, such as 6.2 L, which cannot run well on gasoline with an octane rating of 87.
