Techron
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,502
Likes: 471
From: Douglas County WI
On my 2002 vert the gas gauge failed and I added Techron. Within two miles the problem was resolved. I added a bottle every six months after that. Three years later the gauge acted up again. It took two doses and almost 100 miles before it solved the problem. Removing the sending unit was never an option for me. Techron is magic. Use it!
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 8
From: Car is for sale
the gauge will only act up when it hits and stays on the “dirty” part. Some don’t realize that the gas gauge works perfectly probably at 96% of its range. So some of the time users add Techron fill of the tank and get a false positive of the gauge working not realizing the gauge needs to hit exactly the same spot of the failure
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,795
Likes: 4,614
I used to have a problem with my '98 (had it from new), the gauge would drop to zero after a while - turn off and on again and all OK. There was a computer update that fixed it for me back around 2000 or so. Some kind of error recovery was added to the programming. Never had the problem since. Used Techron occasionally but if you use Top Tier gas, you should not need anything else.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 8
From: Car is for sale
The only problem I see with top tier fuel is that it's not available everywhere. Plus, and I may be wrong here, isn't top tier fuel something that has come into being in just the last 10 years or so? If true, that would mean most C5s ran no top tier fuel the first 10-15 years of their lives. I realize there was some good fuel available before the term existed, so maybe more of a marketing ploy and name change than anything else?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 980
From: Whitby Ont.
OP, I don't know if you've ever been to Woodward before. If not, and I'm not trying to rain on your parade, be aware that, like many things, it has become so commercialized that I no longer go. It is more of a "park" than a cruise. Many times it takes 20 minutes to over a half hour to travel 1/2-3/4 mile!! I live here, and have been many times. Today, it's better to watch from a lawn chair than "cruise." If you go 40 miles North to Flint, the "Back to the Bricks" cruise, held the same week, is better, in my opinion. Many may not know it, but Flint is where GM began, along with the 1953 Corvette. Enjoy your stay!!! My .02, YMMV......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,250
Likes: 539
After buying the 2004 C5 in 2014 and reading about the sending unit problem, I used the 'snake oil' at every other fill up of Shell Premium. About 4 years later, my fuel gauge started acting up. No amount of additional snake oil solved the problem. The gauge now will drop to empty after fill up. However, in about 15 miles of driving it will return to reading properly. Because I would have to drop the tanks to replace the sending units, I decided I can live with issue. Just another C5 part quality control and fuel tank design goofs by the GM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,795
Likes: 4,614
THAT'S the ONLY way to have a lot of fun there any more. The "cruise" aspect is pretty much history. Its more of a "parade" today. Enjoy!!! Please consider the Back to the Bricks, too. More cruising, hundreds of cars. A lot of guys cruise between the 2 events. They're actually on the same highway, old US23/24/Dixie Highway, just 35 miles apart......
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 680
Likes: 272
From: Cincinnati Ohio
[QUOTE=hyperv6;1606949531]Results often depend on what is exactly wrong and how far gone it is.
Best it is said it is a preventive and if you have a sender issue your results may very. In some cases it will not fix thing but in others it will. Not ever case is the same.
Running it as a preventative is not going to hurt a thing if you can’t get the top tier fuels in your area.
I used to think Marvel Mystery Oil was an old man’s myth but when I freed up a Corvair engine that was sitting for 25 years I realized it does work. Now I know it is not a cure all for all but it does work in some cases.
Interesting about Marvel Mystery oil. Many years ago, a friend built go cart racing engines. He always used MM oil as part of his engine break in process. He firmly believed that he got better ring sealing and said he had dyno data to prove it. He did build powerful engines getting something over 9 hp on those old Briggs and Stratton engines.
Best it is said it is a preventive and if you have a sender issue your results may very. In some cases it will not fix thing but in others it will. Not ever case is the same.
Running it as a preventative is not going to hurt a thing if you can’t get the top tier fuels in your area.
I used to think Marvel Mystery Oil was an old man’s myth but when I freed up a Corvair engine that was sitting for 25 years I realized it does work. Now I know it is not a cure all for all but it does work in some cases.
Interesting about Marvel Mystery oil. Many years ago, a friend built go cart racing engines. He always used MM oil as part of his engine break in process. He firmly believed that he got better ring sealing and said he had dyno data to prove it. He did build powerful engines getting something over 9 hp on those old Briggs and Stratton engines.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I use Costco gas mostly - full top tier spec and a good price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,870
Likes: 1,638
From: North Coast
The Top Tier is listed as having all the cleaners required by MFGs. They pay to be labeled as such.
No rated fuels may have the same cleaners and some may not. Because they are not rated they could be anything.
Many off brand in our areas sell what ever they get the best price on that week from a broker. If say Shell has an over supply they will sell off the excess and you can get Shell cheap at the no one station. On the other hand if all they can get is some swamp water gas then you may get some real crap.
When I worked at a gas station in when I was still in school we had Shell and it was always ok. But the no name place would have issues with fuel lines freezing up if they got a bad line of gas mixed with their old tanks. We would see an increase in sales when it got really cold.
No rated fuels may have the same cleaners and some may not. Because they are not rated they could be anything.
Many off brand in our areas sell what ever they get the best price on that week from a broker. If say Shell has an over supply they will sell off the excess and you can get Shell cheap at the no one station. On the other hand if all they can get is some swamp water gas then you may get some real crap.
When I worked at a gas station in when I was still in school we had Shell and it was always ok. But the no name place would have issues with fuel lines freezing up if they got a bad line of gas mixed with their old tanks. We would see an increase in sales when it got really cold.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,213
Likes: 1,173
From: Southlake, TX
I have two Chevron stations a short, equal distance from my house. I fill with Chevron gas as much as I can. I'm not sure the Techron works but I (by default) use it regularly.
I figure it is like getting florid in my water,
I figure it is like getting florid in my water,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 106
From: The Natures Coast/Caribbean
Back in 06 my 98 gas guage was tripping. I used 1 can seafoam and then Texaco gas w Techron. Who’s the nay sayer about Techron? Oh my sending unit is still on the car works fine, of course I use Seafoam about once a year ✌️
Last edited by BRKLYN; Aug 18, 2023 at 06:57 PM.
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9,927
Likes: 7,231
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9,927
Likes: 7,231
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Replaced failed senders. Fixed.
They are still on the car.
I use grocery store gas now.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
From: Virginia
On my 2002 vert the gas gauge failed and I added Techron. Within two miles the problem was resolved. I added a bottle every six months after that. Three years later the gauge acted up again. It took two doses and almost 100 miles before it solved the problem. Removing the sending unit was never an option for me. Techron is magic. Use it!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
From: Virginia
Top tier just means the gas has all the manufacturers' recommended additives. The "big brands" always had a full additive package - Techron being Chevron's additive. Discount gas was cheaper because they skimped, probably still do, on additives. And the modern fuel system and engine needs additives for long life. I've had my C5 since 1997 and it still has the original senders and fuel pumps. It had a new fuel filter at about the 80k mark, but being an early car, the fuel filter is not in the tank, so is easy to replace.
I use Costco gas mostly - full top tier spec and a good price.
I use Costco gas mostly - full top tier spec and a good price.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,795
Likes: 4,614
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
From: Virginia