Service Engine Soon Light - 2000 Camaro SS

First things first. Make sure your gas cap has a good seal. And yes, get it checked if the light does not go off. You've got emission problems. (Well, your car does at least...you might too, but keep that to yourself.) ;)

Martin '01 Formula - MTI Air Box Lid, K&N Filter, Hurst-6, SLP Cold Air Induction & Smooth Intake Bellow Corsa Catback w/Premium Tips '83 V45 Magna

That gas cap is worth checking... I (or should I say my daughter) drive a '98 Malibu, the check engine light started coming on (hadn't happened for a couple months!) I took it to have the code read, turns out the fuel/emissions code was going off because my daughter wasn't tightening the gas cap enough. I had put in a locking gas cap because some cars at my daughter's high school have mysteriously had sugar put into their gas tanks! At least I know my daughter actually bought gas for the car...

Terry '98 Malibu (daughter's car) '68 Camaro 383 stroker (dad's car) '00 Saturn SL1 (mom's car)

Sugar in gas tanks causing damage to an engine is an urban myth. Sugar does not dissolve in gasoline. At least not enough to cause any damage. If it does do any damage, it's because the car has nothing protecting the fuel system from debris. That would mean the fuel system does not have a fuel filter. The other detriment is that the gas tank is filling up with something other than gas.

-Bruce

Enough Sugar in the tank will cause a issue. If there is any water in there the sugar will dissolve. Sugar is very flamible, and can cause odd ignition for a internial combustion engine.

Sugar will also turn gasoline stale, will clogg fuel filters, and fuel pump pump up screans. Stale/Bad Gas makes Fuel Injected engines run like crap untill it is run out and a tank or two of freash fuel run thru. A clogged fuel filter can leave you stranded, and a clogged pickup screan on a electric fuel pump can burn out the pump.

Another thing, unburned sugar in the cataletic converter over time could ruin it.

Basically anything in the tank other then the intended Fuel, or Fuel Additives can be harmfull, or not good for the car.

Charles

Knowing what I know now, if I were a juvinal I would add about 8 to 10 Gallions of Racing Alcohol to the gastank. Not only will it eat at the rubber seals, it might just put a hole in a piston.

Charles, damn if I had just known you back when I was a teenager.... I never thought of racing alcohol! Worst thing I did to a car was help a friend siphon gas OUT of a car and then put it in his Trans Am.

Terry

I think the worst I ever did Was flip someones car, and push it on it's roof. Little Grand Am, like a 86 ot 87. Used a 3/4 ton Chevy 4x4 and a recovery strap (20,000 pull, 10,000 basket). Rolled it over on the passengers side, was still Pissed off, rolled it on to the roof. Was still pissed off. Drug it out of the driveway into the middle of the raod when I wised up. People were watching, Dealers Tags are handy though. Too bad it takes so long to get a Re-issue. I aught to stop before I incriminate my self.

BTW: there is this type of Wood Alcohol that a person could use. A customer got some from a chemical supply shop to try and cheat on emissions testings. After 100 miles it ate the seals out of the fuel pump, and the adheasive that holds the plastic baffles in the fuel tank. That customers $20 buck mechanic viset aviodance cost him $550 by the time it was done. New Tank, New Pump, New Tank Straps (rusted out). Charles