Types Of Gas A Cadillac XT5 Takes (Explained)

Today we are interested in looking at the various gas-related characteristics of the Cadillac XT5. Like our other gas-related blogs, we will answer questions such as Cadillac XT5’s recommended fuel types, fuels to avoid, fuel economy, tank size, and the cost to fill up the XT5. So, what gas does a Cadillac XT5 take?

Cadillac XT5, with a 3.6L engine, take regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87. XT5, with a 2.0L engine, take premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91.

This is not the whole picture. We have covered everything in great detail, so grab a cup of coffee while you get answers to all fuel-related questions, and let’s end some of those myths about fuel additives.  

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Does The Cadillac XT5 Require Premium Gasoline?

The following table gives a quick overview of the different types of engines used in XT5, all the model years, and the recommended fuel for each engine type. 

If you’re interested in the different gasoline requirements for all Cadillacs, please read the article we just linked.

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

Reformulated Gasoline

As the name suggests, reformulated gasoline is a gasoline that has been tinkered with to have lower amounts of compounds that contribute to the formation of smog and ozone. Increasing the octane rating may also include ethanol to increase combustion efficiency and reduce carbon monoxide emissions. 

RFG also has lower sulfur content and burns more cleanly. Its use has helped reduce smog and is now mandatory across many cities in the USA. 

As per the Cadillac owner’s manual, the general recommendation is that fuel should be sulfur-free or low in sulfur content and have an octane rating, depending on the engine, between 87 and 91. Reformulated gasoline meets these criteria perfectly.

Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends Or E-85

With more and more states and environmental and health agencies pushing for a cleaner environment, a very high percentage of gas sold in the USA is oxygenated with 10% ethanol. This fuel is generally marked as E10.  

The general recommendation regarding ethanol-blended fuel is that Cadillac prohibits using any fuel that is labeled greater than 15% ethanol by volume for its gas engines. Hence, mid-level ethanol blends (16–50% ethanol) are not allowed, but E10 and E15 are fine.

One of the more popular oxygenated blends is E85 or Flex Fuel which consists of 85% ethanol. Some car manufacturers have developed engines designed to run on Flex Fuel and normal gasoline. Cadillac prohibits using E85 because its use can harm the engine and the fuel supply system.

Gasoline With Added Materials

There is still a lot of debate about the effectiveness of various materials when added to gas, with most car manufacturers still unconvinced about the benefits or advantages. In fact, in a study carried out by EPA on added materials, most materials did not meet the claimed benefits.

Instead, Cadillac strongly recommends using TOP TIER Detergent gasoline for its vehicles, including the XT5. TOP TIER gasoline already has all the necessary additives mixed into it, and it’s guaranteed not to hurt your engine. You can find a TOP TIER retailer on toptiergas.com.

If TOP TIER is unavailable, Cadillac suggests adding ACDelco Fuel System Treatment Plus Gasoline to the fuel tank at every oil change or 15,000 km (9,000 mi), whichever occurs first. These products will help keep your vehicle’s engine fuel deposit free and performing optimally. 

Further, Cadillac warns that failure to follow recommendations outlined in the owner’s manual may require unscheduled maintenance.

Gasoline With MMT

MMT or Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl is added to enhance the fuel’s octane rating. Although it enhances the octane content, resulting in better efficiency, the long-term damage it causes to public health and the vehicle’s health outweigh its benefits. 

Studies have shown that MMT has a higher level of hydrocarbon emission. As a result, public health agencies put up a strong front against its use. Moreover, it has been shown to cause increased spark plug deposits and plugging of monolithic converters.

Cadillac prohibits using fuel that contains metals such as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) because it has been found to damage the emissions control system and spark plugs.

What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?

Engine knock is something that we all have experienced. Knocking is the repetitive pinging engine sound that accompanies acceleration. There can be many reasons for engine knock, such as poor quality fuel, temperature, spark plug condition, or engine condition.

Usually, knocking starts off because of poor quality fuel, and its persistent use aggravates the problems and weakens the engine. Each engine is designed to run on a fuel of a recommended octane rating. When fuel with a lower-than-recommended octane rating is used, the air-gas mixture burns unevenly, resulting in a knocking sound.

If the knocking results from the use of lower octane gas, it is recommended to switch immediately to the fuel with recommended octane rating. However, if the knocking continues even after using recommended fuel, it is necessary to have the car checked by a Cadillac authorized technician.

Does The Cadillac XT5 Have Good Gas Mileage?

The Cadillac XT5 uses 2.0L and 3.6L engines in its first generation. The 3.6L AWD is slightly less efficient in mileage per gallon than the FWD version. Similarly, the 2.0L FWD is marginally more fuel-efficient than the AWD variant. The 2.0L Hearse and Limo versions’ fuel efficiency is off by about 2 to 3 miles to a gallon compared to the 2.0 L SUV versions. 

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of The Cadillac XT5?

The following table shows the tank size of the Cadillac XT5. The AWD versions in both the 2.0L and 3.6L have slightly larger tanks. The current size for the AWD is 19.0 gallons in both the 2.0L and 3.6L versions, while it is 22 gallons for the FWD.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_XT5#Trim_levels
• https://www.fueleconomy.gov/
• https://www.edmunds.com/
• https://my.cadillac.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2022/cadillac/xt5/2022-cadillac-xt5-owners-manual.pdf
• https://www.autobytel.com/car-ownership/maintenance-repair/what-are-gasoline-additives-104284/
• https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/biodiesel_basics.html
• https://gasprices.aaa.com/
• https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/mobilesource/vetech/rfgprog.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gasoline_additives

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!