I do, but I mean regular oil changes, Mobie One Kenobi, watch/change your fluids, etc...

Hey Guys... thanks for your thoguhts so far. I called the Pontiac Dealer and asked him if its possible that it is fuel released and he said "Hmm... I'll have to check with the techniician" As of this writing I haven't heard back.

Here'* a question for the group: If it was just that I was a dumbass and put in regular gas what kind of damage did I do? It is the engine completely fubar?

It shouldn't be. The computer should have pulled KR enough to save the engine from death by knock. I'm more apt to think that some sort of trouble with the lower intake gaskets happened (either presently or in the past) and the oil/coolant mixture sat for too long , eating away at the bearings. But with as few miles as it has, it very well could be something "cheaper".

I still don't buy the LIM gaskets. There are other symptoms that develop over time.

Having come across country this past year.. when you say "regular" what octane rating are we talking? I saw 85 referred to as regular 87 as mid and 89 as premium in a couple places.

The PCM can't necessarily pull enough timing with KR to save a motor. KR is directly caused by knock and predetonation currently happening in the motor. It is possible that a piston chipped or other damage occurred through predetonation.

It'* not a 100% that the motor is completely gone..

How about telling us more symptoms.. is the oil pressure very low once the motor is up to temperature?

I did notice at idle the oil pressure would dip very low, however when driving at speed the oil pressure would normalize.

I do not condone using regular fuel in the supercharged vehicles, but i had a 1992 SSEi that i had for 2 years and ran nothing but regular and drove that car hard and never had an engine or tranny problem. I also ran regular in my first engine in my current 2002 for a month or two and still no problems. My lower intake got the best of that motor and now i run nothing but 93-95 octane in this engine.

I'm not buying that your motor problem has anything to do with using regular, especially since it was only one tank and the tank couldn't be completely empty so there had to be some premium left in there. I'm going with a few others and saying lower intake gasket. When my lower intake gasket went on my first motor, it took my lower bearings with it like yours. I had the option of replacing the lower bearings or getting a different motor. Replacing the lower bearings is relatively cheap as they don't have to remove the motor from the car. But it'* better and easier to just get another motor.

No matter if you get a reman or used motor, don't let them put Dex-Cool in. Have universal stuff put in instead. Also if you get a used motor, get the lower intake gasket replaced ASAP and replaced with an aluminum framed one. The part number is somewhere here in the forums.

I dont buy the gas thing either My mom drove the 95 for 5 years straight on 87 and I also drove it on 87 for 2 years straight after that.

Was your 92 modded?

As the first few replies said, get a second opinion...preferably from a non-dealership shop.

Finger-pointing, suggestions for corrective action, and all the rest ought to wait until after the initial diagnosis is confirmed

No, why do you ask?


Something to remember, the 3800 is still a 3800 whether it'* supercharged or not, designed to use regular unleaded fuel. If you drive casually without using much or none of the supercharger, regular unleaded will make no difference at all.