What grade of fuel should I use? What octane fuel should I use in my vehicle?
You should use the octane rating required for your vehicle by the manufacturer
. So, check your owner's manual. Most gasoline vehicles are designed to run on 87 octane, but others are designed to use higher octane fuel.
Does it matter what fuel grade you use?
No matter what you've heard,
premium-grade gasoline won't do more to clean deposits from your fuel injectors or other parts of the fuel system
because today's regular gas contains the same detergent additives. The main difference with premium is its octane rating — 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane.
How do I choose fuel grade?
If you're just passing through,
plan for lower altitudes and go by the numbers on the pump
. If your car requires 87, then use 87 or higher. If your car requires premium, buy just enough gasoline to get you back down to lower altitudes, then tank up on 91 or 93 octane once you've reached your typical altitude.
Should I use higher grade fuel?
In a consumer notice, the Federal Trade Commission, notes: “In most cases,
using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit
. It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”
What happens if you put 93 gas in a 87 car?
If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don't worry. You're actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means
it will burn differently in your engine
.
Which gas is better 87 89 or 93?
Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89
. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.
If your car doesn't ping using regular, then there's no reason to use premium
. The anti-knock level is just fine for your engine. And today's advanced engine controls adjust the engine's timing and fuel mixture to compensate for differing octane levels to prevent pinging or knocking. Many cars only require regular gas.
Does higher octane give better mileage?
So is Higher Octane Fuel More Efficient? In a word, no.
On its own paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage
. Giving your car the fuel it requires to run smoothly and efficiently, without damage to the engine, does make a difference in your fuel mileage.
Can you mix 87 and 91 gas?
Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel
. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.
What is the best fuel for your car?
Premium has the highest octane rating at 95. Super premium has a 98 rating
. The octane rating indicates the anti-knocking properties of an engine. The higher the octane rating the higher the resistance of the fuel to burn early inside the combustion chamber.
No, premium gas isn't a secret sauce for cleaning your engine
. The main concern in engine maintenance is carbon build-up, which can happen over time with all fuel types if you skip routine checks. The good news is that both regular and premium gas have detergents that can reduce carbon deposits to an extent.
Does 93 or 87 gas last longer?
Sadly,
there's nothing in premium gasoline that would make it last longer than other fuels from the pump
. Since the distinguishing feature is the higher-octane levels, the only real benefit you gain is lowering the chance of engine knocking, which isn't much of a threat on most modern fuel systems.
Cars that require premium gasoline have high-compression engines, turbochargers, and other high-performance aspects.
Not using premium won't necessarily hurt your engine
, but you could lose some of the performance of that premium engine you paid for if you use regular or midgrade gas.
Luxury cars may require premium gas if they have a high performance or turbocharged engine
. Even if you're not buying a luxury car, more luxurious trim levels for a car may offer engine options that require premium gas.
Can you pump gas with car running?
Is it illegal to pump gas while your car is running?
Pumping gas with the engine running is illegal in all 50 states
. The safety risks may be minimal, but the law is clear and you should always turn off the car before refueling.
What if I accidentally put 87 instead of 91?
If the octane rating is less than 91,
you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty
. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine needs service.” Note that this applies only to engines that require premium gas.
Does 89 last longer than 87?
Re: does 89 grade gas last longer than 87?
There is absolutely no reason to run a medium octane grade or high octane grade of gasoline UNLESS THE ENGINE IS PINGING
.
Does gas burn slower on a full tank?
Reducing the weight of your car by 2.5% (by only filling your tank half full) would not have a noticeable effect on your fuel consumption. When all is said and done,
there isn't a huge difference in fuel consumption
, but there are some definite pros to filling your tank.
Can I mix premium and unleaded gas? Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.
In short,
yes, you can usually switch from premium to regular gas for a short time
**. But if your car requires premium gas, then your engine may start to underperform. Many people get confused about the difference between premium and regular gas, so it's hard to understand why some cars require one or the other.
If you mistakenly fill up with regular fuel, your car's ECU will adjust engine timing and performance to work with the lower-octane fuel. In most cases, this is ok for the times when there are no premium pumps around, but it's not ideal to run the cheapest fuel possible for extended periods of time.
What gas gets the best mileage?
Premium gives better gas mileage
Because premium gas has a higher octane rating than midgrade or regular gas, it produces a little more power when burnt. Designed for performance cars with large, powerful engines, premium also helps minimize the risk of preignition inside highly-stressed, hot engine cylinders.
What speed is best for gas mileage?
The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is
55-65mph
. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly. For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph (oh, and it's illegal too). 8.
Which gas station has the best quality gas?
By far,
Chevron
has the best quality gas in the United States. Their Techron blend of additives has been found to reduce carbon deposits and keep your engine running clean for thousands of miles. In addition, Chevron gas stations are easy to find.
Can higher octane hurt your engine?
It won't hurt the engine
, nor does it require a higher octane. If you hear a heavier or ongoing knock, however, don't ignore it. Make the switch to the next higher grade octane and see if that takes care of it. If the knocking persists, see your trusty mechanic.
Other things to consider: failing to use high-octane fuel in your premium vehicle could cause
engine knock or pinging
, which sounds like there's a large woodpecker under your hood; you could experience damage to your components; and using the wrong octant level could even void your warranty. Ouch.
What happens if you put 91 instead of 95?
It won't hurt your engine if you use a higher octane fuel. For example, if you use 95 or 98 in an engine designed for 91, that's fine. However, avoid using a lower octane fuel than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer.
Using 91 in an engine designed for 95 or 98 is potentially destructive
.
Which fuel lasts the longest?
Which fuels have the longest shelf life?
Propane, alcohol, wood, and charcoal
are examples of good emergency storage fuels that can be stored indefinitely and still remain viable.
What happens if you mix 91 and 95?
Thanks. Different octane fuels can mix together OK so
won't do any harm
. If the vehicle is designed to run on 91, you're usually best to stick to that as there's generally no benefit in running a more expensive, higher octane fuel.
Does 93 gas burn slower?
Fueling Basics: Explaining Octane Ratings
Fuel with an 87 octane rating burns more quickly while higher-octane fuels burn more slowly.
Is there really a difference between fuel grades?
The higher an octane number, the more stable the fuel
. Retail gasoline stations in the United States sell three main grades of gasoline based on the octane level: Regular (the lowest octane fuel–generally 87) Midgrade (the middle range octane fuel–generally 89–90)
What happens when you put the wrong grade of gas in your car?
Putting Regular Fuel in a Car That Requires Premium
Using lower octane fuel in a vehicle that requires premium gas could cause some serious internal damage.
You'll most likely notice the spark knock (a sort of high-pitched pinging or rattling noise)
.
What happens if you put lower grade fuel in car?
Using a lower octane fuel for a premium-required vehicle may sometimes lead to internal damage. In some cases, you may notice
rattling noises, decreased fuel economy, and reduced efficiency and performance from your engine
. If you accidentally put in a lower octane fuel in your tank, it doesn't hurt to use it up.
Does fuel grade affect gas mileage?
So is Higher Octane Fuel More Efficient? In a word, no.
On its own paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage
. Giving your car the fuel it requires to run smoothly and efficiently, without damage to the engine, does make a difference in your fuel mileage.
