September 01, 2015
Paying a Premium for High Octane Gasoline
Paying a Premium for High Octane Gasoline? Unless it's recommended by your
owner's manual, don't spend the money on high octane gas. In most cases, there's
no benefit. Higher octane helps only if you have problems with your
engine"knocking." Read Your Owner's Manual Unless your engine is knocking,
buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money. Premium gas costs 15 to 20
cents per gallon more than regular. That can add up to $100 or more a year in
extra costs. Studies indicate that altogether, drivers may be spending hundreds
of millions of dollars each year for higher octane gas than they need. It may
seem like buying higher octane"premium"gas is like giving your car a treat, or
boosting its performance. But take note: the recommended gasoline for most cars
is regular octane. In fact, 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 OBD2 Scanner, go
faster, get better mileage, or run cleaner. Your best bet: listen to your
owner's manual. The only time you might need to switch to a higher octane level
is if your car engine knocks when you use the recommended fuel. This happens to
a small percentage of cars. About Octane Ratings What are octane ratings?
Octane ratings measure a gasoline's ability to resist engine knock — a rattling
or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air
mixture in one or more cylinders. Most gas stations offer three octane grades:
regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane), and premium (usually
92 or 93). The ratings are posted on bright yellow stickers on each gas pump.
What's the right octane level for your car? Check your owner's manual. Regular
octane is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression
engines, like sports cars and certain luxury cars, need mid-grade or premium
gasoline to prevent knocking. How can you tell if you're using the right octane
level? Listen to your car's engine. If it doesn't knock when you use the
recommended octane, you're using the right grade of gasoline. Will higher octane
gasoline clean your engine better? No, as a rule, high octane gasoline doesn't
outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in
removing them, or in cleaning your car's engine Car Diagnostic Tool. In fact, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency requires that all octane grades of all brands of
gasoline contain engine cleaning detergent additives to protect against the
build-up of harmful levels of engine deposits during the expected life of your
car. Should you ever switch to a higher octane gasoline? A few car engines may
knock or ping even if you use the recommended octane. If this happens, try
switching to the next highest octane grade. In many cases, switching to the
mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will eliminate the knock. If the knocking or
pinging continues after one or two fill-ups, you may need a tune-up or some
other repair. After that work is done, go back to the lowest octane grade at
which your engine runs without knocking. Will knocking harm my engine?
Occasional light knocking or pinging won't harm your engine, and doesn't mean
you need a higher octane. But a heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine
damage. Is all"premium"or"regular"gasoline the same? The octane rating of gas
labeled"premium"or"regular"isn't the same across the country. One state may
require a minimum octane rating of 92 for all premium gasoline, while another
may allow 90 octane to be called premium. To make sure you know what you're
buying, check the octane rating on the yellow sticker on the gas pump. Report
Labeling Problems If you don't see a yellow octane sticker on a gasoline pump,
file a complaint with the FTC. The FTC enforces the Fuel Rating Rule, designed
to ensure producers and marketers give you the information you need at the pump.
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