| Advancements in automotive technology have allowed manufacturers to provide yet another feature on selected makes and models of vehicles -- with a touch of a button it is possible to monitor fuel mileage and actually see how driving habits are saving or costing us at the gas pump. There is another way to save, and that's knowing what type of gas is best for your vehicle. The following information should help you to better understand the fuel requirements of your vehicle and the terms that are associated with gasoline.
The most expensive fuel may not be the best fuel for your vehicle. In fact, "super" or "premium" fuel may actual hurt the performance of your vehicle. Most modern economy cars are designed to operate with minimum octane requirements, while most performance vehicles require a higher octane to operate at peak performance. Simply said, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific vehicle.
The recommended octane rating can be found in your vehicle owner's manual.
The octane ratings that most of us are familiar with are regular, mid-grade, and premium/super. Premium/super is the highest octane-rated fuel. These labels are representative of the numerical octane ratings, and are usually affixed to the fuel pumps on a yellow and black tag.
Gasoline octane ratings can best be described as the fuel's ability to resist engine knocks. Engine knock (also known as pinging, pre-ignition, detonation and spark knock), is a result of too-rapid or uneven burning of the air-fuel mixture in the engine's combustion chamber. This results in an internal knocking noise in the engine. The higher the octane rating, the slower the fuel burns, and the greater the resistance it has to engine knock.
Engine knock also can be caused by several other factors. In fact, in most cases an engine knock is a result of a control problem, such as improper ignition timing, carbon deposits in the engine, a malfunctioning exhaust gas recirculation valve system, an engine that is running too hot, or simply an engine that has worn with age.
If your vehicle is knocking, and all mechanical areas check out okay, it may be time to switch to another brand of fuel. Octane ratings can vary from brand to brand, and simply switching brands may be the answer to correcting that engine knock.
If the vehicle manufacturer recommends regular gasoline, higher octane-rated fuel will not provide more engine power, burn cleaner or improve fuel economy in vehicles that are in good mechanical condition and do not have engine knock.
If the manufacturer recommends that mid-grade or premium fuel should be used in your vehicle, it is important to follow that recommendation. Most modern vehicles are equipped with a sensor that is able to detect engine knock. If a lower rated fuel is used, and engine knock is detected, the sensor will send a signal to the vehicle's computer and the computer will react to that signal, resulting in adversely effected engine performance.
- If you see that a fuel tanker has just finished refilling a gas pump, you may want to try a different gas station for your fill-up. Freshly filled fuel pumps are not your best option because when the gasoline from the tanker is poured into the in-ground tanks, it stirs up water and debris that has settled at the bottom of the in-ground tank. If you fill your vehicle's tank with this, it will most likely contain the water and debris.
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