Higher
Octane Fuel, Worth The Cost?
by SolveYourProblem.com
Some vehicle owners believe higher-octane
fuel gives a better performance. Higher octane doesn’t
give a better performance, and it’s unnecessary. If, you’re trying
to save on fuel costs, you may consider using regular gasoline
instead of premium. Regular gasoline gives the same performance
at a lower price. So, when trying to save on fuel cost, it
pays to use the required octane level for your vehicle.
Vehicle owners have made the mistake of believing that higher
octane gives gasoline a better performance. Most engines
are designed to take regular unleaded gasoline, which has an
octane
level of 87. Using higher octane doesn’t improve performance.
Actually, octane has nothing to do with the gasoline’s performance,
just its volatility factor in the combustion chamber. The higher
the octane, the more stable the gas in the combustion chamber
environment. Higher-octane fuel is only needed for high performance
cars. High performance cars need higher-octane gasoline,
because the combustion chamber environment is much hotter. Experts
from the Automobile Association of America (AAA) say about
five percent of cars sold in the US require premium gasoline.
Yet, premium gasoline accounts for 20 percent of all gasoline
sold in the US.
If your car does not require higher-octane gas, then you shouldn’t
buy it. Sometimes the lower octane may be too low for your
car and the mid grade or higher octane may be more than what
you need. To avoid overpaying and still get the correct octane
for your car, you can mix the gas. For example, if your car
takes 87 octane and the pumps have 85 octane and 89 octane,
then when filling your car, fill half the tank with 85 octane
and the other half with 89 octane and this will give you an
equivalent of 87 octane. Check your owner’s manual to see what
fuel octane rating your engine needs. Drivers should use the
octane level your vehicle’s manufacture recommends. Buying
higher-octane fuel is a waste of money. Higher-octane fuel
pollutes more, and it costs more. It’s always smarter to follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation on the level of octane to
use.
People
believe buying the “premium” will make their cars run better,
but it makes your engine run hotter, and can cause
more harm than good. In most of the U.S., regular gas has an
octane rating of 87, mid grade is 89, and premium is 91 or
92. Using high-octane fuel reduces pre-ignition in the upper
regions of the combustion chamber, which can damage valves,
and pistons if allowed to go for long periods of time. Resist
buying higher-octane gas for premium performance. It can cause
other problems to your engine. Using higher-octane gas, when
it’s not required could force some drivers to pay for unnecessary
repairs. A “knock” or “ping” occurs when part of the fuel-air
mixture in one or more of your car's cylinders ignite spontaneously
due to compression, independent of the combustion initiated
by the spark plug. If your car runs poorly or “pings” on the
grade of gas recommended, it may need servicing, rather than
using a higher grade of gas. If switching to high octane improves
mileage, it may mean that your engine, or its control system
needs repair.
The
higher the octane, the higher the price. Gas stations
make more money on high-octane gas, than the regular grade
gasoline. Car manufactures, and automotive engineers, say assuming
a vehicle will run better on a higher grade of gas than recommended,
is throwing money away. It’s advisable to use the regular gasoline,
if it’s required for your vehicle. By decreasing from premium
to regular, you can save 20 cents per gallon. If you use the
recommended octane level, then you will save 40 cents a gallon,
or eight dollars on a 20 fill-up.
High octane costs more, and doesn’t improve your vehicle’s
performance. With gas prices so high, it’s not worth the money.
Vehicle owners should read their owners manuals, and think
before choosing the higher grade of gasoline. The savings between
low octane and higher-octane gasoline may seem like pennies,
but consumers will be happy, when those pennies add up to be
dollars. If, your vehicle doesn’t require the higher-octane
gas, then don’t waste your time pumping it.
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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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