Wherever you’re headed this summer, one thing is for sure, you’ll have to stop and fill up the tank at some point. And if you’re like me, you’re not entirely sure what those numbers on the pump mean but not to worry, this week I am here to spell it all out for you! Take a look below to help differentiate what those differences are and why filling up your tank with the right stuff is so important! Got questions? We got answers! Give us a call today or stop in to see our team and let’s get you back on the road to summer fun!
The difference between fuel types:
- The first and most obvious difference is the price! I mean, when you pull up and the “premium” fuel is more expensive, it’s pretty obvious that’s a difference. But, did you know that premium fuel usually runs about 20 cents higher than regular fuel? Well, that’s the truth.
- In addition to the price, premium fuel comes also offers a higher octane level. Those numbers, commonly seen as 92, 93 or 87, are to differentiate the octane levels of premium, being a higher number, to regular gas, lower number.
- Octane is how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting within your engine. A higher octane fuel will not pre-ignite or explode as quickly as lower octane gas.
The right fuel matters and here’s why: each vehicle on the road has been designed to work at its best with a specific fuel level. And if you choose to use a lesser fuel level than intended for your vehicle you could run into some issues such as engine damage, reducing your car’s power and fuel economy, and you’ll probably start to hear your engine “knocking.” This happens because lower octane levels allow combustion to happen too fast in your engine which can lead to all of the above problems. So, the solution? Just fill up with the right fuel!
When the roles are reversed, using higher octane fuel when your vehicle calls for regular doesn’t risk much. But it also doesn’t benefit you in the way that you think it might. In fact, spending the extra money on premium fuel when you really could just be using regular is silly on your part. If you’re unsure which type of fuel you should be filling up with, give us a call or check your owners manual for answers!
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