Should I use Octane?
Using octane can be beneficial in certain situations, but it’s not always necessary, and the decision to use it depends on your vehicle’s specific requirements and driving conditions, with higher octane fuel typically recommended for severe duty operation, such as towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads, especially in hot weather. The key to determining whether to use octane is to check your vehicle’s manual and follow the recommended fuel type, as using a higher octane than recommended will not provide any extra benefits, while using a lower octane can affect your engine’s performance and fuel efficiency.
Understanding Octane and Its Benefits
To make an informed decision about using octane, it’s essential to understand what octane is and how it affects your vehicle’s performance, with higher octane fuel providing greater resistance to knock or pinging, which can damage your engine over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does the Octane Really Matter?
The octane rating of your fuel can make a difference in your vehicle’s performance, especially under severe driving conditions, but for normal driving conditions, the difference is minimal.
Q2: Is it OK to Use 85 Octane Instead of 87?
Using 85 octane instead of 87 octane is generally not recommended, except in high-elevation areas where the lower octane rating is tolerated by engines due to lower barometric pressure.
Q3: What Happens if You Put 93 Instead of 87?
Putting 93 octane in a vehicle that requires 87 octane will not cause damage, but it may not provide any additional benefits, and some engines may not be designed to burn higher octane fuel, potentially leading to reduced performance and fuel economy.
Q4: What are the Cons of Using Octane as a Fuel?
The main con of using octane is that it may not be necessary for all vehicles, and using higher octane fuel than recommended can be a waste of money, with some engines even performing poorly with high octane fuels due to very low compression ratios.
Q5: Does 93 Gas Last Longer than 87?
Premium gas does not last longer than regular gasoline in a fuel tank, and its longevity is only a concern if the vehicle has been sitting unused for an extended period.
Q6: Does Higher Octane Clean Your Engine?
Premium gas is not a secret sauce for cleaning your engine, and the main concern in engine maintenance is carbon build-up, which can happen over time with all fuel types if routine checks are skipped.
Q7: Do Cars Really Need Premium Gas?
Some cars require premium gas, typically luxury cars and high-performance vehicles, while others can operate safely on regular gas, although they may not reach their optimal performance and fuel economy.
Q8: Does Premium Fuel Give Better MPG?
Using premium fuel does not necessarily give better mileage, and the Federal Trade Commission recommends using regular gasoline for most standard cars, as using higher octane gasoline than recommended offers no benefit.
Q9: Is it OK to Mix 87 and 93 Gas?
Mixing 93 and 87 gas has no ill effects, creating a new formula referred to as midgrade, which is often available in gas stations.
Q10: Why Do They Sell 85 Octane Gas?
85-rated gas is made for specific high-elevation areas where the barometric pressure is lower, resulting in lower temperatures for combustion, and is tolerated by engines that use carburetors.
Q11: Why Not to Use 85 Gas?
Using 85-octane fuel can cause problems such as pinging, power loss, reduced fuel economy, and voiding of the warranty, outweighing the savings from the fuel’s lower price.
Q12: Does My Car Really Need 87 Octane?
If your car doesn’t require premium, filling up with regular is sufficient, and using higher octane than recommended offers no benefit.
Q13: Is There a Downside to Using Premium Gas?
The higher octane of premium gas won’t make your car faster, and in fact, the opposite is possible because higher-octane fuel technically has less energy than lower-octane fuel.
Q14: Does Higher Octane Clean Injectors?
High octane gasoline doesn’t outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, removing them, or cleaning your car’s engine, and this is a myth.
Q15: Which Fuel Gives the Best Mileage?
A diesel engine is more efficient as it provides more mileage compared to petrol engines, and some vehicle models with turbocharged engines typically need premium fuel to perform at their peak.