The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline |
Are you tempted to buy a high-octane gasoline for your car because you want to improve its performance? If so, 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, 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.
Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money, too. 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.
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 must be posted on bright yellow stickers
on each gasoline pump.
What’s
the right octane level for your car?
Check your owner’s manual to determine the right octane level for your
car. 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 knock.
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?
As a rule, high octane gasoline does not outperform regular octane in
preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your
car’s engine. 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.
Is
knocking harmful?
Occasional light knocking or pinging won’t harm your engine, and
doesn’t indicate a need for higher octane. But don’t ignore severe knocking.
A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.
Is all
“premium” or “regular” gasoline the same?
The octane rating of gasoline marked “premium” or “regular” is
not consistent 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 instead of relying on the name “premium”
or “regular.”
For More Information
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Last modified: November 08, 2002