According to the gas cap and car’s manual, individuals are supposed to use unleaded gasoline. However, if you switch to higher octane gas, can you get improved gas mileage and better performance?
If your vehicle uses unleaded, regular gasoline, the only thing that will come to attention with higher octane gas is that you have to pay more to fill the tank up. We would recommend sticking to the octane rating that has been specified by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Octane Ratings- What Are They?
Octane ratings are meant to measure the ability of gasoline that an engine can tolerate. This is the pinging or rattling sound that comes from a premature engine of the compact fuel-air combination in cylinders.
At gas stations, you can usually find three octane grades, including regular (87 octane), mid-grade (89 octane), and premium (92 octane). These ratings are posted on each gas pump on yellow stickers.
What Happens If You Do Not Use The Correct Fuel For Your Car
The only time using higher octane gas will improve your gas mileage is when your vehicle needs premium fuel, and you have used a lower octane gas than the one you should have.
If you have been using unleaded gas and your engine needs premium unleaded gasoline, you will start to hear pinging and knocking and will see the performance of your vehicle drop. Moreover, you could also experience engine damage or the engine lights may light up.
However, cars that are produced today are tough and can manage a fuel switch, if done accidentally. If you use a higher-octane gas anyway, you will not notice much of a difference. Prolonged use of incorrect fuel will cause damage to the car in the long run.
