Until recently I didn’t know what the actual difference between the different kinds of fuel were. The only thing that mattered to me was what is the cheapest one. Past that I had no idea what made them different. As it turns out, there are quite a few people who don’t know what the difference, which is why today we’re going to talk about the difference between the gas types and why it matters to you.
What’s the difference?
The first thing my frugal little eyes notice is the price. Duh. Premium fuel decidedly costs more, and for those of us who consider the regular gas price pretty high, that 20-30 cent difference is a lot. So what why, pray tell, is the premium gas so much more expensive? Is it made with unicorn tears?
In addition to the regular vs premium fuel names, you will also notice numbers like 87, 93, etc. These numbers represent the octane level of the fuel. While octane might not be unicorn tears, the octane level does represent how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting. A higher octane gas won’t pre-ignite as quickly. For that reason, high-performance cars with higher compression engines often require higher octane gas.
Why the right fuel matters:
You guessed it! Fancy cars with higher compression engines require a higher octane level fuel to allow the engine to perform at its best. Using a cheaper fuel type can actually cause the gas to combust too fast for your engine causing a knocking noise and decrease your vehicle’s power and fuel economy. You could actually do more damage trying to save money and end up costing yourself more money. So if you have a vehicle that requires a higher octane fuel, do yourself a favor, bite the bullet and get the more expensive gas. Your car will thank you in the end.
Alternately, you should not think that by using higher octane fuel your vehicle will start to perform better. You, my sweet friend, would just be wasting your money. Using the premium fuel doesn’t provide any extra benefits for your vehicle if your vehicle doesn’t need it. Save your money and use the regular gas.
We all want our vehicles to perform at their best, so when you get your next vehicle from the Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta, be sure to consult your owner’s manual or talk to any of our experts to find out what your newly purchased vehicle will need to run at its best!
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