If the ping becomes regular and more noticeable, you may need to buy a higher-octane fuel to control it. The octane rating is a measure of a fuels ability to avoid knock. The short answer to this question is no. There could be some harm or none, depending on your cars octane rating. You need high octane fuel if your engine has high compression and is timed for high engine output. Before buying higher octane gas, ensure that your car needs it and that you arent buying it because you think it will advance your cars performance. You should always follow the octane rating on that. Whatever is specified near the vehicle's owners manual. So, buying it will be a waste of money unless your engine requires a higher octane gas. According to the AAA, "premium gasoline did not result in higher horsepower, better fuel economy, or fewer tailpipe emissions for other vehicles.". Vehicles manufactured using high-octane fuel have lower emissions than those of lower octane vehicles. Factors considered included proximity to fuel stations, number of alternative fuels vehicles, gasoline prices, state level programs and incentives, proximity to fuel resources (e.g. You should check your owners manual for advice or consult a dealer to see how much ping is acceptable for your car, especially when it gets older. Not only does it impacts you your budget and the annual automotive bill, but also, in some scenarios, it might have a significant impact on the way your vehicle performs. If you hear knocking, youre likely using the wrong octane for your car. For example, if you did a quick Google search for the octane level. My need for speed began at a very early age and I realised this as soon as I got my first bicycle at the age of 8. High octane fuel has many advantages to the consumer, manufacturer, and even the fuel vendor. In such a case, you're in big trouble. Lower-octane fuel will result in knocking and prevent your vehicle from meeting its stated fuel economy. Currently, high-octane fuel is marketed as premium, but future combustion engines may require higher octane fuels to reach even greater engine efficiencies and higher mile-per-gallon ratings. The primary sources of octane are petroleum refinery products, and ethanol. List of Cons of Ethanol Free Gas 1. We've moved! To use higher blends of ethanol, both underground storage tanks and above ground infrastructure compatibility must be assessed at retail gas stations. Running high octane in a low octane engine won't hurt the engine, but will hurt your pocketbook. Sometimes saving a couple of cents helps you save a ton if you think about it long term. Most of the regular cars you see on the roads have lower compression engines. There are about 1300 stations around the nation for the same brand, and they typically get the best customers reviews. They are finding that fuels that blend between 25 to 40 percent ethanol (E25 to E40) with conventional gasoline, instead of the current 10 percent ethanol blend (E10), can lead to greater fuel efficiencies and lower overall GHG emissions in the existing passenger fleet. Premium gas doesnt necessarily mean stronger gas. However, it's becoming increasingly uncommon since fuel injectors became the norm in the 1980s. Does High Octane Fuel Matter? A real world test - YouTube The difference between these fuel grades is their octane rating. Adding to my interest for speed, I grew engrossed in the working mechanics of two wheelers thanks to my father as he is a hydraulic mechanic and would take me along with him on his repair sessions. These engines perform better when on premium gas. The strongest E85 markets are in the Midwest, due to their proximity to feedstock growth and ethanol refining facilities. In high-performance automobiles with turbochargers and superchargers, high-octane fuel is typically used. Higher octane fuels resist detonation, because they don't react to sudden increase in pressure & temperature. Aug 22, 2018 #2 For the most part it's a waste. The fuel type you should use if you want your engine to last a long period will be recommended when you buy your car. Read more about; Best travel trailers under 25 feet. This is obviously undesirable. It enhances the engine's performance and prevents any carbon buildup soon. JK Tyre Puncture Guard: Know all the details here, In terms of ESG performance, JK Tyre has received ratings of "Best-in-Class", CEAT Receives Acknowledgement For Passenger Car Tyres, New Assurance ComforTred Tyres Unveiled By Goodyear For The Indian Market. There are two biofuel categories: total renewable fuels (which include corn ethanol) and advanced biofuels, which include biomass-based biodiesel, cellulosic and agricultural waste-derived biofuels, and other advanced biofuels. I was just 14 years old at the time and got to ride as a pillion with an older acquaintance. What if you have to use high-octane gas because your car requires it? In high-performance automobiles with turbochargers and superchargers, high-octane fuel is typically used. So to burn higher octane numbered fuel you will need an engine with high compression ratio. Therefore, the higher the quality is typically associated with, the better the additives and the better the engine in response to these additives. Using GREET, scientists from ANL estimate that a nation-wide E25 blend with a 5 percent fuel economy gain could reduce the GHG intensity of the transportation sector between 5 to 9 percent, a significant reduction. With the exception of a small percentage of automobiles (mainly sports cars) that require high-octane petrol, using plus or premium-grade petrol wont do anything for your car beside decreasing the efficiency. According to research from NREL, the majority of underground storage tanks are able to store blends up to E85, but retailers must demonstrate that their tanks are compatible and decide what storage tanks to devote to which fuels. According to research by the AAA, gasoline engines with fewer detergents may build up carbon deposits 19 times more frequently than those using more detergents. There are a lot of products that fall under the fuel additive umbrella, but, for the most part, a fuel additive is something that is added to an engine in order to make its fuel in some way more effective or efficient. It might be outdated or ideologically biased. This gas station utilized a specific recipe of additives to improve the engine's performance, optimize fuel economy, lower the annual maintenance costs, and prevent engine deposits. There is no accurate number or octane grading that you should put all the time. But if you cant find premium gas in your area, then you can use regular gas instead. It's not a matter of advantage over disadvantage. Besides vehicles used for business, prices are continually rising and becoming harder to keep up with. While there are numerous details to consider for individual station owners, including infrastructure compatibility and price, 17.4 million FlexFuel Vehicles that can use a high-octane, mid-level ethanol blend are already on the road today. As mentioned above, a higher octane rating is more of an anti-knock index. In 2014, the United States produced 14.34 billion gallons of ethanol; ethanol blending in the United States is governed by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In the worst-case scenario, this causes intense rattling that can rip up your car's interior in weeks. Therefore, it's recommended that you check with your vehicle owners manual and get an exact number about the recommended octane level. When purchasing your car, it will come recommended with the type of fuel you should use if you want your engine to last a long time. My need for speed began at a very early age and I realised this as soon as I got my first bicycle at the age of 8. Certain vehicles require a higher octane rating because they have supercharged or turbocharged engines, which create higher compression levels. High-Octane Fuels automotive and aviation gasolines used in carburetor-type internal-combustion engines with supercharging and a high compression ratio. Get The Most For Your Car! Now, lets say you need to use high-octane gas because its a requirement for your car; well then, youre in hot soup. You will observe that the change accumulates to a large sum while looking to fill your car. Let's take a closer look at the top five gas stations in 2022: You've probably been in one of the very common gas stations around the US from the shell. The disadvantages of ethanol-laced fuels are most prevalent when stored inside your gas tank over longer periods of time. Except for a small percentage of vehicles that require high-octane fuel, using the plus or premium-grade fuel won't do anything for your car other than reducing its efficiency. The more an engine ages, the more it accumulates deposits inside the combustion chamber. Staff directory High-octane fuel costs a few cents more per gallon than conventional petrol. Researchers from ORNL tested two fuel blends (E10 and E30) on four different late-model FFVs, and two fuel blends (E0 and E15) on a conventional, Gasoline-Direct Injection (GDI) non-FFV vehicle. If your car is designed to run on 91-octane, use 91-octane because using 97 wont really make any difference at all. You've probably seen this gas station in many commercials considering the popularity. The cost of manufacturer-approved equipment capable of dealing with E26 to E85 blends is viewed as a serious impediment to greater market penetration of mid-level blends. In addition to providing enhanced performance for current FFVs, the results are promising for future optimization of engines and fuel for increased fuel economy. This data shows the gains from high octane. If the octane is too low, the fuel will burn too fast and too hot which causes detonation and leads to sure-fire engine damage. Auto Repairs Are EXPENSIVE Fuel is one of the most important fluids that go into your vehicle. During 1942 and 1943 the British were testing aviation fuels that allowed for higher engine powers in their fighter aircraft than was possible using the standard 100/130 grade aviation fuel then in use. Every fuel company utilized certain additives to enhance sentence performance and prevent carbon buildups. So, let's see if it's worth investing in a higher-octane level fuel than what your vehicle needs. Now you have a good understanding that there are different types of octane ratings; the question that many of our readers ask us is, is higher octane fuel better for your engine?. What you see on the fuel pump is known as the octane rating, which represents a specific rating related to how this fuel is designed to prevent engine knocking and other rattling problems. All Rights Reserved. It is difficult to assess the exact cost for individual retailers to be able to offer mid-level ethanol blends; upgrades may range from simple signage changes to completely new fueling equipment. Expensive Ethanol is a renewable fuel sourced from corn as well as other agricultural feedstocks and organic wastes. Knock occurs when fuel is prematurely ignited in the engines cylinder, which degrades efficiency and can be damaging to the engine. The purpose of octane isnt to enhance combustion but rather to prevent the air-fuel mixture from igniting inside the engine prematurely. Research Octane Number, RON; Motor Octane Number, MON, etc.