Go to nearly any American gas station and you’ll see that there are different octane ratings. Octane ratings from 87 to 92 are there for customers, but numerous don’t know which choice is best. Reading your vehicle’s manual helps, but have you ever wondered why one octane is better for car than one more? Thanks to our friends at About.com, here’s a brief summary to help you sort out the octane rating puzzle.
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Knocking is important here, as a gasoline’s octane rating tells you about just how much knocking is addressed. A knocking sound occurs when your internal-combustion engine’s gasoline-air mix ignites prematurely rather than burning smoothly and efficiently. The number associated with the octane rating comes when gasoline is compared to the substances isooctane and heptane. The previous compound has 100 octane, when the latter has no octane rating at all. Untreated gasoline, says About.com, is 70 octane – that’s 70 percent isooctane and 30 percent heptane. Adding lead to gasoline used to be the common way of combating knocks and pings, but that was changed by unleaded gas with more expensive anti-knocking compounds.
Is higher octane the clear answer?
Older engines that used a carburetor to control the air/gas mix benefited from high octane gas. More advanced engines became common within the mid-1980s, and fuel injectors took over the carburetor role. At that point, the octane rating standard within the U.S. became 87 octane. This is recommended for most cars because gasoline with too high an octane rating can now damage an engine’s emissions system.
What about mid-grade?
There’s a common misconception in the U.S. concerning standard-, mid- and premium-grade gasoline. From state to state, the octane rating for 87, 89 or 92 versus whether the gasoline is basic, plus or premium grade varies greatly. In one state, 92 octane might be premium, but in another, it could possibly be 90. Thus, checking the owner’s manual and also the yellow sticker on the gasoline pump is essential.
What if your automobile requires premium?
You no doubt have a high-performance engine on your hands. High-performance engines are highly efficient, in contrast to lower grade engines that waste more fuel. As an addendum, it should also be noted that some large cities require reformulated gasoline. Oxygen-infused and environmentally conscious, this fuel burns in a cleaner fashion. So long as you do not drive with too little fuel in the tank, you are less likely to dirty the intake valves and destroy your fuel filter. It’ll ruin your car’s day.
Find a lot more information here:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryarticles/a/which-gasoline-to-buy.htm
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryarticles/a/which-gasoline-to-buy.htm
