Should I use 87 or 93 gas?
The short answer is that it depends on your vehicle's recommended fuel grade. Most vehicles are designed to run on regular 87 octane gasoline, but some high-performance or luxury vehicles may require premium 93 octane fuel. Using the recommended fuel grade is important for your engine's performance and longevity.
Understanding Octane Ratings
Octane ratings measure a fuel's resistance to premature ignition, also known as "knocking" or "pinging." Lower octane fuels are more prone to knocking, which can cause engine damage over time. Higher octane fuels, like 93 octane, are less prone to knocking and are better suited for high-performance engines that operate under higher pressure and temperatures.
Choosing the Right Fuel Grade
- Regular 87 Octane: This is the recommended fuel grade for most standard, non-performance vehicles. Using 87 octane won't harm your engine, as long as it's the grade specified in your owner's manual.
- Premium 93 Octane: Vehicles with high-performance engines, such as sports cars, luxury sedans, and some trucks, often require 93 octane fuel. Using a lower octane fuel in these vehicles can lead to engine knocking and reduced performance.
It's important to always follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for fuel grade. Using the wrong fuel can negatively impact your engine's performance, fuel efficiency, and even void your warranty.
When to Use Higher Octane Fuel
In some cases, you may want to use a higher octane fuel than what's recommended, even if your vehicle doesn't require it. This can be beneficial if you're driving in hot weather, towing a heavy load, or engaging in spirited driving. The higher octane fuel can help prevent engine knocking and maintain performance under these more demanding conditions.
However, using a higher octane fuel than necessary won't provide any additional benefits and will cost you more at the pump. Unless your vehicle specifically calls for premium fuel, it's generally not worth the extra expense to use it.
Can you switch back and forth between regular and premium gas?
Is it bad to mix premium and regular gas? Well, not necessarily. If your car requires premium to run smoothly, but you aren't able to find a station with premium gasoline, it won't hurt to top off with regular gasoline. You do want to avoid running on regular gasoline for extended periods of time.
Does using premium gas make a difference?
No, in general, premium fuel does not provide better fuel economy. The caveat is this: If an engine is designed to use higher octane rated fuels, then the computer system expects to be able to use a certain amount of fuel to properly power each stroke, for a given set of circumstances.
What cars need 93 octane?
Generally, luxury cars and high-performance vehicles are designed to run on premium gas. Brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi often make cars that require premium gasoline. Vehicle models with turbocharged engines, such as Mini Coopers or Subaru WRX also typically need premium fuel to perform at their peak.
Does 93 octane add horsepower?
The modern CR-V, with half the displacement but rated at just 10 fewer ponies, makes the same argument: don't waste your money on premium. Switching from 87 octane to 93 yielded a 7-hp gain on the dynamometer, but that advantage was lost in the noise at the track.
Is 93 gas better than 87?
What Is The Difference? Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states while higher octane pump gas is rated at 91 to 93. Essentially octane levels are the rate at which fuel combusts, with 87 octane combusting the easiest/soonest and 91 to 93 octane can sustain higher levels of combustion.
Does 93 gas clean your engine?
Does higher-octane gas clean engines better? Not really. The EPA mandates that all gas, no matter the octane level or brand, add cleaning agents. In other words, all levels of gas and all brands carry similar cleaning agents.
What gas gives you the best mileage?
Premium gas can increase fuel efficiency, potentially giving better gas mileage for longer while decreasing emissions, if you have a car designed to run on premium gas.
Does 93 gas burn faster?
The Federal Trade Commission recommends using regular gasoline for most standard cars and notes that: "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."
Do you get better gas mileage with 93 octane?
No. It does NOT make better MPG with 93 Octane. Octane has nothing to do with fuel consumption, especially considering the Cruze is actually calibrated for 87 Octane. If you use any respectable retailer (BP, Sunoco, Shell, Top Tier List) there will be no difference between 87 and 93.
What happens if you mix premium and regular gas?
There's nothing wrong with mixing premium and regular gas in the same tank. In fact, this is how midgrade gas is formulated at the station. Rather than drawing from a separate storage tank for each octane rating, gas pumps actively mix high-octane fuel with lower-octane fuel to create midgrade gas.
