Does It Matter What Gas I Use?

Every time you need to put gasoline in your car, you’re faced with many options. Maybe you’re a driver who has a preference for a particular gas station. Maybe you’re a driver that chooses a gas station based on convenience. No matter what kind of driver you are, every gasoline car driver is faced with three options at the gas pump: regular, mid-grade, and unleaded. Does it matter which one you put in your car?

Check Your Vehicle’s Requirements

The short answer is yes, it does matter. Your car’s manufacturer recommends a certain grade of gas for a reason. They know what’s best for your car’s engine and what kind of gas will deliver the best performance. If you want to know what type of gas you should use for your vehicle, consulting the owner’s manual should be the first thing you do. If you don’t, you can end up filling your vehicle with gasoline that damages the engine. 

Better Gas Protects Your Engine

Some automotive brands add more detergent to gasoline than others. Detergent additives can protect your car’s engine by preventing the buildup of carbon deposits. These deposits can damage your car’s fuel injectors and other engine components, lead to poor engine performance, and cause your vehicle to have lower miles per gallon. Take the time to research common fuel brands in your area to know which one has the best mixture of octane and detergent additives. 

Different Octane Grades

All gas stations in the United States sell regular gas, which usually has an octane rating of 87, mid-grade, which is generally between 89-90, and premium gasoline, which has an octane rating of 89. These numbers indicate the percentage of iso-octane by volume in gasoline. The higher the octane rating, the better the gas resists knocking. 

Does Your Car Need Premium Gas?

If your owner’s manual does not call for premium gas, your vehicle does not need to be filled with premium gasoline. There are no benefits to filling your vehicle with premium gasoline if it does not require it. For cars that use regular gas, premium gas is unlikely to boost acceleration or fuel economy by more than insignificant amounts. 

Keep Your Car in Tip-Top Shape with Mighty Auto Pro

Mighty Auto Pro is here to help you keep your car in tip-top shape. We do more than just auto repair services in Ohio, we also educate our clients on the best ways to keep their vehicles running smoothly. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or talk to one of our auto repair technicians.