What should you do if you put regular gas in a premium car?
That said, if your vehicle requires premium fuel, it’s a good idea to top it off with the good stuff as soon as you’re able. If you’re really worried about the engine developing a knock, you can add just enough regular fuel to get you to the next station, but be sure you have enough fuel to reach the destination.
When is premium gas recommended for my car?
When a vehicle manufacturer requires using premium fuel, it is because that particular vehicle’s fuel system is designed to work best with higher octane gas. Using regular gas in an engine that requires premium could void your warranty.
What’s the difference between regular and premium gas?
Understanding the different types of fuel comes down to understanding octane ratings. Depending on where you live, premium fuel could be defined as being 91 or 93 octane (there are other places around the country with higher octane than 93, though), while 87 octane is considered regular.
What is the octane rating for premium gas?
For example, here is what GM says about the subject in an owner’s manual for a vehicle that requires premium: “Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty.
What do you need to know about premium fuel?
Most premium fuel has a rating of 90 octane or higher. Octane is important when it comes to powering vehicles while preventing knocking. When gasoline and air ignite before they should, it causes an explosion known as pre-ignition, which causes a knocking sound.
When a vehicle manufacturer requires using premium fuel, it is because that particular vehicle’s fuel system is designed to work best with higher octane gas. Using regular gas in an engine that requires premium could void your warranty.
Understanding the different types of fuel comes down to understanding octane ratings. Depending on where you live, premium fuel could be defined as being 91 or 93 octane (there are other places around the country with higher octane than 93, though), while 87 octane is considered regular.
What happens if you don’t use premium gas?
Avoiding engine knock prevents engine damage, so your engine will likely run just fine even if you put in regular rather than premium. If your engine isn’t knocking, regular fuel might still cause some problems. One of the main issues that can come from skipping premium fuel is a loss in performance.
For example, here is what GM says about the subject in an owner’s manual for a vehicle that requires premium: “Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty.