Gas For Less Money

The oil companies have done a great job marketing high-octane gasoline. Surveys show most people believe a higher octane gas will improve their car’s performance, provide more power, improve gas mileage, and significantly lengthen the life of their automobile.

In fact, the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane, and in most cases, using a higher octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends will give you absolutely no benefit whatsoever. It certainly won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.

Octane is a meaurement of the temperature at which gasoline combusts, or burns. But in almost every case, every grade of gasoline will combust efficiently.

The difference in grade, from “regular” to “super” or “high-test” can be huge, as much as 50 cents per gallon from 87 to 92.

Using the lowest octane available will almost always result in getting the same gas mileage, but at a much lower cost.

If your engine “knocks” or “pings”, this is usually a sign of incomplete combustion. In some cases, a higher octane can resolve the problem, but you should then have your engine checked by a mechanic.

As soon as the problem is resolved, go back to a lower octane, less expensive grade.

Choosing the least expensive gas available can save a lot of money.

If you are renting a car, always use the lowest grade available, and when you return the car, fill the tank with the least expensive grade as well.