How bad could it be and why are some cars required to use premium fuel anyway?
2007-03-04 13:34:59 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
With MOST cars.... (do not read this as all cars and assume everything is fine).
With most cars, it is merely a suggestion that you run premium and it generally does not mean that you have to run it all the time. Most premium vehicles will run fine with mid-grade.
Check your manual that came with the vehicle. In mine, it says that it is recommended that I use premium with the vehicle. That means that when they tested the vehicle, they used premium. It generally also means that when the EPA was determining mileage figures for this particular vehicle, they used premium.
For a vehicle that requires premium, you could notice a very slight lack in performance if you choose to use a lower octane fuel. You might notice the engine knocking a bit. If that happens, go back to premium. You might have a slightly crappier mileage on the lower octane fuel as well.
I'd read the manual though. It will tell you if it is premium only or if it is merely a recommendation.
2007-03-04 13:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cars that require higher-octane rated gas usually have higher compression or are turbocharged (which essentially creates higher compression). Higher-octane fuels resist detonation due to compression and lower octane fuels do not. Knocking is when the compression of the gas and not the spark causes the explosion of the gas vapor in the cylinder. An engine is designed to have the explosion of the gas take place when all the parts, valves and such, are in the right position. When an engine is knocking the parts are in the wrong place and damage may result.
On older cars without knock sensors when regular is substituted for premium, the car will knock and likely damage your engine. Most new cars have some sort of computer controlled knock sensor that will change the timing of the engine at the expense of performance in order to prevent knocking when lower grade fuels are used.
On older engines carbon buildup in the cylinders can sometimes increase the compression a little.
In order to test a fuel in your car fill the car with regular gas, make sure the car is well warmed up and perform a full throttle acceleration run with the air conditioning on. If you hear knocking, then back off the throttle. If the knocking persists even under mild acceleration you need to use a higher grade of gas.
2007-03-04 13:55:38 · answer #2 · answered by kotodama1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
premium fuel has additives that boost performance and is cleaner and has less water per mil than medium grade or low grade regular. since today fuel has little or NO lead in it then all gasoline is most likely very close to being the same. having said that then the only reasonable thing is to make the fuel more powerful by adding chemicals to it to make the car perform with better horsepower so the difference would be nill some would think. I personally did an experiment using premium shell gasoline over a period in excess of 300,000 miles on an 88 model ford f100 pickup truck. Nothing but premium shell gas was used. the vehicle oil was changed every 3000 miles. Nothing was ever needed to do to the engine except periodical tuneups. the truck to this day has never used one drop of oil or had any major breakdown. this truck was used to haul furniture everyday for ten years.
2007-03-04 13:52:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing. It will still run. If you put 87 octane in a car that takes 91 octane, performance will drop and you will notice the engine shake a little (vibrate or knock). Reason being: Higher compression with low octane created less power or explosion. But to recap the point, nothing will happen to your car.
2007-03-04 13:45:00 · answer #4 · answered by robbdahaus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very few cars require premium gas.
Usually only if a high compression engine.
It will not hurt engine just poor performace and may hear a pinging sound from pre ignition
2007-03-04 13:40:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The world stops on its axis. Nothing happens, in fact, higherr octane gas that burns cleaner, actually burns hotter, which causes premature wear to your valves and valve train. Although car manufacturers recommend higher octane, it is not good for them. You will get better gas mileage, but less motor life.
Best of Luck!
2007-03-04 13:38:53 · answer #6 · answered by Tweendasheetz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing at all, the only thing that will be affected is performance. And even then it's only going to make the car run a little less smoothly.
2007-03-04 13:43:01 · answer #7 · answered by L M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all it might do is make your car not run so good
i had a 1985 Horizon once with a carb 4 cyl 2.2l motor
and i side to run regular gas but if i did run regular gas it would run bad if i used premium it would run good
good luck
hope this helps
2007-03-04 13:42:06 · answer #8 · answered by davedebo198305 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing will happen you just might notice a difference in the way the vehicle runs. What type of car is it and what motor is in it.
2007-03-04 15:34:57 · answer #9 · answered by jdm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will lose performance over time. You may damage your cylinders and valves. Why not just buy a car that doesn't take premium?
2007-03-04 13:40:50 · answer #10 · answered by Gemma 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋