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Does Using a Higher Octane Gas Improve Fuel Economy?

By Expert Author: Scott Siegel | Article Abstract
Word Count: 462 words | Views: 142 view(s)
Is premium gas really worth $208.00 more per year? Do you get better mileage or fuel economy with premium? Does premium gas make your car run better?

It will cost you $208.00 annually if you fill your car with premium gas instead of regular. The difference between regular fuel and premium fuel is about twenty cents per gallon. Therefore it will cost you $4.00 more per tank if you use premium gasoline instead of regular gasoline. This assumes you have a 20 gallon tank and you fill up about once per week.

Let's address the fuel economy question first. The simple answer is no, premium gas does not increase fuel economy at all.

The octane rating is a measurement of the proportion of isooctane to heptane in fuel. In non technical terms it is a rating that grades how much energy it takes to ignite that fuel. The rating has nothing to do with how much energy the gas puts out.It has absolutely nothing to do with fuel economy.

The next question, does premium gas make your car gain performance, does it run better? The answer is the same as the fuel economy answer, no!! It has been shown that there is no significant difference in the way your car runs if you use premium gasoline.

I have to add this one caveat, in regards to performance gain, there is the possibility that your vehicle could show a little horsepower gain with premium gas as opposed to regular gas but it would be so small that it would be almost impossible to notice. This small increase in horsepower really only is there because it can give car makers a little extra marketing fodder by using a claim on horsepower as part of their advertising.

Automakers can market their cars with a higher horsepower statistics by designing and optimizing their engines to take advantage of higher octane fuel anti-knock properties. Engineers generally agree that if you use regular gas in an engine designed for premium, the horsepower loss is so small, that it is almost impossible to detect.

Will you harm your car or void your warranty if your car manufacturer recommends that you use high octane gas? Most automakers say using regular gas even when your owner's guide says to use premium gas won't void the warranty. Most automakers also say that using regular will not damage the engine.

The next time you go to the gas station, use regular gas instead of premium gas. The immediate benefit:you will save $4.00 on the spot. Notice how your car runs with the regular. If it performs OK and if you do not hear any knocking then continue to use lower octane gas. You could find yourself saving over $200.00 per year!
Scott Siegel

About the Author/Author Bio

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump. Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Does-Using-a-Higher-Octane-Gas-Improve-Fuel-Economy-/89738

Article Submitted: 2007-06-05 | This Article has been viewed 142 times.

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