Myth about Premium Gas
 by David W. Bynon Copyright (c), 2000, Autopia Car Care -- All Rights Reserved Many people believe that "premium" gas is the best gas. Not true. Premium simply means "premium price" for higher octane. Octane is a simple measurement for a gasoline’s ability to resist engine knock, a rattling or pinging sound that results from premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders. 
Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane),
mid-grade (usually 89 octane) and premium (usually 92 or 93). The ratings
must be posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump. The
misnomer about octane is that the higher the rating, the better or more
smoothly your car will run. In fact, premium gas can be bad for your
engine if it was not designed to run at a high-octane level.Although it may seem that the term "premium" or "high octane" implies that more energy is available, premium gas does not produce more energy than regular or mid-grade fuel. The octane grades are designed to accommodate engines with different compression ratios.  continued... |
