When you fill up at the gas pump, you've probably noticed that there are usually three "grades" or types of regular gasoline available to you (not the green handle - that's diesel fuel). But what does each of them mean, and what effect do they have on your Clermont Toyota? We're here to explain the three grades of gasoline and what they do for your performance.
The three grades of gasoline you need to know about
The three grades of gasoline are as follows:
- Regular (87 octane)
- Midgrade (89-90 octane)
- Premium (91-94 octane)
If you notice, each of them has a numerical octane rating. Octane ratings are a measure of fuel stability and are based on the pressure at which a fuel will spontaneously combust in an engine. The higher the octane rating, the more stable the fuel is.
The grades might also not always be referred to as regular, midgrade, and premium. Some US gas stations will refer to them as unleaded, super, and super premium but regardless of what they're called, they exist in grades because of the octane rating.
So what does this mean for your Clermont Toyota? Basically, if you drive an internal combustion car or a hybrid, your vehicle uses controlled combustion to ignite the fuel and get the engine up and running. If you have spontaneous combustion happening in your engine - which is more likely to happen with unstable fuel - it causes uncontrolled secondary combustion and uneven fuel dispersion. This leads to high pressure and subsequently, damage to the pistons in your car's engine.
Here's the good news - more modern cars have sensors in the engine to detect this uncontrolled, secondary combustion and can delay the controlled combustion to reduce pressure and the possibility of damage to your vehicle.
That's why an octane rating is important for your gasoline. All three grades are acceptable for your Toyota (for the most part). Whether you use 87 octane or 94 won't make much of a difference unless your Clermont Toyota specifically calls for premium or super premium fuel (your owner's manual or a sticker on your gas cap will tell you if it does).
Contrary to popular belief, putting premium fuel in a car that doesn't require it won't improve performance, especially with the new tech in cars that can prevent issues from unstable fuel. Basically, if your owner's manual doesn't require premium fuel, you don't need to use it... which is good news, because it's the most expensive of the three grades.
Toyota of Clermont can answer questions about grades of gasoline
Have questions about engine combustion, gasoline grades, or anything else going on under the hood? Call Toyota of Clermont today. We're just off the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50 and you can reach us seven days a week at (352) 404-7001.
Comments
Post a Comment