OCTANE EXPLAINED: DOES PREMIUM, HIGH-OCTANE GAS BOOST PERFORMANCE?

Save yourself a lot of money and use the lowest rating suggested in your owners manual. Typically the only cars which need premium fuel are older high compression engines (pre 1980’s) and the ever popular turbocharged engines. I run premium in my Ford Transit with the Ecoboost Turbo as it is required. The added compression demands it to resiste pre-ignition (reducing knock) and I’ve even verified maximum mileage on Cenex 91 even over the OK’d 89, but on typical fuel injection cars over the past 25 years lower octane ratings are no issue at all – Enjoy the article below…

Sioux Falls drivers – email me your favorite gas stop you get the best performance from and I’ll make a post listing any feedback we get. Thanks!! Email me at ches@syntheticwarehouse.com

A recent AAA report found that American motorists wasted $2.1 billion in the last year buying premium gasoline for engines designed to run on regular gas.

The reasons why are likely due to the following misconceptions about premium gas:

Contains higher energy content (increasing power and fuel economy)
Formulated with higher-quality additives (increasing engine cleanliness)

What is Premium Gas?

When motorists see premium 91-octane gas at the pump, they may assume it contains higher energy content compared to regular 87-octane gas. After all, “high-octane” is often synonymous with increased power and performance. The 91-octane gas should, they think, provide improved fuel economy and power.

In fact, octane has nothing to do with energy content or quality – it’s a measurement of the gasoline’s ability to resist engine knock. Higher octane denotes greater knock control.

What is Engine Knock?

On an engine’s intake stroke, the piston travels down the cylinder, allowing air/ fuel to fill the available space. Assume the cylinder holds 900cc when the piston is at bottom dead center. The piston then travels up the cylinder, compressing the fuel/air in preparation for combustion. Assume cylinder volume is reduced to 100cc when the piston is at top dead center. The relationship between the two volumes is known as the compression ratio. In this case, 900:100 is reduced to 9:1. The compression ratio indicates cylinder pressure, and more pressure equals more power and greater efficiency. That’s why high-performance cars and heavy-duty diesels typically have higher compression ratios than standard cars or trucks.

While higher compression seems like all up-side, it can invite negative consequences. Compression heats the fuel/air mixture, allowing it to burn more efficiently. If compressed too much, gasoline can ignite too early, causing uncontrolled and early ignition. This leads to a knocking or pinging sound, robs the engine of power and can lead to engine damage. Typically, the engine’s computer will detect engine knock and adjust timing and the air/ fuel ratio accordingly. Although this protects the engine from damage, it can substantially reduce engine performance and efficiency.

Most high-compression gas engines require use of premium gas to better resist engine knock and prevent the computer from detuning the engine to protect against knock-related damage. Using premium gas in a clean, mechanically sound engine not designed to use it, though, provides no benefit.

In engines with carbon buildup on pistons or in the combustion chamber, however, premium gas can provide some benefit. Deposits can reduce cylinder volume at top dead center, effectively increasing the compression ratio. This alone can lead to engine knock. The deposits can also become hot spots that preignite the mixture, leading to engine knock.

In these cases, a higher octane fuel helps resist engine knock and allows the engine to operate closer to its normal conditions rather than detuning to prevent engine knock.

For best performance, use the fuel recommended in your vehicle owner’s manual.

Higher Octane Doesn’t Mean Higher Quality

The other popular misconception is that premium gas contains a higher concentration of cleaning agents and other performance-improving additives.

While many formulators market a highquality premium gasoline, such as Shell* V-Power* Nitro+ or ExxonMobil* Synergy*, the premium gasoline at your local filling station may not be formulated to improve performance in any aspect other than octane rating. Quality can vary from brand to brand and station to station.

This is why we sell AMSOIL P.i.® (API) for cars and trucks and AMSOIL Quickshot® (AQS) for smaller engines. They provide excellent detergency to help clean dirty injectors and carburetors for maximum fuel economy and operability. Once you understand the truth about premium gas, these additives will better assist in overall performance thus giving better peace of mind and benefits you’re seeking.

DEALER: ‘EVERYTHING RUNS BETTER, LASTS LONGER’

How could it be you might ask? The answer lies in the devotion to manufacturing products of the highest possible quality and not reduced to increase profits. The position for a company to do that is risky these days but it’s why AMSOIL customers travel many miles to buy. About a quarter of our Sioux Falls customers come from areas over 25 miles away.

Dealer Robert Lolato of Orleans, Ontario, Canada has been a believer in AMSOIL products for more than 20 years.

He started using AMSOIL products in 1985. “I can tell you firsthand that my experience with AMSOIL products has been phenomenal,” he said. “Everything runs better and lasts longer. That’s why I decided in 2013 to become a Dealer — to help other people experience the benefits of using AMSOIL products.”

Lolato uses his 2009 GMC* 2500 HD Crew Cab* short-bed 4X4 diesel truck to haul a fifth-wheel camper. He installed AMSOIL Premium 15W-40 Synthetic Diesel Oil (DME) and an Ea® Oil Filter at the first oil change.

At 50,000 kilometers, he installed AMSOIL synthetic lubricants throughout the drivetrain of the truck:

Front Differential: AMSOIL Severe Gear® 75W-90 Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Gear Lube (SVG)

Transfer Case: AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATL)

Transmission: AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATL)

Rear Differential: AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W-90 Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Gear Lube (SVG) All

Grease Fittings: AMSOIL Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease (GLC)

Fuel Treatment: AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean (ADF) in spring, summer and fall and AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean + Cold Flow (DFC) in the winter months. When he tows the 12,000-pound fifth-wheel, Lolato uses AMSOIL Diesel Cetane Boost (ACB).

“My truck has 149,000 kilometers, and I tow a 38-foot fifth-wheel in the hot summer with no problem,” Lolato said. “And it starts in winter at minus 45 degrees without plugging it in.”

He changes the oil about every 15,000 kilometers, depending on fuel dilution. “I am getting better fuel mileage,” Lolato said. “There’s no lack of power, even when towing in hilly terrain, and it runs cool in the hot summer months when towing.”

His rig sparks interest and questions about the quality of AMSOIL products. “When people see my truck with the AMSOIL stickers on the back window, I show them the clean tailpipe on the truck and they can’t believe it’s a diesel. I also tell them the fuel mileage I get on the highway (25 mpg, not towing) and how cool the engine and transmission are when towing (78°C transmission, 100°C engine).”

Lolato also uses AMSOIL products front to back in his 2006 Mazda 3* hatchback with a 2.3L engine and his 2017 Hyundai Elantra* with a 2.0L engine.

Value Saves you Money

I’m always quick to correct a prospect when they say, “Well AMSOIL is great but only for those who are in the upper income brackets.” – Not true. Actually if I had to put a label on a majority of our “non-enthusiast” customers it would be the thrifty type who don’t let a dollar go to waste. AMSOIL saves money in so many aspects. Try and see for yourself.

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Is There Really an Advantage with Premium Gas?