The vapors given off when gasoline evaporates and the substances produced when gasoline is burned (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons) contribute to air pollution. Burning gasoline also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Why is octane bad for the environment?

The vapors given off when gasoline evaporates and the substances produced when gasoline is burned (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons) contribute to air pollution. Burning gasoline also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Is higher octane fuel more volatile?

If you have an engine that requires lower grade fuel, the octane rating of the gasoline you use is smaller, but it’s more volatile. This is necessary because an average performance engine has pistons with lower compression ratios – more volatility is needed in the controlled explosion to power the engine.

Does premium gas clean your engine?

Today’s premium fuels contain additives and detergents that help clean fuel injectors and remove carbon deposits inside of engines, thus, incentivizing motorist with engines that use regular fuel to, on occasion, use premium gas to clean their engines.

Does higher octane gas run cleaner?

Will higher octane gasoline clean your engine better? No. High octane gasoline doesn’t outperform regular octane in preventing engine deposits from forming, in removing them, or in cleaning your car’s engine. This is a myth.

Does high octane fuel affect emissions?

According to a Society of Automotive Engineers’ study[3], increasing the octane number of petrol can result in reducing fuel consumption of at least 7%[4] . When combined with a small changes to the engine, the octane number increase could reduce CO2 emissions by 20 million tonnes per year from petrol engine vehicles.

Does premium fuel reduce emissions?

For the majority of cars, using premium fuel sees an improvement in performance and fuel efficiency and arguably reducing CO2 emissions when the vehicle is working hard, for example, towing a trailer. However, under normal driving conditions with a mainstream vehicle, there is little to no noticeable benefit.

Why is 93 gas better?

Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. Fuel with a higher octane rating can stand up to higher compression before it detonates. Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time.

Should I use premium gas occasionally?

Even if you car runs on regular, an occasional tank of premium isn’t completely a bad idea. Higher octane fuels often have a higher-quality additives put in at the refinery. Refiners don’t generally disclose the actual additives, but they usually include detergents and other solvents to keep the fuel system clean.

Will higher octane gas hurt my car?

The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging.

Will premium gas hurt my car?

Cars that require premium gasoline have high-compression engines, turbochargers, and other high-performance aspects. Not using premium won’t necessarily hurt your engine, but you could lose some of the performance of that premium engine you paid for if you use regular or midgrade gas.

Are higher octane fuels better for the environment?

Additionally, engines designed to work with higher octane also burn the fuel more completely — meaning less harmful emissions in exhaust. One MIT study even estimated that if higher octane fuels and engines designed for them became more widespread, the U.S. could cut our annual CO2 emissions by 35 million tons.

What is octane?

What is octane? 1 Regular (the lowest octane fuel–generally 87) 2 Midgrade (the middle range octane fuel–generally 89–90) 3 Premium (the highest octane fuel–generally 91–94)

Does higher octane juice reduce pollution?

Higher-octane juice won’t reduce pollution or emissions at all, according to a study recently done by the American Automobile Association. Fewer than 20 percent of the cars on the road today have engines designed specifically to burn premium gas, which is what they should be running.

What octane gas should I use in my car?

You should use the octane rating required for your vehicle by the manufacturer. So, check your owner’s manual. Most gasoline vehicles are designed to run on 87 octane, but others are designed to use higher octane fuel.