Any automobile requires a consistent supply of fuel. Being fully aware of the various types of gasoline and fuel grades can help you choose the right one for your vehicle. Read on to help you find out.
Definition of Octane Rating
When you visit a gas station, you’ll find different types of fuel labeled with some fancy name, under which are their respective octane ratings, or specifically in the Philippines, Research Octane Number (RON). For standard or regular gasoline, the minimum RON is 91 while for premium it’s 95. What do these numbers mean?
Fuel stability is measured by its octane rating. These ratings are based on the engine's auto-ignition pressure. In essence, it assesses how well the fuel can avoid pre-ignition. Engines in cars fire at a set moment, and if it happens too early, the engine may suffer damage and generate banging noises.
The motor octane rating (MOR) and the research octane rating are the two separate ratings that make up the octane number. A higher number indicates that the gasoline is more stable.
The Different Types of Fuel
The following are a few of the kinds of fuel you could come across at the gas station, depending on the location:
Premium Gas
This is considered to have the highest range of octane ratings. Most automobiles can operate on normal gasoline without any issues, but high-performance engines have features that work best on premium fuel. Sports cars as well as huge and heavy-duty vehicles usually require premium gasoline due to their high-performance mechanisms.
With its higher stability, high octane gas can withstand more heat and pressure before igniting. When standard fuel is used in a vehicle that was designed to run on premium fuel, engine knock may result, lowering performance and efficiency.
Regular Gas
Regular gas typically has an octane rating of 87 in most countries, which can be seen on the yellow sticker at the pump. Today's automobiles are primarily designed to run on regular gasoline.
In high compression, high-performance engines and lower octane fuel burn less steadily and consistently. Higher octane fuels have more power and performance than those with an 87 octane rating. Because low-octane fuels are unstable, they may involuntarily or uncontrollably ignite the fuel in the engine cylinders, which over time could cause serious harm to high-performance engines. Make sure to check with your dealership or the car’s manual on whether your car needs premium or regular gasoline.
Unleaded Gas
The world's solution to the harmful toxins created by using leaded fuels was unleaded gasoline. As its name implies, this gasoline does not contain tetraethyl lead. Unleaded gas is now the only type sold at gas stations, and it comes as a premium or regular.
Diesel Fuel
Diesel fuel is a more specific kind of gasoline that can only be used in cars with compression-ignition diesel engines.
Vehicles that use this kind of fuel are our passenger jeepneys, freight trucks, delivery trucks, buses, boats, railway systems, agricultural machinery, as well as military trucks. Some SUVs are equipped with diesel engines.
A gasoline engine could sustain severe harm if diesel fuel is added to it. When diesel fuel is injected into a gasoline vehicle, the engine will immediately shut down. Make sure to never use diesel fuel in a gasoline car (or the other way around). One thing to keep in mind, whenever you go to a gasoline station, always make sure the attendant is filling your car with the right fuel. Diesel pumps are often bright green in color and have a different size fuel pump nozzle.
E85 (Flex Fuel)
Flex fuel, often referred to as E85, is composed of 15% gasoline and 85% renewable, plant-based ethanol. Since ethanol is produced from corn and soybeans, it is less expensive than regular gasoline. But because ethanol has less chemical energy than gasoline, it usually has lower fuel efficiency, about 15% to 17% compared to regular gasoline. This is mostly caused by ethanol's lower energy-per-volume. The majority of flex fuel vehicles can run on either gasoline or flex-fuel, but you should never use flex-fuel in a gasoline-only vehicle. Fuel is generally not used in the Philippines although there is a FlexFuel fuel company here that sells regular gasoline.
Biodiesel
This is diesel fuel made without petroleum. Oils from plants, such as sunflower, peanut, or soybean, can be used to make biodiesel. It is occasionally also made using tallow or animal fat.
Without modifications, the majority of diesel car engines cannot run on pure biodiesel. Because of this, the majority of biodiesel for automobiles is a mixture of biodiesel and petrodiesel. Petrodiesel can occasionally be as low as 10%, but the engine needs to be built to handle this fuel. Most diesel engines are built to run on pure fuel oil or fuel oil/biodiesel mixtures. Pure biodiesel shouldn't be used in these engines since they can be damaged. Like flex fuel, biodiesel is generally not used in the country.
Which of These Gas Types Should I Choose?
It's crucial to utilize the fuel type that is most suited for your car. Your automobile may not function at its peak if you use regular gas when in fact it needs premium.
You can maximize performance and fuel economy once you identify the proper gasoline for your vehicle. Make sure to check your car owner’s manual or the website of the car's manufacturer to find out which fuel is the most suitable for your vehicle.
Final Thoughts
The fact that vehicles are changing so quickly is the primary driver of the wide range of fuel options available today. Selecting the most ideal fuel can help you enhance performance and extend the operational lifespan of your car.
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