Palmen Kia of Kenosha

Why Does My Owner’s Manual Suggest Premium Fuel?

Do you find yourself puzzled by the options available for gasoline? There are higher octane fuels (more expensive) and the lower octane fuels (less expensive). Your owner’s manual suggests premium fuel. The question is: why does my owner’s manual suggest premium fuel? We are here to answer that question, along with others regarding the use of premium fuel over the cheaper fuel. Read on to find out!

Premium fuel comes with a price tag that is higher than the other fuel options available. But what makes it special? Engines that require premium fuel have a higher compression ratio. What this means, is that the more expensive fuel is needed to help the engine operate properly. Without the right fuel, the engine will produce a knock. A knocking engine is a bad noise to hear, and can result in damage and expensive repairs down the road.

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It is important to read the owner’s manual for your specific vehicle before making the decision to use higher or lower octane fuel. An owner’s manual that merely suggests premium fuel, rather than requires it, means that it’s most likely to safe to purchase fuel from the lower octane options. Perhaps choose the middle option, instead of moving all the way down to 87 octane.

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Many false claims have come up that say premium oil will improve your vehicle’s performance or keep your engine cleaner. Studies have shown that new vehicles run so efficiently, that the performance increase between types of fuel has very little affect. In fact, it is not worth the extra money. On top of that, the fuel does not provide extra engine cleaning capability. All fuels are required to include a detergent for keeping an engine clean, and thus do their job without allowing the engine to build up grime.

So, does your car need premium fuel? Check to see if it is merely suggested, or required, or neither! Many vehicles work perfectly well without the premium, or even middle of the road fuel. Despite the myths, premium fuel should only be required in very specific engines and cars, but is not necessary for the average driver. If you have any further questions or concerns, be sure to contact us at Palmen Kia. We would be happy to help out in any way possible! Happy Driving!

Be sure to check out our other blog posts in the Tips and Tricks Category!