Which Fuel Should I Use For My Vehicle
Knowing which fuel to use for your car can be confusing, particularly when petrol prices have skyrocketed in recent times.
These costs have given many of us the urge to pump cheaper fuel into your car is much more attractive.
There are many different types of fuel available across petrol stations nationwide but what's the actual difference between the types and which petrol should I use for best performance?
It's important to follow the guidelines in your cars manual which will detail your tank size as well as preferred type of fuel for your European car.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF PETROL?
Petrol (91, 95 & 98)
Regular Unleaded Petrol (RULP) is classified as 91 and you have 95 & 98 which are classified as Premium Unleaded Petrol (PULP).
The main difference between regular and premium petrol is the additives which are added into the premium types that may help clean your fuel system and provide better distance per full tank, according to the NRMA.
Now, the difference in numbers (91, 95 & 98) refers to the Research Octane Number (RON) of the fuel itself. It’s basically a rating or standard of how well a fuel performs in an engine.
With lower octane fuels, you have a higher chance that the fuel is damaging the engine through abnormal combustion - a process called knocking, pinging or pinking. These terms describe the sound you may hear from your engine and may indicate that you're not using the correct fuel for your car.
According to Professor Shawn Kook of the University of New South Wales; higher octane rated fuels are designed to reduce knocking and can therefore achieve greater engine efficiencies and lower fuel consumption.
Ethanol Blends (E10)
A much more common form of fuel is E10 which is a combination of regular unleaded petrol (90%) and ethanol (10%) which basically "thins it out".
Sometimes you can be lucky and be pumping premium unleaded petrol and ethanol but it is usually regular unleaded as it’s more cost effective for petrol companies to provide.
Your cars' handbook should tell you if your vehicle is compatible with E10 - not all cars are!
SHOULD I ONLY BE USING PREMIUM FUEL IN MY CAR?
Here at VMA Euro, we strongly recommend only filling your car up with premium blends to ensure the proper maintenance of your engine. Of course, if the manufacturer clearly states that you can use E10, for example, then it should be no issue at all.
If you do fill your car up with either 91 unleaded petrol or an ethanol blend, just make sure you listen out for any unusual sounds coming from the engine bay while you’re driving, or come in and have it seen to by one of our expert mechanics.
If you have a performance vehicle, we would ONLY recommend premium fuels but to be honest, most of our customers know that anyway!
CONTACT VMA EURO TODAY!
We are experts in servicing all European makes and models in Sydney’s Hills District and Western Suburbs. With workshop locations in Rouse Hill, NSW and Penrith, NSW, we can service your needs wherever you may be.
Call our Head Office on (02) 9679 1626 to book in your logbook service , regular service or premium service today!
