@Blueberryyum02
1LoudLS has made it clear WHY there is different grades.
Ill further Explain:
WHAT GASOLINE IS MADE UP OF AND HOW IT WORKS:
Gasoline is made up of 2 parts totaling 100%, 3rd part additives/dilution.
Initially after purification, we wound up with two major components for burn: Heptane, and Octane. Octane combusts with ignition, i.e. spark. Whereas Heptane combusts with compression. Octane burns hotter than Heptane, so ideally it is more desired for fuel source than Heptane.
Now, when you see at the pump "93" and as well, "89", the percentage here applies as follows:
"93" is the percent of Octane. The remainder to make up 100%, is Heptane, which in this case is "9%"
Likewise with "89", remainder being 11% Heptane.
Those percentages are BEFORE the additives the gasoline companies introduce. Like Shell and the "Nitrogen enhanced" and so forth.
Combustion engines Run on these two critical elements: Combustion and explosion, and therefore the balance between octane and Heptane is CRITICAL when engineering a motor because, Too much Heptane and the ignition can happen too early, like before the spark. Too much octane, and the spark happens BEFORE the desired compression.
The idea here is that as the Piston compresses the fuel - air mix, You want the Heptane to ignite at the exact same moment the spark ignites the Octane. The result is a complete Burn of both products, maximizing Efficiency and harnessing all the power from that explosion.
If the explosion is too early, or opposite, too late, The piston either shoots down early/late, resulting in unwanted tension on your crankshaft, and connecting rods.
Wrong fuel grades can have results such as engine noise like knocking and pinging. Essentially, these noises are the product of mistimed explosions in the engine, the result of wrong grade of fuel put into the vehicle. Even if you don't hear those noises, its still slightly mistimed, and not healthy for your car. you could be adding strain to your internals of your motor which is what makes those sounds.
HOW TO KNOW WHAT FUEL TO PUT::
When you fill your gas, majority of vehicles have the Fuel grades on the inside of the gas cover.
They very, reading Different numbers. i.e. 87, 91, 89, 93, 89+, 91+
Some have this '+' next to the octane number. This is because the motor is designed to accommodate octane percentages higher than the number listed. So 89 + would mean You can put 89, 91, or even 93. however, given the number listed is 89, you cannot put less than 89% octane, according to the manufacturer.
If the Gas cap says "89" without plus, you shouldn't put anything higher or lower. Just put 89. That is what the manufacturer has called for.
If you accidentally put too low of an octane, you can always add "OCTANE BOOSTER" which is found and your local automotive store or Canadian Tire... if your in Canada..
If you accidentally put too high, you can try adding lower grade to dilute. As long as you dont hear knocking or pinging you should be ok.
One Final note:
Some believe that the different grades of octane are there primarily because 93 burns better and cleaner than 89, or 87. Therefore always best to put 93+
Others believe its a hoax from the gas companies, just to charge us extra.
These are myths, our fathers and forefathers believed. The Older generations who think they know everything
I hope this Helps!!
