Does Using High-Octane Fuel Improve Engine Performance?
When you pull up to the pump, you’ve no doubt observed all that variety in gasoline — regular, mid-grade, premium. That leads many drivers to wonder: Does premium fuel help, or is it one big waste of money? Here at Nitro-9, where it’s all about performance and precision, we’re here to bring you the straight dope on your fuel.
What Is Octane, Anyway?
The octane rating of a fuel is a measure of a fuel’s ability to resist “knocking” or “pinging” during combustion. This knock occurs when fuel ignites prematurely in the engine cycle, which can be harmful to your engine in the long term.
Regular gas: 87 octane
Mid-grade: 89 octane
Premium: 91–94 octane
More octane = more resistance to knock. That said, it doesn’t mean more power for every engine.
Does High-Octane Fuel Increase Performance?
If – and only if – your engine is designed for it.
Today’s high-tech, computer-controlled, small displacement and supercharged (Turbocharged) high-compression engines are designed to take advantage of premium grade or higher octane fuels. In engines of this type, high-octane gasoline may:
Prevent knock and engine damage
Maintain optimal power output
Enhance throttle response
Sustain fuel efficiency
But if you drive a car that’s recommended for regular fuel, putting in premium gas is not going to add extra horsepower or make your engine run more smoothly. In all likelihood, it’s a waste of money.
What Do Automakers Say?
Always check your owner’s manual. If it says “premium recommended,” you can often run on regular with some loss of performance. But if it says “premium required,” using regular gasoline can cause diminished performance and possibly long-term damage to the engine.
What About Additives Like Nitro-9?
Even if you’re buying the right octane level, the cleanliness and efficiency of the fuel system make a difference. That’s where premium additives like Nitro-9 come into play.
Our fuel treatments:
Clean fuel injectors
Reduce engine deposits
Improve combustion efficiency
Aiding knock control in marginal.
So even if you’re pouring Angostura bitters in your gas tank, Nitro-9 can keep your engine performing and lasting.
Bottom Line
- Rocket fuel isn’t high-octane in every car, just in the ones designed to require it.
- Always follow manufacturer recommendations.
- Enhancing fuel quality with proven additives such as Nitro-9 can provide better protection and cleaner performance.
At Nitro-9, we recognize that performance should be designed–not a shot in the dark. So the next time you fill up with fuel, make sure you use the correct octane, and perhaps give your engine the extra help it deserves.
Do you want to give your engine the protection and performance it deserves?
Discover Nitro-9’s power fuel additives and keep your engine fresh.