Is It Possible That Higher Octane Will Harm Your Engine
The higher the octane level, the more effective it is at preventing the unruly type of combustion that combustion engineers refer to as detonation. To avoid detonation, which can seriously harm high-performance engines, the goal is to ignite the fuel mixture solely with the spark plug rather than from the heat in the cylinder.
Benefits Of Unleaded 88
Its good for your engine
Unleaded 88 burns cleaner and slower than regular unleaded gasoline. The higher-octane level helps boost horsepower and efficiency.
Its good for the environment
Ethanol is a renewable biofuel. The ethanol in Unleaded 88 reduces carbon monoxide pollution and improves fuel octane. The higher octane rating burns cleaner, reducing toxins and improving air quality.
Its good for your wallet
The ethanol in E15 keeps prices at the pump lower due to government ethanol subsidies. This means the higher the octane in a gas, the lower the price. The price of Unleaded 88 is usually a few cents lower than regular unleaded gasoline. This can add up over time.
Will Unleaded 88 Damage My Car
In most gas stations, youll see different gas types like 87, 89, and 91, along with diesel options. Most people choose one gas type and stick to it throughout the life of the vehicle. So when they go to a full-service or self-service gas station, they feel confident to refuel their car with the right option. However, experts advise you not to step down to a lower-grade gasoline type if you usually use a higher grade.
Most forks have not heard of unleaded 88. So, most often, they ask what is unleaded 88 fuel and fall prey to the unleaded 88 vs. E85 debate. E85 gasoline is a high octane rating gasoline with 51% to 83% ethanol percentage. The most concerning question amongst these forks is, is unleaded 88 safe for my car?
The unleaded 88 gasoline is perfectly safe for your car. Although we started seeing this gasoline grade in the last couple of years, it is absolutely fine for any vehicle manufactured from 2001 upwards and any flex-fuel compatible car. So take it as another unleaded fuel for your gasoline-powered vehicles.
Before you use unleaded 88, check what your owners manual says about it. The owners manual is your manufacturer in print. Abstain from unleaded 88 if your owners booklet advises you not to use it. If not, its okay and will not cause any damage to your car. Not now, and not in the long run!
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Will Using A Higher Octane Fuel Than Required Improve Fuel Economy Or Performance
It depends. For most vehicles, higher octane fuel may improve performance and gas mileage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a few percent during severe duty operation, such as towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads, especially in hot weather. However, under normal driving conditions, you may get little to no benefit.
Sheetz Gas Discount Available For Unleaded88 E: What Are They And How To Tell If Your Car Can Use Those Fuels
Sheetz convenience stores will lower its price for unleaded 88 gasoline to $3.99/gallon and mark down the price of its E85 gas to $3.49/gallon, both through the Fourth of July holiday.
If nothing else, the Sheetz announcement Monday afternoon that it would be offering discounts through the Fourth of July weekend on the price of several of the fuels it sells got a lot of peoples attention.
Seeing the words discount and gasoline in a headline will do that these days, with gas prices hovering at or topping $5/gallon, depending on where you live, and nearing or exceeding $6/gallon if your vehicle runs on diesel.
But the promotion reads this way: Sheetz convenience stores will lower its price for unleaded88 gasoline to $3.99/gallon and mark down the price of its E85 gas to $3.49/gallon, both through the Fourth of July holiday.
The cost of filing your tank with fuel that has 87, 89 and 93 octane will remain the same.
So what are these two specialty fuels and can you use them in your vehicle?
E85 gas is a high-level combination of 51 percent to 83 percent ethanol thats blended with gasoline, according to Car and Driver. The percentage of ethanol depends on where you live and the time of the year. Since ethanol is corn-based, E85 gas is readily available in the Midwest and less available in other regions, especially New England and the Pacific Northwest. Also, producers add more ethanol in the summer compared to the winter, the story said.
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Types Of Gasoline Explained: Learn The Differences
Selecting a grade of gasoline simply because it has a higher octane rating might not be the best choice for your car or your budget. While some vehicles can benefit from premium gas, most drivers can save money at the pump by using regular unleaded in their vehicle without sacrificing performance.
This guide explains the different octane ratings for fuel found at gas stations, why some types of gasoline cost more, and which gas you should use for your car.
What Is Octane Rating
The octane rating on different grades of gasoline is a measurement of the fuels stability. Higher octane numbers mean greater stability. The greater stability indicates the gasolines resistance to preignition and the fuels ability to resist knocking or pinging during combustion. These sounds come from the air-fuel mixture detonating prematurely in the engine.
Internal combustion engines compress a mixture of air and fuel and ignite them with a spark. Under certain conditions, the fuel-air mixture can ignite early, creating a knocking sound in the engine. Newer cars have sensors that prevent preignition, so youll rarely hear knocks and pings unless you drive an older vehicle.
A gasolines octane rating averages two testing methods the research octane number under idle conditions and the motor octane number under higher engine speed. You might have noticed this formula in smaller letters on the yellow buttons displayed on gas pumps /2.
The larger numbers on gas pump stickers indicate the octane rating of the different gasoline grades. Typically, gas stations sell gasoline with three octane levels.
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Recommended Vs Required Fuel Types
Cars that require premium fuel often have a warning notice at the gas cap and sometimes on the dashboard gas gauge reminding drivers to use the correct type of gas.
When your owners manual recommends a fuel type, you arent required to put it in your vehicle.
Generally, do what the manufacturer outlines in the owners manual, pay attention when filling up at the gas pump, and choose the right fuel for your car.
Higher octane fuel may be necessary for engines using a greater compression ratio or turbocharging to force more air into the cylinders. The use allows high-output engines to produce more power from the compressed air-fuel mixture. High-compression engines can require high-octane fuel to ensure the mixture doesnt ignite early.
Using fuel with an octane level lower than what is recommended by the manufacturer can reduce engine performance. Over time, not following the octane guidelines for your car can cause damage to the engine and emissions control system.
It might also void the vehicles warranty.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Unleaded 88 Gas
When considering whether to migrate to unleaded 88 gas or not, you need to look at the pros and cons. You can determine if the unleaded 88 is right for your vehicle by weighing the pros and cons.
Pros of Unleaded 88
- It is cheaper than regular unleaded gasoline
- It boasts engine power
- It burns slower than regular unleaded 88
Cons of Unleaded 88
- Limited availability
- Not recommended for vehicles manufactured in the 1990s.
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Price Factors For Gasoline
Many factors determine gasoline prices. Drivers often see higher prices in the summer driving season. Supply from refineries and demand from vacationing motorists can add up to 15 cents per gallon to gas prices in the summer months. Additionally, seasonal gasoline blends found at the pump contribute to price differences from one season to the next.
In warmer months, gasoline has a greater chance of evaporating from a cars fuel system. To help offset smog and emissions, refiners produce a summer blend with lower volatility to reduce the chance of evaporation. Blends vary by state because of government regulations. These seasonal blends can add up to 15 cents per gallon on top of demand increases, depending on the region.
Cooler weather brings lower gas prices from September to April because the winter blend is cheaper to produce. The price at the pump can fall as much as 30 cents per gallon as gas stations switch to winter gasoline and many drivers stay closer to home.
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The Different Types Of Gas At The Pump And How They Affect Your Vehicle
PITTSBURGH – If you haven’t heard, a local gas station, Sheetz, is running a holiday sale on gas through the Fourth of July.
Prices for their 88 octane gas, known as UNL88, will be set at $3.99 a gallon through July 4th and their e85 gas will also be at a lowered price. Yet, not every car will be able to run on the new gas. Here are a couple of things you should know before making the change.
Not every car can run either e85 and what Sheetz calls their 88-octane blend. More than likely your vehicle can run on at least one, the 88-octane blend. Far fewer cars can run on e85.
Officially, the federal government has required car makers to come equipped with engine parts that can automatically adjust a vehicle to run 88-octane without a single action by the driver. Only a select group of cars can use e85.
While the federal government says it is acceptable to use the 88-octane blend, using the fuel in your vehicle could void the manufacturer’s warranty.
The 88-octane is just a fancy way of saying e15 gas. This is a blend of gasoline that blends gas with 15 percent ethanol. 87-octane can have no more than 10 percent ethanol. The difference between 87 and 88 is an additional 5% ethanol. This is important because if you have an owner’s manual from a vehicle made in 2002-2015, it probably lists the maximum amount of ethanol at up to 10 percent.
Engines not equipped with newer equipment to handle 88-octane could potentially overheat.
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Accidentally Put Unleaded 88 Instead Of Unleaded 87 Into My Car
Asked by Jan 23, 2020 at 01:10 PM about the 2015 Jeep Cherokee
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I accidentally put Unleaded 88 fuel in my 2015 Jeep Cherokee. It is recommended that it get Unleaded 87, which is what I usually do. I just wasn’t totally paying attention and the pump that I went to today had it on the opposite side of what I’m used to so I just grabbed it and started filling my car up. I obviously don’t plan to do it again, but I’m hoping my car will still be okay if I only did it this one time. Thanks!
A Note On 88 Octane / E15 Fuel
- to enter October’s Outback of the Month Challenge!
Premium Member
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT “88 OCTANE” THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC. SHORT VERSION
- Most Outbacks CANNOT run 88 octane.
- The 2020+ Outback XT and Outback Wildernesscan run 88 octane
MOST Subarus SHOULD NOT run 88 octane, because the ethanol content is too high. UP TO 10% ethanol
- 2020+ Outback/Legacy NA
- 2019+ Forester 2.5 Includes Forester Wilderness
- MOST older Subarus
- 2019+ Crosstrek 2.0
- 2022+ Forester 2.0
CAN
And, please, don’t damage your car to save a few bucks.
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Is Gas With Higher Octane Worth The Price Difference
Absolutely. However, its only worth the price difference if your car requires higher octane gasoline, such as mid-grade or premium fuel. Otherwise, you would be wasting money.
Some owners manuals indicate that fuel with a higher octane rating will make your car run better or more efficiently. Still, the increase in cost per gallon is typically higher than any reduction in gas consumption.
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How Much Cheaper Is 88 Octane
It varies, but Unleaded 88 is usually at least 5-10 cents cheaper per gallon than 87 octane gasoline and it can actually be as much as 20 to 30 cents or even more. This means that you can save some money at the pump by switching to Sheetz 88 octane gas.
5 Reasons to Switch to Unleaded 88
1. Its recommended for Hemi engines
2. Its compatible with any car made after 2001
3. Its less expensive than 87 octane
4. Its a high-quality fuel
5. Theres no risk of damaging your car by using it
If youre looking to save money on gasoline, switch to Sheetz 88 octane gas. Its recommended for Hemi engines, compatible with any car made after 2001, and less expensive than 87 octane. Plus, its a high-quality fuel with no risk of damaging your car.
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What Is Unleaded 88 Gas
Unleaded 88 gas, referred to as E15, is made of 85% gasoline and 15% octane. It is the same with the regular 87 gasoline the only difference is the percentage of the octane in the refinery process. It burns cleaner than the regular 87, offers an engine boost, reduces greenhouse emissions, and improves air quality.
It is also cheaper than the regular 87 gasoline. I know youll be asking, why is unleaded 88 cheaper? The 88 gas is cheaper than the regular 87 gasoline because of government ethanol subsidies. This means the higher the octane in a gas, the lower the price. So what is unleaded 88 gas used for? Lets find out.
What Is 85 Octane And Is It Safe To Use In My Vehicle
The sale of 85 octane fuel was originally allowed in high-elevation regionswhere the barometric pressure is lowerbecause it was cheaper and because most carbureted engines tolerated it fairly well. This is not true for modern gasoline engines. So, unless you have an older vehicle with a carbureted engine, you should use the manufacturer-recommended fuel for your vehicle, even where 85 octane fuel is available.
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Unleaded 88 Also Known As E15 Is A Fuel Blend Consisting Of 15% Ethanol And 85% Gasoline
The only difference in the makeup of Unleaded 88 and 87 is their percentage of ethanol. E15 contains 5% more ethanol than E10, or Unleaded 87, which is the most common fuel used in the country.
The difference in mileage between Unleaded 88 and 87 is undetectable. Studies show that ethanols impact on fuel economy is equal to the loss of energy density. This translates into a loss of less than 2% when compared to regular gasoline. For a vehicle getting 30 miles per gallon this would equal a drop to 29.4.
Automakers provide full warranties for Unleaded 88 for most new vehicles on the road.
More than 415 fuel stations in Minnesota offer Unleaded 88 biofuel to consumers. Look for the yellow 88 button at the pump.
Are Gas Price Wars Coming
So far, Sheetz is the only one to announce the limited-time price drop.
Rutter’s, which has stores in several states, does sell E15, which contains 15 percent ethanol, at a lower price. It was selling for $3.99 per gallon at the Hellam Township store on Wednesday. A company spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Wawa offers Unleaded 88/E15 and E85 in a few of its stores in the region, said Lori Bruce, a spokesperson for the convenience store chain. Some states, such as Delaware and New Jersey, where the company operates, do not allow the sale of E15.
“Across all Wawa stores, we have been doing everything in our power to keep prices as low as possible at the pump,” Bruce wrote in an email. “This includes absorbing cost increases when we can and leveraging our supply infrastructure to the best of our ability.”
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Can Vehicles Be Harmed By Cheaper Gas
“One of the biggest concerns is whether an ethanol blend will harm the car. While owners of antique or vintage vehicles may want to be cautious, ethanol blends dont appear to cause problems with ‘typical’ automobiles that most people use nowadays,” Ciolkosz said.
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Sheetz Opens Offers New Cheaper Regular 88 Fuel But Use With Caution
CIRCLEVILLE Sheetz is now open in town, and they offering something to the area that most gasoline companies do not Regular 88 fuel. The Fuel cheaper than your standard low-grade fuel, but you should only use it with caution.
Regular 88 fuel otherwise known as E15 or Unleaded 88 was introduced as a cheaper alternative to regular gas. If you pull up to Sheetz pumps you will see an ethanol selection along with 88 octanes as well as 87, 89, and 93. Normally, people who generally use the cheapest gas, pump 87 fuel into vehicles, thats the standard blend of gas cheapest and recommended for a majority of cars. Unleaded 88 is a newer blend that contains more ethanol than other brands so it needs to be used with education.
According to the EPA 88 gas contains 15% ethanol and thats not good for cars that are pre-2001, because they were not manufactured to handle this higher blend of ethanol. Your standard 87 gas only contains 10% ethanol and is ok for just about any vehicle, minus high-performance cars.
How do you know what gas to use? Grab that owners manual from the glove compartment to see what is recommended for your vehicle. If you dont have an owners manual most car manufacturers have them available online or a typical google search of your year, make and model may help.
Gas at Sheetz in Circleville today is 2.79 for regular 87 fuel and the new 88 fuel is 2.59 a gallon.
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