MADISON, WI – The transition was so subtle that many of us didn’t even realize it was happening until we actually came face-to-face with it. You used to be able to go to your local grocery store. On your list of items to purchase was peanut butter. Easy-peasy. Most of us just grabbed the same brand that we were raised on and continued our shopping. But then suddenly something happened.
One day, probably not too long ago, you went to the grocery store, again with the intent of buying peanut butter. But what was once a simple task had morphed into a veritable wall of choices you had to wade through. Do you want “no salt,” “lightly salted,” “crunchy,” “smooth,” “low fat,” “all natural,” “honey roasted,” “high protein,” or “vegan,” just to name a few. The choices have become overwhelming.
Perhaps you’ve noticed the same phenomenon of too many choices at gas stations all around the country. Believe it or not, there was once a time when you basically had the choice of leaded or unleaded. Diesel was added to the mix several decades back. Then came unleaded fuels with various octane ratings. E-85 fuel, which is comprised of 51-85% ethanol, hit the marketplace a little over twenty years ago. Then the United States became the world’s largest producer of ethanol fuel in 2005, creating thousands of jobs and supporting farmers across the country.
So now when you pull up to the pump, how in the world are you supposed to know which fuel is right for you?!
“We get questions about this all the time,” says Eli Dunn, Master Diagnostic Technician at Smart Motors in Madison. “I can give you a basic roadmap of what each choice of fuel is for, but ultimately you only need to know what type of fuel is recommended for your vehicle. That information can be found very easily in your car’s Operator’s Manual.”
Despite having the answer to what type of fuel you should put in your vehicle, some people are not quite satisfied with the answer they get – or at least are strongly recommended to use.
“They get tripped up by numbers,” says Dunn. “They think that using fuel with a higher percentage of ethanol or a higher-octane rating is suddenly going to turn their 4-cylindar car into the Batmobile. Believe me; It won’t.”
Dunn says regular gasoline users might want to start by understanding what ethanol is. According to Kwik Trip, ethanol is “a grain alcohol that can be blended with gasoline. Ethanol can be fermented from many sources of starch including corn, wheat, grain, barley, and potatoes. This is a renewable energy resource that is less costly to produce, burns cleaner, and has less emissions than gasoline alone.”
Learning about octane ratings might also simplify matters when a regular gasoline user fuels up. An octane rating is a standard measure of the performance of fuel. The higher the octane level, the more compression the fuel can withstand before igniting.
“Buyer beware, though,” warns Dunn. “A lot of engines are specifically made to use low octane fuel like Unleaded-87 WITH ethanol. Unleaded-87 without ethanol is made for some recreational vehicles like motorcycles, boats, and outdoor power equipment.”
Gasoline and Flex-fuel vehicles manufactured since 2001 can also use Unleaded-88 or E-85, both of which have a higher-octane rating and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions. These gasolines often cost the car-owner a little less, too. If your Owner’s Manual says that E-85 or Unleaded-88 can be used in your vehicle, it is a wise choice ecologically, but the vehicle’s average miles-per-gallon goes down because ethanol provides less energy per gallon. So while it appears to save you money at the pump, it can end up costing you in the long run because you have to fuel up more often.
Fuels like Unleaded-89, Premium 91, and Premium 92/93 are typically not for use in everyday vehicles. They are specialized gasolines for specific engine types. “Chances are you will be instructed to use these gasolines when you purchase your vehicle, motorcycle, lawn mower, etc.” says Dunn. “The types of engines that need to run on these fuels are not common in typical street vehicles, so the owner should be made aware of this fact by the business that sells these primarily power-sport vehicles.”
Dunn says drivers should also know right off the bat if they have a diesel fueled vehicle. There are as many types of diesel fuel as there are regular gasolines, but because the average driver does not operate diesel powered vehicles during their daily commute, Dunn says it might be a topic best saved for another time.
“Still, the best thing a car owner can do is check their Owner’s Manual to find out what type of fuel is recommended for their vehicle,” says Dunn. “Or if you’re really in doubt – like if you don’t know if your car is flex-fuel compatible – stop in to a reliable dealership or body shop and a professional like myself will let you know what’s right for you and your car.”
About Smart Motors
Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and Wisconsin’s #1 volume Toyota dealer. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information visit www.smarttoyota.com
