What fuel is right for my car?

There are many different types of fuel around these days, and there can be some confusion as to which one is right for your car. I get asked what is the difference between the different types of fuel out there. So here is a quick run down on them.

UNLEADED FUELS

Unleaded fuels contain Octane. Octane is a measure of a fuel’s ability to resist a phenomenon known as knocking, which a driver may detect as a pinging or knocking noise coming from the engine.

E10

E10 is a blend of Ethanol and 91 Octane Fuel, at a ratio of 10% Ethanol to 91% unleaded 91 Fuel. It supports the Sugar Cane Industry and is often 3-4 cents cheaper than standard unleaded fuel. The saving in cost is offset by the fact it can hamper the fuel economy of your car. Also, not all vehicles can take E10 fuel. Financially speaking you will not save money buying E10, as you will need to refuel more often, but you will be environmentally friendly and support the local sugar cane industry.

91, or Standard Unleaded Fuel

This is the standard fuel that can be found almost everywhere, and more cars can run on it than can run on E10. It is more expensive than E10 fuel. However, there are some more recent model cars that will need a higher-octane fuel.

95

95 Octane Fuel is a good mid-range performance fuel, and many small turbo cars can run on this fuel. However, it is getting harder to find and is more expensive than 91 Octane Fuel.

98

98 Octane fuel is the highest-octane fuel available and should give the best performance.  High performance cars will need to use 98 Octane fuel only. This type of fuel can clean injectors and engines to some degree and increase fuel efficiency. The downside is there is a big price jump from 95 or 91 Octane Fuels.

DIESEL

Diesel engines are becoming increasingly popular in passenger cars. Diesel is also a popular choice for four-wheel-drives and work utes. Some fuel companies are also releasing premium diesel, which costs more but is said to contain more additives to help clean the engine. Premium diesel also has anti-frothing agents to reduce the chances of bubbling in the neck that can slow filling.

Unfortunately, as diesel pumps become more prevalent at service stations, the risks of mis-fuelling increases. Most unleaded petrol pump nozzles will fit inside a diesel cars fuel neck, which makes it easy to make a mistake when refuelling. If you fill a diesel car with petrol, don’t try to start it. If you do it will stop working almost immediately and the repair is likely to cost you thousands of dollars.

If you do fill your car with the wrong kind of fuel, don’t hesitate to call Townsville Mobile Mechanic a call on 0400 401 171  and we will be able to help you.