Other than the similar smell different types of gasolines have, there are a few other things car owners do not understand about their gas. One such example is what it quality means in gas and where to get the best quality. In this article we are going to look at the gas stations with the best gas in the US.
The quality of gas you put I your car goes a long way in ensuring the car stays in great condition for a long time. But first, you need to know what type of gas your car uses.
There are two main types of gas that regular vehicles use. Regular and premium gas are the two most common types. Other types include diesel which is used in trucks and larger vehicles.
All these gasoline types vary in price and quality. There are many misconceptions around what quality means in gasoline. In the following section, we are going to look at what it means to say ‘best gasoline.
What does ‘best gasoline’ mean?
Car owners often ask which gasoline is ‘best’ for their vehicles. Best gasoline is used to refer to the top tier gasoline you will find in quality gas stations.
Top tier gasoline is considered better because it contains more fuel additives that make the engine run better, keep it in great condition and improve fuel efficiency. Top tier fuel is found in high quality gas stations.
There are a lot of misconceptions among car owners on what top tier fuel does for the car. The first one is that gasoline from mid and lower level gas stations can cause problems in your car and can even be pose danger.
This is false because the US has a set standard of the fuel quality being sold in gas stations. No matter what gas station you go to, the fuel will always be clean and harmless to your vehicle.
The other misconception is that top tier gas will improve the performance of your vehicle. This is not exactly true as there are a lot of components that go into a vehicle’s performance. Top tier gas only improves how the engine works and consequently improves fuel efficiency.
Top tier gas was made to reduce the build-up of carbon deposits in the engine to help it be more durable and last longer. Therefore, buying top tier gas will improve the engine’s longevity as well as increase its efficiency.
Premium gas
Many people use refer to premium gas as top tier gas. As much as the two are similar, there are slight differences that separate them. Top tier gas is gas sold in quality gas stations.
Gas stations add a mix of different additives to make the engine more efficient and more long lasting. Premium gas on the other hand refers to gas that has an octane rating of about 90. Octane rating is the standard measure of fuel’s performance and efficiency.
The higher the octane rating the more compression the gas can hold out before igniting. This is also the reason why compressibility only applies to gasoline engines. Because of this, premium gas is as good and as efficient as top tier gases offered in top tier gas stations.
Regular gas
Regular gas has a lower octane rating than premium gas hence the name ‘regular’. While premium gas has an octane number of at least 90 (ad may go up to 92 in some states), regular gas has a rating of 87.
This means that regular gas is less efficient than premium gas. It is not however harmful or dangerous to the vehicle’s engine. This rating also influences the probability of engine knocks. Knocking refers to the unstable reactions that occur in the fuel and air mixture in the engine.
A knocking sound is caused by the small explosions that may occur when the engine is knocked. Regular gas is more likely to knock your engine that premium gas. This makes regular gas way cheaper than premium gas. Using premium gas will definitely be more efficient for the engine but a lot more expensive.
When to use premium gas
As you have probably realized by now, premium gas in not really necessary for your car. However, there are some conditions that may require you to put premium gas in your vehicle.
One main reason is if the car manufacturer explicitly says that the vehicle should run on premium. Some vehicles, especially high end modern vehicles from Audi, Mercedes, BMW and others, have engines built for premium gas only.
In this case, only use premium gas for your car. If the manufacturer says its ‘recommended’, then there is no use using premium.
Another reason to use premium gas is when the engine produces a knocking sound when fueled with regular gas. This can be caused by a number of reasons.
If you has previously used premium gas continuously for a short while then go back to regular, the engine may have a problem adapting to the regular gas. So when you fuel with regular, a knocking sound is produced.
In this case, you will need to be using premium gas throughout so as to not damage the engine. If your engine is old and problematic, there is a chance it will knock when loaded with regular gas.
In this case, use premium gas to keep the engine running and healthy. It is recommended to use premium gas when the engine has any sort of problem.
So, is premium better than regular gas?
There is no definite answer to this. Premium gas is only better than regular gas if the vehicle is a modern high end product.
Such cars from Mercedes Benz, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen have high performance engines that need premium gas to keep up with them. These engines were also already built for engine efficiency and fuel economy meaning that using regular gas in them only wastes and lowers the capacity of the vehicle.
Gas stations with the best quality gas in the US
For the best or top tier gas for your vehicle, there are some gas stations we recommend you visit. The following is a list of gas stations with the best quality gas in US.
- Shell
- Chevron
- Sinclair
- Costco
- Mobil
- BP
- Conoco
- Holiday
- Texaco
- Kwik Trip
Conclusion
Using the best quality gas in your vehicle is a great habit to adopt. It is great for engine maintenance and stability and will ensure you get the best out of your engine. It important to know if your car needs premium gas. However, most times, regular fuel will work just fine especially if it is from a top tier gas station.
