Using the Right Fuel

Use the type of fuel recommended in your owner's manual. It will most likely specify unleaded fuel of a particular octane rating. Pay particular attention to the octane rating of the gasoline that has been specified for your engine. Do not use gasoline with an octane rating lower than that specified in your owner's manual. In practical terms, the gasoline specified should permit easy starting and prevent engine knock or ping.

Remember that as your car ages it may be necessary to gradually increase the octane rating of the gasoline burned. This is necessary because combustion deposits may accumulate inside the engine cylinders and thus increase the engine's effective compression ratio. Higher compression ratio engines on new cars also necessitate higher octane gasoline to prevent knock.

SYSTEMS
FUEL
PROPER CARE
TRACKING FUEL ECONOMY