What Fuel Should I Put in my Car?

Whether you’re new to driving or just settling into a new car, seeing the many fuel options gas stations have to offer may leave you wondering which fuel to choose. Read on to learn how to identify which type of gas is best for your vehicle.

Check the inside of your fuel door

If you are unsure of what type of gasoline your car takes, a good place to start is by looking on the inside of your car’s fuel door. The fuel door is the protective cover that goes over a vehicle’s fuel filler cap and the entry to its fuel tank. In some cars, you may need to pull a lever in the interior to release the door, while on others, you can pull or push the door to pop it open. On the inside of the fuel door, you should find a sticker that has a message reading “Unleaded Fuel Only,”  “Diesel Fuel” or something similar. This will allow you to match the type of gas on the sticker to the correct fuel pump. These stickers can easily peel off or erode, so one may not be present or legible on your vehicle.  If you are unable to locate the sticker or read it clearly, move on to the next step.

Read your driver’s manual

If you were unable to locate a sticker on the inside of your fuel door, you could also check your car’s driver’s manual. A driver’s manual is an endless resource for all you need to know about your vehicle. Most car manuals will have a section that outlines the best type of gas to use in your car. Check the manual’s index for a section titled “Fuel Recommendation.” If you are unable to find the information you need in your car’s manual, move on to the next step.

Call your vehicle’s manufacturer

If your car’s driver’s manual did not give you the answers you were seeking, you may opt to call your car’s manufacturer. Most car manufacturers have customer support numbers that can help answer any questions you may have about your vehicle. When you call the number, you will likely be connected to a customer service representative who will ask you some questions about your car and give you an answer based on the information you provide. To find your vehicle manufacturer’s customer service number, check your car’s driver’s manual or search online.

What is premium gasoline?

While using a gas pump, you will notice that there are often several different options that gas stations provide. These options will have names like “regular,” “plus” and “premium,” and will each be paired with a different number. The different options’ numbers represent the fuel’s octane, which is a measurement of the fuel’s performance. The higher the octane, the less likely it is that a car’s engine will detonate the gasoline at the wrong time. However, many vehicles only require regular gasoline and will perform well with it. For this reason, it is important to make sure you know which type of gas your car requires before selecting your fuel.