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.
