What is the purpose of mid-grade fuel?

Older Vehicles and Classic Cars If you drive an older model vehicle or a classic car, you may want to consider a higher octane gas. Vintage cars are more prone to knocking. A mid-grade or premium gas can help prevent this problem. Older cars do not have knock sensors or a system that can detect and recalibrate.

Does 89 octane make a difference?

All generally false. In fact, using a higher octane fuel than your car calls for won’t increase its power or efficiency, though you will sacrifice some power and efficiency if you use a lower octane than it was designed for, which could harm its long-term durability.

Is it better to use 89 gas instead of 87?

The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging. But if the vehicle manufacturer says your engine needs only 87-octane regular, that is what you should use.

What happens if I use mid-grade instead of premium?

Using regular gas in an engine that requires premium could void your warranty. If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine needs service.”

Should you use mid-grade gas?

There’s no advantage to running mid-grade or premium gas in your car. If your car has a label saying “premium fuel required,” you should always buy the higher grade fuel. Your car’s knock sensor should prevent problems, but it’s better not to risk it.

Can I use 89 octane in my lawn mower?

Sure, you won’t hurt your lawn mower or string trimmer by putting in Premium gasoline, but you’ll be wasting your money since it’s more expensive. You only need Mid-grade or Premium gas (89-octane or higher) if you have a vehicle with a high compression ratio, which will be noted in your owner’s manual.

Is it OK to use mid grade gas?

You can safely run regular or mid-grade, but you’ll get better performance, and possibly better fuel economy, on premium gas.

What happens when you mix 89 and 87 gas?

Yes. You will not harm your car by mixing different octane grades of the same gasoline providing your car’s engine is designed to run on less than 89 octane fuel and you are not using E85 in a non-E85 compatible engine.

What kind of gas is 89?

Gas stations typically carry three octane grades. State laws regulate which octane levels can be listed as premium, midgrade or regular. Typically “regular” gas is 87 octane, “midgrade” is 89 octane and over 91 octane is “premium” gasoline. Some states label top-tier gasoline with 93 octane as “ultra” gas.

Can you mix 89 93 gas?

No, you will not damage your engine by mixing different octane fuel. It is still fuel. Say you mixed 2 gallons of 87 octane with 2 gallons of 89 octane and 2 gallons of 93 octane.