Gasoline – What you Should Know

Which brand is the best quality gasoline?

Is all gasoline formulations made equal? Should you only ride on cheap gasoline and pocket the difference between current gasoline prices?

Actually, oil refinery companies are very secretive about the gasoline chemical formula behind their gasoline aside from the gasoline blends and what they mean for your car. They go even further not to reveal which oil drilling companies they get their crude oil from.

How gasoline octane ratings affect your car?

The gasoline effect on the performance of the car will vary from brand to brand and grade to grade. There is even some slight variation within brands, as gas is reformulated both seasonally and geographically. The best plan is to run the minimum octane recommended in your owner's manual. Extreme conditions such as heavy loads, towing and high summer temperatures may require the next higher grade.

Since the quality of gasoline directly affects engine performance, longevity, fuel economy, along with the environment, it pays to know the facts about different gasoline blends and what they mean.

Check the car manufacturer's octane recommendation in your manual. If in doubt, use an 87 octane gasoline.

Why is octane added to gasoline?

The octane number in the gasoline chemical formula refers to the fuel's ability to resist destructive engine knock or pinging (fuel igniting before the ignition spark).

Costs for a car tune-up will pay off themselves in fuel economy and overall better engine performance. Also knowing how to adjust ignition timing to the manufacturer's engine tune-up specifications is especially important. Ask a PartSource Pro for easy do-it-yourself engine tune-up tips.

If your engine is making knocking and pinging noises, first try a different brand. If switching to another brand doesn't solve the engine knock or ping problem, go for high octane gas or add an octane booster when you fill up.

However, high octane fuel does not provide more power or fuel economy. Paying for octane you don't need is a waste of money.

The quality of the crude oil used to make the fuel has a direct impact on fuel prices. Gasoline prices may be an indicator of the quality of gasoline.

Cheap gasoline frequently contains more undesirable sulfur compounds and may increase combustion chamber carbon deposits. Such compounds contribute to higher exhaust emissions and catalytic converter problems.

What is the bottom line? Don't pay extra for unnecessary octane. If you've modified your engine for higher horsepower, the octane requirement may be higher than the manufacturer's recommendation.

The Purpose for an EGR valve and Why You Should Replace Them At Regular Intervals!

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. The EGR valve re-circulates carbon dioxide from your vehicle's exhaust back through your engine. EGR valve symptoms are as of: experiencing reduced power, detonation (pinging), rough idle, or stalling and hesitation when accelerating.

Inspecting and cleaning EGR valves is easy. First, know how to clean an EGR valve, it will save you the cost of a replacement EGR valve. But if the EGR valve is going bad, performing an EGR valve install is simple. Talk to your Parts Pro at a PartSource near you for more information.

See Do it Yourself Clean and Check EGR Valves for step by step instructions.

In case you need them, you can always find free print outs of specific vehicle instructions and torque specifications from Mitchell on Demand at your local PartSource store.

Everything you need for this job can be found at your local PartSource store. Ask a Parts Pro about what you'll need for the job. It's better to have extra spare parts ready for anything that might need to be replaced. The last thing you want to do, is go shopping when you have the car up on the jack.

When taking parts apart, be organized. Keep similar parts together in a safe place where they won't get lost and layout parts in a way that will allow you to put them back in the same order.

Every vehicle is different. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, always follow the vehicle's owner's manual.

Safety should be your number one priority. Don't smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or wear a necktie while working on the car. Watch out for hot objects, sharp instruments, hazardous materials and other potential safety hazards in and around your workspace.

Don't work with a Philips when the job calls for flat. Substituting tools can compromise your safety or a vehicle's performance.

Finally, when the fun turns to frustration, or if the job requires specialized knowledge beyond your capabilities, please do not attempt it yourself. Talk to a Parts Pro or seek the assistance of a professional mechanic or installer. The last thing we want is someone getting hurt.