(All the contents of this article ©Copyright Kevin D. Short 2009)
(This article is intended as a GENERAL GUIDE ONLY - when in doubt ASK YOUR MECHANIC WHO KNOWS YOUR CAR!!)
Well now, you're driving down the road, gauges okay, but you need gas.
You pull into Joe's Gas station and you have a choice of gas.............
......what should You Know to choose wisely?
Which octane do you use?
You need to understand WHAT THE OCTANE RATING MEANS.
The octane rating tells you HOW EASILY THE GAS WILL IGNITE IN YOUR ENGINE.
OCTANE IS A GAS IGNITION RETARDANT. THE HIGHER THE OCTANE - THE HARDER THE GAS IS TO IGNITE.
Low compression engines only need low octane. The engine will run normally with no problems.
If you have a high compression engine though, to run it on low octane WILL CAUSE THE GAS TO IGNITE PREMATURELY FROM THE HIGHER COMPRESSION - MAKING IT FIRE BEFORE TOP DEAD CENTER OF THE PISTON'S ROTATION - WAY BEFORE IT'S SUPPOSED TO CAUSING PINGING WHICH IS THE PRE-IGNITION (Pre-detonation) TRYING TO TURN YOUR ENGINE OVER BACKWARDS WHILE RUNNING - WHICH STRESSES AND CAN DAMAGE YOUR BEARINGS AND ENGINE.
To PREVENT PRE-IGNITION IN HIGH COMPRESSION ENGINES OCTANE (a gas ignition suppressant) IS ADDED.
Rule of thumb, Check your cars manufacturer's recommendation for which octane to use. If you running it on low octane and the engine doesn't ping (KNOCKING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION) you don't need the higher octane.
To purchase the higher octane for a low compression engine is a waste of money for it does nothing for your engine. If you have pinging though, go to the NEXT HIGHER octane rating. When you reach the level of octane where your engine doesn't ping, THAT IS THE OCTANE RATING YOU SHOULD BE USING - NO LESS or engine damage could result in premature bearing failure in the engine.
YOU ARE WHERE YOU CAN ONLY BUY LOW OCTANE GAS AND YOU HAVE A HIGH COMPRESSION ENGINE - No real problem, buy the gas, then at a walmart or 7 11 or gas station buy a can of octane boost which is readily available most anywhere and add it to your gas tank.
Sometimes the gas delivery company makes a mistake and puts the gas in the wrong tank, or such so the octane rating on the gas you purchase is off. You tell this by buying GAS WITH your normal octane rating but your engine is pinging. No Problem again, Just add like before add a can of Octane boost and start buying your gas elsewhere.
ITS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER AND YOU KNOW THE OCTANE YOU NEED, WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?
You need to remember basic science about how moisture condenses. COLD SURFACES CAUSES MOISTURE FROM THE AIR TO CONDENSE FORMING WATER DROPLETS.
Now think about the air in your gas tank. The tank is cold so there's occasional water droplets forming inside your gas tank from the air in your tank then it runs down into your gas.
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*NOTE so remember to keep your car's gas tank MOSTLY FULL ALL OF THE TIME IN WINTER and always fill it up as SOON AS POSSIBLE to reduce the amount of air in the tank and the available time for it to cause condensation and THEREFORE GET A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF WATER INTRODUCED INTO YOUR GAS.
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Now water and gas DON"T MIX and the gas will float ON TOP of the water. The gas pickup is in the bottom of the tank and you could end up getting only water. This is where lousy running of your engine can happen.
Water freezes and if in a gas line, can cause damage to the line besides running problems.
This is where DRYGAS additives come in.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
METHANOL ALCOHOL DRY GAS - which is the most popular to sell will keep the water from freezing BUT THE WATER REMAINS IN YOUR TANK TO CAUSE PROBLEMS...................
ISOPROPANOL ALCOHOL DRY GAS - THIS IS THE KIND OF DRY GAS YOU SHOULD BE USING INSTEAD (The rubbing alcohol type) It prevents the water from freezing BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKES IT SO THE WATER AND GAS CAN MIX WITHOUT SEPARATING.
RESULTS? THE WATER PASSES IN LOW CONCENTRATIONS THRU YOUR ENGINE TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS DUE TO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF "just water" WHICH WILL CAUSE THE MISFIRING OF YOUR ENGINE.
Now you AND YOUR ENGINE BOTH will be happy. HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!
Now I think I should get some milk and cookies (SMILE)
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INSPECT BEFORE YOU BUY - Ase Certified Automotive Technician Teaches You How To Properly Inspect A Used Vehicle.
CAR AUCTIONS INC. - - Access to Government Surplus Auctions with rock bottom prices. SEIZED CARS, VANS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES ETC...
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(This is an Article in progress, I will add more as I get the time to do so)
(I Hope You are finding more confidence in your car maintenance skills - Have a Great Day!)
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