I purchased a car a few weeks ago and it was on empty when I left so I filled it up with the lowest gas grade 87. When I had time to review the manual it said that it requires grade 89 and it started to run a lot smoother so yesterday I refilled with premium grade 92 @ Costco. I had the car checked out immediately and was assured that it was in great mechanical shape. This morning the engine light came on and I was wondering if the original lower grade gas could cause this reaction until it has totally gone through the tank & engine.
My Ballard Forum » Open Forum
How Much Of An Effect Does Gas Grades Have ?
(22 posts)-
BuffaloHawk
onlineMemberPosted 6 months ago # -
RichY
offlineMemberNO it would not (especially after such a short time) , have a dealer check it out.
Posted 6 months ago # -
BuffaloHawk
onlineMemberThanks Rich
I was afraid that would be the answer and was hopeful for some wishful thinking.
Posted 6 months ago # -
The reason to use a higher octane gas is if your car pings on a lower grade. In that respect excess pinging could in time damage your engine but I'm thinking it would take a while. One tank would do (as stated) nothing bad except save you a few pennies. Shouldn't have any effect on smoothness either FYI.
I would probably buy what the manufacturer recommends but don't sweat one tank, or two.Posted 6 months ago # -
gracie
offlineMemberBuffalo - are you talking about the "check engine" light? Check your gas cap to make sure on tight. In fact, take off & put back on. I had that happen twice - once very recently. My manual suggested (plus several guys I work with & a mechanic)first to check gas cap if had recently put gas in car. Could have had bad gas. Suggested by mechanic to every once in awhile put in a tank of higher premium gas. This last time it happened I did the gas cap thing & premium gas. The light doesn't automatically go off - will take a short time.
Posted 6 months ago # -
beedrop
offlineMemberNot sure if you mean "new" or "new to you", but pretty much all new cars these days have the ability to retard the engine timing if you put in lower octane gas so that the car doesn't knock or ping. However this also usually results in slightly worse fewer economy and lower power. So in the end, you don't save anything by using the cheaper gas. Also, if there's nothing mechanically wrong with your engine, you get zero benefit by using higher octane gas than what it calls for. The whole "Premium" thing is a misnomer that makes people think it's better. It's not actually "better", it's just different.
And I agree with all the comments that the tank of gas shouldn't have caused any problems and the gas cap is a likely culprit of the check engine light.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Ernie
onlineMemberGood advice above regarding fuel grade/octane rating, I would just add that if you go to O'reilly Auto Parts, on 15th just north of the bridge they will loan you a code reader that you can plug into your car in the parking lot and read the trouble codes. This may, or may not tell you exactly why the check engine light is on. I think they just ask for a refundable deposit on the reader.
Posted 6 months ago # -
BuffaloHawk
onlineMemberThanks everyone and Ernie thanks for the heads up since I completely spaced on the free services offered at O'Reilly. I went the day after I bought the car to have them check the battery, alternator & starter. I now remember the seeing the sign that says free service check on entire car.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Edog
offlineMemberbeedrop +1
If the car has a pressurized gas tank, I would start there. It could be something as simple as the tank's cap not being tight enough.
Posted 6 months ago # -
gracie
offlineMemberBuff, it wouldn't hurt to just take of your gas cap & put it back on again. First time this happened to me I freaked out thinking something wrong with engine. And sure enough, there was the gas cap not on tight enough. Same thing this last time. Give it a try.
Posted 6 months ago # -
BuffaloHawk
onlineMembergracie - I had tried that yesterday but light is still on. There is an O'Reilly about a block from my office and I called and the guy said they would check it out for me free of charge. He will even hook it up to the computer and run it for me. I took the car to Scanwest per PG's suggestion and they told me it was in great shape a few weeks ago.
Posted 6 months ago # -
gracie
offlineMemberHope O'Reilly gives you the answer. But like I said (and my manual said) the light doesn't go off right away. First time it took a day. Last time just few hours.
Good luck and have a super Thanksgiving Day. Hope your little mini me gets to join you!Posted 6 months ago # -
BuffaloHawk
onlineMemberO'Reilly ran the test and it was the cheap gas I used the first day I got the vehicle. This is what the reading said " long term fuel trim additive max value air / fuel to lean".
I have the little one tonight and we are having a UNO tournament with other people and playing some Michael Jackson "Thriller" on vinyl along with some deliciously bad 80's music on vinyl tonight.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Mondoman
offlineMemberAll the check engine light does is tell you that the car's computer has recorded one or more "codes" that something unusual happened. In theory, something in your gas might cause a code to be triggered, but it's unlikely. Most of the codes are not immediate concerns, but some are, so you definitely should have O'Reilly or someone else "pull" the current code or codes and write them down for you so you can look them and find out what they mean.
Posted 6 months ago # -
RichY
offlineMemberIf this is a new (never been registered 2012/2013) then this is a dealer problem, if this a used car (more than 30K miles)then a mech should check it out, could be nothing but could be O2 sense or injector problem - the error says that the engine is not getting as much fuel as it would like or it is getting too much O2 -
Posted 6 months ago # -
BuffaloHawk
onlineMemberIt is a used car with over 30k and I was going off what the employee told me after the reading. I am still planning to double check with Scanwest this weekend and show them the print out.
Computers can be a blessing and a curse.
Posted 6 months ago # -
RichY
offlineMemberDuh.. could just be the fuel filter
Posted 6 months ago # -
Ernie
onlineMemberI am still planning to double check with Scanwest this weekend
BH, is it a SAAB? If so, all bets are off! :)
Posted 6 months ago # -
Cate
offlineMemberBH - A UNO tournament? I once played a weekly game of UNO with a seven year old boy for a school year. He beat me every time. I am sure he cheated but could never figure it out. He also beat me every time we played chess (and I taught him how to play chess!). Anyway, enjoy your UNO tournament, I hope your daughter lets you win.
Posted 6 months ago # -
if the light is on because of your lower grade fuel (never would have thought that) thatn when your diluted tank of fuel is back to normal, it might og off again. This next tank, run the tank as dry as you feel comfortable with, then put in the correct grade fuel and give it a few days. And make sure the gas cap goes on with 3 clicks.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Hill Dweller
offlineMemberIf the tank was empty to start with, perhaps you have sucked up sediment?
Just a thought.Posted 6 months ago # -
gracie
offlineMemberbambooboy - that's exactly what I do - I always do three clicks with the gas cap.
Posted 5 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.