How to make sure you’re choosing the right fuel
We’ve all been feeling stressed about the recent petrol strikes and some of us might have been opting for cheaper petrol options. But how does it affect the condition of our cars when choosing the wrong one?
Also read: Motorists advised to keep topping up as fuel strike begins
The Automobile Association (AA) notes that choosing the cheapest petrol option makes sense to your wallet but that it could be causing more damage than you think and could end up costing you more than you bargained for in the long run.
What’s the difference?
The cheaper option we are referring to is octane petrol, more commonly known as “93”. The more expensive option, high octane unleaded, is known as “95”. Mathematically there may appear to be little difference between 93 and 95, however in fuel terms, they are light years apart.
95 high octane has a higher compression peak than 93 octane, thus filling up with 95 means your engine will increase in performance. Great for an eager right foot, but not the best option at all times. Taking full advantage of 95 octane depends on several factors such as added engine performance parts, like a turbocharge unit, for example.
95 high octane petrol is the option to go for if you plan on undertaking long road trips as the increased performance means a more linear fuel consumption if driven correctly. However, when driving around town, 93’s lower compression is more stable for your engine.
How does this influence insurance and warranties?
The question is, does breakdown insurance cover the incorrect use of petrol? The answer is a simple yes and no.
Yes, breakdown cover does take the type of fuel used into consideration if you lay a claim, but it rather looks at the type of fuel in terms of it being lead replacement petrol, unleaded or diesel.
When you contact a registered breakdown services company, such as the AA, an emergency breakdown services vehicle will be dispatched to your location to assist you. They will then assess your issue and check if the correct fuel was used.
If it is found that you used diesel instead of petrol, or leaded instead of unleaded, your insurance company is eligible to deny a full pay-out your claim.
Here’s what you should do:
To make sure you are using the right fuel, check the inside of your petrol cap. Most automotive manufacturers indicate what the correct fuel is for the vehicle. If you are unable to find it, you can check your owner’s manual and find the correct fuel to use for your engine.
Source: AA