Understanding Your Fuel System

Understanding Your Fuel System


Understanding Your Fuel System

We work on all makes and models

Fuel is a lifeline for your vehicle. When problems occur with your fuel system, the highly skilled technicians at Advanced Computer Automotive (ACA) are here to diagnose and repair so that you can be back on the 405 in rush hour in no time.

But have you ever stopped to consider what the various fuel options mean to your vehicle? Not only is the staff of ACA available for repairs and maintenance, we want you to be knowledgeable and feel in control of your car’s basics.

The ability of fuel to withstand engine knocking is measured by Petrol’s octane rating. A metallic “pinging” sound is a sign that the fuel-air mix within the engine is exploding rather than burning in a controlled manner. Therefore, the higher the octane number, the greater the resistance to engine knocking. Another way to put it is the lower the octane number, the easier the fuel will burn.

87 Regular, 89 Mid-grade or Plus, and 91 – 93 Premium are the three octane ratings found in the United States. To determine the octane level that will cause your vehicle to operate at the optimal level, check your owner’s manual. Although using a higher-grade fuel than what is recommended will not improve your vehicle’s performance, filling the tank with a lower level octane than recommended could cause your engine to knock or ping and is therefore not recommended.

The fuel injector systems in the majority of cars are designed for 87 Regular unleaded fuel. But high-performance sports cars with high-compression engines often require Plus or Premium gas.

When soap and water won’t clear the scent of spilt gasoline from your hands, try the following tip: Mix some vanilla extract with water and rub on your hands. Lemon juice can also remove lingering gasoline odors, along with rubbing alcohol.

Written by ACA Automotive