Different vehicle engines are designed to work best on different types of fuel so for best fuel efficiency, you should follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
So what do the numbers mean? The octane numbers (91, 95, 96 and 98) simply gives an indication of the fuel/air mixture required to spontaneously ignite the fuels in your vehicle engine.
If you use a fuel with an octane rating that is too low for your engine, you will cause problems such as ‘knocking’ or ‘pinking’ which can lead to engine damage.
If you use a fuel with an octane rating that is too high for your engine, you are wasting money by using more expensive fuel with no actual advantages, as the higher octane rating does not give your vehicle more power or speed.
To find out the average annual cost of each octane rating, visit www.fuelsaver.co.nz.
To find out the recommended octane rating for your vehicle, check with your local car dealer as recommended fuel types can change with each model.
