subject: Cheap Gasoline Makes My Engine Ping [print this page] We all want to get the best gasoline mileage ' that is miles per gallon or m.p.g. Yet many people are confused regarding gasoline classifications. Do you pay more? Is it a case that "number one is better "Simple as that or not?
Motorists often ask - is it worth spending the extra premium for number one gas over lower ( and less costly and expensive) regular format and octane gas brands. One wonders indeed. There are no good or bad fuels. Just the correct one for your vehicle , driving types and condition of your engine as well as driving patterns and times of year? "Knock" ( a sound similar to marbles dropping into a tin can) is what happens when the gas being used in your car, truck , bus or SUV has too low an octane rating for the rated horsepower of your engine. You can hear the knock , knock , knock of your engine if the octane rate is low. Some of the times expansion of the gas from a hot summer day can do it as well. One other tip off is your ignition "dieseling" after you turn the key to your engine off. Either way its a hard rush for your engine that it does not need or wish - One spark plug is fitted into each cylinder and is simply a carrier of electrodes between which the spark is created. A spark plug comprises the metal body which is screwed into the cylinder head at the top of the combustion chamber.
An insulator in the spark plug body contains the central electrode onto which the high tension spark plug is created. A second or side electrode is attached to the bottom of the spark plug body so that it reaches out and over the end of the center electrode. A small gap between the two electrodes is adjustable to compensate overall for erosion and corrosion.
Lead is the most common of all gasoline additives. This component became a most important invention and innovation of the mighty Standard Oil Company of Rockefeller fame - and went on to become an important determinant in the progress of the second world war - on both sides. It acts as a valve lubricant also. (Lead also has some unattractive properties as well: All it takes is one simple inadvertent wrong tankful of gas to plug the platinum metal that functions in the pollution control units of your catalytic converter . Whoa when it comes time for your annual pollution and exhaust system exam - essential in such locales as California and ICBC of BC British Columbia and you will not have certification or rectification of your vehicle for its annual mandated checkup and license permit; The function of your ignition system is to provide a spark in the combustion chamber to ignite the fuel/oil mixture at the correct time and timing. The ignition system comprises the battery , coil , distributor and spark plugs.
With normal atmosphere acting on the surface of the gas - its all a piece of cake - that is if the electronics of the fuel system is set correctly at the factory. Also take care to regularly clean out your fuel filters. One is usually located on the fuel pump itself. An additional canister type is sometimes fitted in the main fuel line or lines to the fuel pump or pumps.
Simply ask your auto dealer's service tech or verify in your vehicle's driver's manual . Alternatively one can consult the maker and specific manufacturer of your vehicle - either by toll free 800 , 888 or 866 number of online on the internet.
In modern cars the fuel injections systems - or in antique and vintage autos the carburetor - both serve the same purpose and purposes. That is to mix the correct proportion of gas and air together. Various connection and connecting pipe lines are also fitted. The aim is to get the correct combination of performance and fuel economy overall. Certain cars (notably 60's high performance engines" from the 1960's and certain mid 70's classic high performance important cars) require high octane to avoid knock and lead to avoid premature wear to the valves of their engine components.
If you do require both "lead" and "high octane" what do you do? You have three choices
1) Alternate tank fulls of "lead" and "high octane" - Always renew the air cleaner element in your vehicle at time intervals recommended by the automobile manufacturer in your vehicle's new car manual. Failing that automotive service consultant William S Simpson notes - spray the filter clean with a vacuum cleaner or a compressed air hose - A compromise between downdraught and sidedraught carburetors are sometimes used. This is best known as the semi-downdraught carburettor used in older vintage or antique automobiles
