The different types of gas

Gasoline in its earliest form was used to treat head lice and it was sold in small bottles. It wasn't until the 1920s when lead was added to gasoline to help improve the performance of automobile engines. Graded gasoline began to appear within this same time period, and there were two grades of gasoline available to purchase: regular grade and midgrade/plus. Grades of gasoline were organized by the octane level each obtained.

There are three main types of gasoline grades available in the United States; these include regular (87 Octane Rating), plus/midgrade (89 Octane Rating) and premium (92 Octane Rating). The grade of gasoline you need to use is determined by your vehicle's manufacturer. There is no extra benefit to using premium grade gasoline if your vehicle calls for regular grade.

Regular, plus/midgrade and premium gasoline grades are all identified by their octane level. Octane levels describe the volatility within specific gasoline grades. Regular grade gasoline has an octane rating between 85 and 88, with the average being 87. Midgrade gasoline has an octane rating of 88 to 90, with the average being 89. Premium grade gasoline has an octane rating that is larger than 90, with the average being 92.

Different grades of gasoline burn differently. The lower the octane level the easier the gasoline will burn. For power train control vehicles the engines have been specifically designed to burn the optimum amount of gasoline this is the exact grade has little effect on vehicle performance. All gasoline grades contain equal amounts of heat energy but their combustion level varies.