Every fuel has some things in it that will be reflected in the end product at the refinery. These things at the refinery are called additives while one of the additives is Octane. They also affect the color of the gas.
However, gasoline is now graded by how much octane is in it. 87 is different from 88 in terms of octane percentage. Then 89 and 91 are also graded the same way. If your car takes 87 or 89 and you’re looking to buy 88, you might be nervous, will unleaded 88 hurt my car? What is unleaded 88 gasoline, anyway?
This article will tell you all the meaning of unleaded 88 and what they are used for while telling you the pros and cons of unleaded 88 gasoline. Have a seat and a cup of coffee, let us explore together.
What is unleaded 88 gas?
Unleaded 88 gas is known as E15, and it is made up of 85% gasoline and 15% octane. This is the same with the regular 87 gasoline – the only difference is the octane percentage during the refining process.
It burns cleaner than the regular 87, gives your engine a little boost, cuts without costing you a cent greenhouse emissions and ton improves air quality.
You guessed it, it’s cheaper than the regular 87 gasoline. I know you’ll be asking, why is unleaded 88 cheaper? The 88 gas is cheaper than the regular 87 gasoline due to government ethanol subsidies.
This means the higher the octane in a gas, the less it is priced. So what do you use unleaded 88 gas for? Let’s find out.
What is unleaded 88 gas used for?
The US Environmental protection Agency (EPA) says vehicles made from 2001 and later and flex-fuel compatible cars can use 88 or E15 gasoline without fear of damaging their vehicles.
The EPA tested all flex-fuel compatible cars and light-duty trucks before greenlighting 88 gasoline for them. Note that some makers of high-end cars recommend premium gas and mid-grade fuels.
Will unleaded 88 hurt my car?
At your favorite gas stations, you most likely see 87, 89, and 91 types plus diesel options. Most people select one gas and stick with it for the life of a car. So, when they pull into the full-service or self-service gas station, they’re assured they are filling the tank with the correct gas for the vehicle.
Experts state that you do not want to step down to a lesser grade of gasoline from a higher; in other words, people who use a high-grade gas should not fill with unleaded 88pt.
Most forks have never heard of unleaded 88. So, they ask, what is unleaded 88 fuel and fall into a debate of unleaded 88 VS E85. E85 gas has a high-octane rating and 51% to 83% ethanol percentage. The most persistent question in these forks heads is “is unleaded 88 safe for my car?”
The good news is that unleaded 88 is safe for your vehicle. Although we’re only learning about this gasoline grade in the last several years, it is fine for anybody taking a car made 2001 and later and flex-fuel compatible.
It’s like any other unleaded gasoline for your gasoline-powered vehicle.
Take a glance at your owner’s manual and review what it says on the matter. The owner’s manual is your manufacturer’s printed publication. Avoid unleaded 88 if it says not to use it. Otherwise, you should be safe and it won’t hurt your car; not now, not later!
Advantages and disadvantages of unleaded 88 gas
When trying to determine whether you should migrate to unleaded 88 or not, it is good to weigh the pros and cons. You can know if it is right for you by looking at the pros and cons of unleaded 88.
Pros of Unleaded 88
- Reduces tailpipe emission
- Environmentally friendly
- Cheaper than regular unleaded gasoline
- Has engine power
- Burn slower than regular unleaded 88
Cons of Unleaded 88
- Limited availability (they are growing steadily though)
- Not recommended for vehicles made in the 1990s
Unleaded 88 vs. unleaded differences
Unleaded 88 gas is the same regular unleaded gas as Unleaded 87, just with a different percentage of ethanol in it. Unleaded 88 is called E15, while 87 is known as E10—named for the percentage of ethanol in it. As the name implies, the 88 has 15% ethanol, while the 87 has 10% ethanol.
The extra 5% ethanol in E15 means it burns cleaner, boosts engine power, lowers emissions, and enhances air quality.
FAQs.
Q: Is unleaded 88 safe for all cars?
Basically, this is a premium blend of gasoline that has 15% ethanol in it. This is great news for drivers who want a more affordable yet greener alternative to traditional gasoline or for whom this is appealing. But not all cars will run well on Fuel 88.
There’s areas of caution to note with unleaded 88: many cars manufactured prior to 2001 or with small motors may run rough or even be damaged running on this fuel type.
The high levels of ethanol can deteriorate parts over time and can be detrimental, especially to older cars with metal fuel systems or carburetors.
What’s the safe road ahead for drivers? Look in their owner’s manual or contact their manufacturer directly to find out if the car will run fine on unleaded 88.
Q: Is unleaded 88 good for your engine?
While this is a more eco-friendly blend compared to traditional gasoline mixtures, some car owners seriously wonder if it may impact their engine performance. Experts have mixed views on the subject.
Some experts tout the benefits of this alternative blend, saying that it can actually be good for your engine by cleaning out deposits and improving emissions. Others say the wrong blend could do long term damage, especially in older cars or those that weren’t designed for that type of fuel.
Best to ask your mechanic before changing your car’s fuel.
Q: What vehicles can use unleaded 88?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that unleaded 88 can be used on all cars, trucks, and SUVs that are 2001 and newer. It is also safe to all flex-fuel compatible vehicles.
But I will advise to contact your owner’s booklets or the equipment/engine manufacturer just to be sure your ride is compatible with the E15.
In any case, the EPA state that the unleaded 88 is not acceptable for use on older vehicles (built before 2001), motorcycles; nonroad vehicles (boats/snowmobiles); engines in off-road applications/equipment (chain saws/lawnmowers); vehicles with heavy-duty engines (delivery trucks/busses).
Q: What Happens If You Put 88 In Unleaded Car?
If you use unleaded 88 instead of the 87 unleaded gasoline, nothing is going to happen to your car. The only difference is just the octane rating. In fact, it will actually help the car to burn cleaner, less greenhouse effects, cut emissions and save you extra prices at the pump.
Using unleaded 88 on vehicles made pre-2001, offroad equipment (saws and mowers), nonroad vehicles (boats and sleds), and heavy-duty engines (like busses and delivery trucks) will cause some problems. Using on any of these may cause leaking of fluids and over heating.
Q: Can all cars run unleaded 88?
No, unleaded 88 is not recommended in all cars. It’s only recommended for cars that were manufactured from 2001 and upwards and flex-fuel compatible cars.
However, if you have a high-end car, you need to check the manufacturer’s recommendation because most high-end cars use only mid-grade or premium gas.
Q: Can I use unleaded 88 in my Honda CRV?
Honda engines are designed and certified to run with regular unleaded gasoline. By this rule, Honda CRVs from 2001 up can run on 88 unleaded gasoline. But do not run any Honda CRV on more than 15% ethanol gasoline.
Q: What’s better unleaded 87 or 88?
Both are good quality gas. They are the same fuel. The only difference is the percentage of ethanol in them. However, if you are asking the question, unleaded 88 vs 87 which is better? The former is better, believe it or not.
It burns cleaner and creates better air quality. It reduces tailpipe emission. And you can guess it is cheaper than the former.
Q: What happens if you put unleaded 88 instead of 87?
Unleaded 88 aka E15 has an octane rating of 88, with 15% of ethanol in it. It has become relatively popular because of the fact it is cheaper than the regular unleaded gas. But many drivers question using unleaded 88 instead of untaxed (in their view) gas removed from their wallet the poor quality of E10 (10% of ethanol).
In all, the swapping should not cause most engines most significant problems. It is however not advisable to use a fuel that has lower octane rating fuel from those recommended by your vehicle manufacture.
With time, you’ll begin knocking in your engine, and performance will decrease. The better answer to confusion like this is to do what is written in your vehicle owner’s manual.
Final Words
Unleaded 88 is a new kind of regular gasoline that minivans, light trucks, SUVs and compact cars made from 2001 onwards, can run on. It also cleans the air, curtails the greenhouse effect and decreases emissions.
At this point, you may not be asking yourself, will unleaded 88 hurt my car? You just have to make sure that your car is not made before 2001. Owners of luxury cars should check in their owner’s manuals if it is recommended for their cars.