Archer Volkswagen Maintenance Tips: 4 Tips For Picking The Right Gas Station In Houston, Texas
The needle on your gas gauge is has slipped ever closer to the "E" at the bottom -- where are you going for gas? If you're like most Americans, you have a couple places you like to stop on your normal route where the prices are good and the concessions inside are plentiful. But how do you know you're getting the best gas for your car?
Since the finest TOP TIER™ Gas for your car is usually available at most filling stations, you won't have to change up your routine just to get the best fuel. But, so you can get the most out of your Volkswagen, here are four tips to find the very best fuel for your car.
4. What Kind Of Gas Is Best In Your Volkswagen?
Before you arrive at the pump, it's important to know what kind of gas is right for your car. This information is often printed on the gas cap or inside the fuel filler door, but you'll also find it in your owner's manual. Every Volkswagen vehicle is different, and may need a different kind of gas.
For example, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf runs just fine on regular gas. The 2019 VW Golf GTI can run on regular gas, but will only achieve its peak horsepower rating when filled with premium gas. And the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R requires premium fuel at all times.
Premium fuel has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded, which means the fuel is more stable. In high-compression, high-performance engines, regular fuel may not burn as smoothly, with pockets of fuel igniting prematurely, leading to engine knock and reduced performance. If you experience engine knock, consider putting premium fuel in your car and see if that fixes the problem.
3. Finding TOP TIER™ Gas
All fuel sold in the United States must meet certain standards for purity, storage and detergent additives. But TOP TIER™ Gas has been proven in tests by Consumer Reports to keep your engine even cleaner than ordinary gas. TOP TIER™ Gas has more additives that keep the internal components of your engine clean and carbon-free. To find TOP TIER™ Gas, look for the TOP TIER™ Gas logo, or choose from the list of trusted brands at toptiergas.com. Brands where you'll always find TOP TIER&trade Gas include (but aren't limited to) Chevron, Exxon, Shell, Sunoco and Texaco.
2. Picking A Safe Ethanol Blend
Nowadays, most fuel sold at the pump isn't entirely gasoline -- it could be as much as 10% ethanol, a plant-derived liquid fuel that's similar to gasoline. In this low ratio, it's fine to run in virtually any gasoline vehicle on the road today.
However, to help you save money at the pump and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, there are now a variety of ethanol blends you can find at the pump, too. Often indicated by a blue or yellow filler handle, blends like E20, E30 and E35 are 20%, 30% and 35% ethanol, respectively. E85 FlexFuel is up to 85% ethanol, but that can only be used safely in FlexFuel vehicles.
Once again, you'll want to check your owner's manual to make sure to use only the recommended fuel for your vehicle. For example, the 2015 Volkswagen CC can only be safely filled using fuel that's no more than 15% ethanol. Anything greater than that could lead to reduced performance, poor fuel economy, a rough idle and engine knock.
1. Find Ethanol-Free Gasoline
In the event that you're looking for pure gasoline with zero blended ethanol (perhaps for taking your Golf R to a track day), some filling stations will offer special pumps that offer pure gasoline. But you'll have to hunt for it, as mild ethanol blends have replaced pure gasoline at most ordinary filling stations. Consider doing some online research. For example, a growing list of nearby Buc-ee's locations now offer pure gasoline and even DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) right at the pump. But for daily use in an ordinary modern car, the regular fuel blended with a little bit of ethanol will be perfectly fine.