Use correct octane fuel

Q: Greg, I want to know if using a higher octane fuel than recommended in my car is an advantage or not. The owner’s manual says my Toyota Echo runs on regular grade fuel, but what if I put in 93 octane? Would this hurt the motor? How about the 89 mid-level grade? — Carol, Massachusetts

A: Carol, if Toyota says your car will run on the regular grade, 87 octane, then that’s what you should use. You would be wasting your money putting 93 octane in your Echo, which is built for economy.

Higher octane fuels are used in more powerful, higher compression engines to guard against detonation (pinging). The high-octane fuels also burn differently, but that’s a column in itself.

Many “tuner” enthusiasts who modify Toyota engines use high-octane fuels because they usually raise the engine’s compression and advance the ignition timing. But in your case, your Toyota Echo will run just fine on 87 octane fuel.

Therefore, regardless of what a person drives, if the owner’s manual calls for “regular grade” fuel and you haven’t modified the engine in any manner, use it.

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Q: Greg, when should I rotate my new tires? — Glenn, Pennsylvania

A: When I put on a new set of tires, I rotate the first time at 3,000 miles and then again every second oil change at 6,000 miles. Now, if you get into the habit of rotating every 3,000 miles when you change your oil, I would say no harm done. Remember that the front-wheel-drive cars of today put more weight and strain on the front tires, so regular tire rotation is necessary for proper tire life. If you don’t rotate, you’ll see those front tires wear more quickly.