Premium petrol is always best right? Wrong!

Think you're buring too much fuel? Did you know by picking the correct grade of fuel for your car you can save money and possibly extend the life of your car?

Petrol is rated using the Research Octane Number or RON such as 91, 95, 98, 100 or even 103. The RON number grades the fuels resistance to ‘pre-ignition' or firing before it should due to heat from the engine.

Low-grade fuel doesn't mean low quality - the grade determines how much heat and pressure the fuel can resist before it detonates. A lower grade fuel resists less; a higher-grade resists more heat and pressure.

Car engines work by igniting a mix of petrol and air with a spark plug to generate power. If fuel and air ignite prior to the spark plug doing its job it creates a condition called “knock,” which can damage a motor and reduce power.

Knocking is the sound made as the mix of fuel and air is detonating too early rather than burning smoothly for fuel - which means you aren't getting the very best from your car..

To see which fuel is right, read your car's manual or check the label on the inside of the fuel filler door. Usually if you have a vehicle with a turbocharged or high performance engine then you will need a higher octane fuel.

Remember, putting premium petrol in a car that doesn't actually need it will not make your car faster or run cleaner, it will just drain your bank account that much faster!