Types of Wholesale Gasoline and Fuel
Gasoline is broken down into three grades — regular, midgrade, and premium. Fuels are usually either unbranded or branded and the two differ by the additive packages they contain.
SC Fuels can cover all your fuel needs, from unbranded gasoline and diesel fuel to additives and lubricants. We supply all types of fuel throughout the country, serving fleets, gas stations, truck stops, and the public sector.
Examples of fuel types we offer include:
Gasoline Grades
Gasoline grades typically refer to the octane rating. The octane rating’s primary function is to measure fuel stability — the higher the rating, the more stable the fuel. Octane rating indicates the pressure that fuel will spontaneously autoignite in a testing engine.
Gas stations in the United States sell three primary grades of gasoline indicated by the octane level:
- Regular: This has an 87 octane rating, averaging 85 to 88. This grade is generally the lowest-priced gasoline, as most passenger vehicles contain engines suited for this fuel. It’s also the lowest-rated unleaded gasoline on the market.
- Midgrade: This grade has an 89 or 90 rating. This fuel can generally withstand higher engine pressure and heat than regular gas. To achieve this rating, some refineries often blend leftover supplies of regular and premium grades.
- Premium: Automakers often recommend premium gas for certain high-performance vehicles with increased compression rates. This grade falls between 91 and 94, with an average rating of 93. Premium is the most expensive fuel grade on the market.
Companies sometimes use different terms for these grades, like unleaded, super, or super-premium, but they usually relate to the octane rating. Recommended octane ratings vary by vehicle. Some automobiles need higher grade fuels because they have supercharged or turbocharged engines with higher compression levels.
We recommend using the minimum octane rating indicated in a vehicle’s operation manual. Anything lower can produce knocking and prevent the vehicle from achieving its optimal fuel economy. Over time, operating a vehicle with a grade lower than the recommended octane can damage the engine and emissions control system.
If the manufacturer does not recommend premium fuel, it will not benefit the engine. Automotive engineers prescribe premium gas because specific engines operate optimally with higher-octane fuel. If the owner’s manual does not specify premium gas, the vehicle does not require it.
