Owner’s manual Before taking anyone else’s word for it, you should consult your owner’s manual. Inside you will find information about your engine and its compression ratio, as well as recommendations for the best octane level for your machine. When in doubt, go with the instructions given by the maker of your UTV in the owner’s manual. Longevity How long your gasoline will stay fresh in the tank may or may not matter to you. If you are riding pretty regularly, you probably don’t need to worry about the gasoline that stays in your tank because it’s going to get used up quickly. If, however, you don’t get out as much as you’d like and the gas sits in your UTV for days and weeks on end, you should take that into consideration when choosing gas for your machine. Typically, higher octane gas will last longer in your tank before degrading. Lower octane gas is more likely to have contaminants; the left over gas will also start to varnish whatever it is in contact with. If you prefer a lower octane gas, you can try using a fuel additive to avoid this. Performance There are some that are of the opinion that premium gasoline makes for a better performance. Others will disagree and say that regular old 87 octane gas is good enough. As long as your owner’s manual doesn’t specifically state otherwise, why not test it out for yourself and see if you notice a difference! If you are looking to increase the performance of your UTV through another means, visit the guys at UTV Windshields & Accessories for some fun additions to your ride.
