With today’s modern fuel-injection systems however, that shouldn’t make much difference. Because premium gas has a higher octane rating than midgrade or regular gas, it produces a little more power when burnt. … In the real world, it barely affects performance, or fuel economy.

Also Which vehicles require premium gas?


15 ‘Regular’ Cars That Take Premium Fuel

  • Buick Envision (with 2.0L turbo)
  • Buick Regal (all models)
  • Buick Regal TourX (all models)
  • Chevrolet Equinox (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Chevrolet Malibu (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Fiat 500L (all models)
  • GMC Terrain (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Honda Civic (with 1.5-L turbo)

Subsequently, Is premium gas really worth it? In a consumer notice, the Federal Trade Commission, notes: “In most cases, using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”

Why premium gas is a waste of money? But what is commonly called “premium gasoline” is a waste of money for countless drivers. … That’s because they don’t know what kind of fuel their car is meant to take or because they think they will somehow get better performance or better long-term reliability by using a higher grade of gas.

Does premium gas give you better mileage?

Premium gas gives you more miles per gallon than regular gas. … In actual fact, you’ll get a greater range of fuel economy between different brands of regular gas, than you will between the same manufacturer’s regular and premium gasses.

Why do some cars require premium gas?

Simply put, high-octane gasoline can be compressed and heated to a greater degree without self-igniting. That’s why high-performance engines use premium fuel. … Since the engine doesn’t make quite as much power with low-octane fuels, this translates into slower acceleration in cars for which premium fuel is recommended.

Do all luxury SUVS require premium gas?

There is a common misconception that when you drive a luxury vehicle, you must fill the tank with only premium gas. Due to this misconception, many luxury vehicle owners will buy premium gas, whether or not the vehicle requires it. The truth is that there are many, if not most luxury cars that use regular gas.

What happens if you put 87 gas in a 93 car?

If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don’t worry. … You’re actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means it will burn differently in your engine.

What is the advantage of using premium gas?

The octane rating on a modern gas pump is actually a representation of its resistance to knock. In fact, one of the main benefits of premium gas is that it avoids detonation better than regular gas. The higher the octane — usually expressed as a range from 87 to 94 — the stronger the resistance.

Is Premium better for your car?

Premium gas costs more and has a higher octane rating. Therefore, people often think it’ll reduce engine wear. While a tank of premium may help an engine in other ways, using premium fuel once in a while doesn’t really make sense.

Does premium gas clean your engine?

Today’s premium fuels contain additives and detergents that help clean fuel injectors and remove carbon deposits inside of engines, thus, incentivizing motorist with engines that use regular fuel to, on occasion, use premium gas to clean their engines.

How much more per year is premium gas?

Premium gas tracked at $0.59 more per gallon than regular unleaded as of this writing. In a vehicle averaging 25 mpg and traveling 15,000 miles a year, that amounts to a $354 annual surcharge for using the more expensive stuff.

What is the benefit of premium petrol?

Premium fuel is more expensive than standard due to its higher rate of octane. The benefits of this increased octane rating include lower fuel consumption as well as better engine protection and performance.

What are the benefits of premium gas?


Premium Gas Benefits

  • Engine Health. Over time, carbon deposits build up in your cylinders. …
  • Reduces Engine Knock. Like we stated earlier, using premium gasoline can help to prevent engine knock. …
  • Boost in Fuel Economy. …
  • Optimizes Power.

What happens when you put 93 gas instead of 87?

If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don’t worry. … You’re actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means it will burn differently in your engine.

Is higher octane fuel more efficient?

So is Higher Octane Fuel More Efficient? In a word, no. On its own paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage. Giving your car the fuel it requires to run smoothly and efficiently, without damage to the engine, does make a difference in your fuel mileage.

Is it really necessary to use premium fuel?

Premium gasoline is necessary only for those vehicles whose vehicles say “Premium Fuel Required” behind the fuel door. … If your gas brand has higher levels of detergents or cold-weather additives in its premium fuel over regular, it may keep your engine cleaner, but it won’t necessarily run better.

What happens if you don’t use premium gas?

Other things to consider: failing to use high-octane fuel in your premium vehicle could cause engine knock or pinging, which sounds like there’s a large woodpecker under your hood; you could experience damage to your components; and using the wrong octant level could even void your warranty.

What happens when you put 87 in a BMW?

Regular gas is lower octane, usually 87 or 88. … Putting low octane fuel in a car with a high-compression engine could cause the engine to knock or ping, which could cause major damage if it goes on for a long time.

Can I put 87 gas in my Lexus?

Lexus requires that the minimum gas octane rating be 91, which is premium gas. … These two require an octane rating of at least 87. The Lexus IS, Lexus GS, LS, and LS Hybrid require premium gas with an octane rating of at least 91. For these models, using regular gas will damage the engine.

Does Cadillac XT5 require premium gas?

Does the Cadillac XT5 require premium gas? No, the Cadillac XT5 will run on regular unleaded gasoline which is beneficial because premium gas is more expensive.

Is it bad to put 87 in a car that takes 91?

“Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty. … Some manufacturers recommend premium gas but say that regular or mid-grade gas can be used instead.

What happens if you put the wrong gas in your car once?

You’ll most likely notice the spark knock (a sort of high-pitched pinging or rattling noise). Luckily, the engine computers can adjust the timing to limit the amount of damage caused, but you’ll definitely notice lower fuel economy and reduced performance in your vehicle.

What do I do if I put the wrong gas in my car?

If you realize you added the wrong fuel after you have started driving, pull over as soon as it’s safe and shut off the engine. Have the vehicle towed to a repair facility where they can determine the steps necessary to drain, flush and repair the fuel system.