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)

Also Why do some cars need 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.

Subsequently, 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.

Do I really need premium gas?

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 if I accidentally put 87 instead of 91?

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 happens if you put 85 gas in a 87 car?

When a lower octane rating than required is used:

Using a lower octane fuel than required can cause the engine to run poorly and can damage the engine and emissions control system over time. It may also void your warranty. In older vehicles, the engine can make an audible “knocking” or “pinging” sound.

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.

Does Mercedes really need premium gas?

While regular unleaded gas shaves a few dollars off filling up your tank, Mercedes-Benz engines require premium gas due to their high-compression ratios. This means using regular gas may lead to costly repairs. To avoid more repair bills outside of scheduled service, you should always fill up with premium fuel.

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.

What happens if I dont 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.

Does using premium gas make a difference?

That ambiguity can be expensive. 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.

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 put the wrong gas in your car?

Typically, although there are some variations among engines, putting a higher-octane gas into your car than it requires will neither help nor hurt your car’s performance. … This mistake should not cause any major damage to your car – just be sure to pick the correct octane gasoline next time you fill up.

What happens if you run 87 on a 93 tune?

Or put another way, an octane rating of 87 or higher can withstand the compression ratios used in most cars. … You can run higher octane fuel, which on a car with a continuous variable valve timing system in place will yield a little benefit, but you should never run a lower octane fuel than what you were tuned for.

Does 87 octane damage engine?

Higher octane gasoline is designed to help prevent engine knock. This phenomenon isn’t typically harmful to your engine if it happens occasionally, but repeated engine knock can speed up wear and tear.

Is 87 and 85 gas the same?

In the U.S., unleaded gasoline typically has octane ratings of 87 (regular), 88–90 (midgrade), and 91–94 (premium). Gasoline with an octane rating of 85 is available in some high-elevation areas of the U.S. (more about that below).

What happens if you put 85 instead of 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.

Can I use 85 ethanol in my car?

E85 gas is suitable for use in any vehicle designated as a flex-fuel vehicle by the manufacturer. Cars.com reports that flex-fuel vehicles are capable of running on both ethanol-gasoline blends and regular gasoline. … In an advanced engine, E85 can improve the engine’s fuel consumption.