When should you use premium gas? (2023)

FAQs

When should premium gas be used? ›

Premium gas is a higher octane gasoline that's typically used in high performance engines. A higher-octane rating means the fuel is better balanced and stabilized against spontaneous combustion, which can cause engine knocking and damage to your vehicle.

If your engine is rated “Premium Required”, we recommend you use it. We've read all the online stories about how it isn't really necessary, but consider it cheap insurance to use the right fuel – especially if, down the road, your engine needs repair and your warranty won't cover it because you used lower-grade gas.

If your car needs premium gas to operate safely, it will be indicated on the inside of the fuel filler door and in the car's manual. Cars that require premium gas will typically specify the minimum octane rating necessary, which can be important if you have multiple premium options to choose from.

As far as fuel efficiency goes, the difference is insignificant, so we don't recommend filling up on premium unless you have to. Currently, there are no significant proven results that substantiate improvement on the health of your engine or the car's fuel efficiency if you use premium fuel.

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.

“On its own, paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage,” reads a blog post from auto repair company Meineke. “Higher octane gasoline reduces knocks and pings in high-pressure environments, which exert more energy and burn fuel quicker.

Engine computers can usually adjust their timing to account for the increased octane levels, so if you put premium gas in a regular car, you probably won't notice anything. However, some engines are not designed to burn higher-octane fuel, and you may see a reduction in performance and fuel economy.

Most Vehicles Get No Added Benefits from Premium Gasoline

Unlike high-quality engine oil, premium gasoline doesn't make a car accelerate faster, run cleaner, or become more efficient.

Now, there is no significant difference. Instead of using premium (or mid-grade), vehicle owners concerned about carbon deposits should buy Top Tier regular gas, which has a higher level of detergent additives than the amount required by the EPA.

The main difference between premium and regular gas is in the octane levels in each gasoline. Premium gas has an octane level of 90+, which is necessary for some engines to run cleaner and more effectively.

Can you switch back and forth between premium and regular gas? ›

Brannon noted that most cars are equipped with sensors that can help certain vehicles run on lower-octane gas even if they're built for premium gas, but switching gas can still cause damage. "It's really not a good idea," he said. "The engine may not be able to adjust (to regular gas)."

“Just because premium is recommended doesn't mean you have to use it; you can easily use regular gas without compromising the engine,” Fuel Express said.

Octane ratings are plastered all over every gas pump, and, contrary to marketing terminology, "premium" does not necessarily indicate a fuel is "better" for your car as much as whether it is "right" for your car. Fuel with an 87 octane rating burns more quickly while higher-octane fuels burn more slowly.

Lower octane fuels tend to burn much faster than higher octane varieties. The same is also true for those with a higher ethanol content. As a result, higher quality, premium gasoline will last longer and burn slower than the cheaper, regular kind.

Engine Suitability: Regular unleaded gas burns faster than premium gas, which is why it works better with engines that have low compression ratios. If your vehicle's engine has a high compression ratio, it is best to use premium gasoline.

Though it naturally degrades and loses combustibility over time due to oxidation and evaporation of its volatile compounds, gasoline usually lasts 3 to 6 months when properly stored in a tightly sealed gas can or metal tank that's within the capacity limits recommended by your local fire department (usually no more ...

Premium is the highest octane fuel with a 91-94 octane rating. While most cars are fine running on regular gasoline, high-performance engines have features that require premium gas to run their best.

The best type of gas to put in your vehicle is whatever octane level your car's owner's manual specifies. Generally, here's what you need to know about octane gas types: Regular fuel is 87 octane. Premium is 91 or 93.

Does Turning Off the AC Save Gas? If you turn off your AC and roll your windows down on Burlington highways, it actually uses up more gas than if you kept your AC on. This is because the drag that is produced by rolled-down windows forces your engine to work harder to get you where you're going!

For some cars, the improved mileage helps offset the higher price for premium gas, he said. Cenzano says he'll recommend using high-octane primarily for cars 10 years old and older to address knocking and pinging caused by carbon buildup, and sometimes worsened by gradual deterioration of the cars' emission systems.

Why premium gas is better? ›

Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. Fuel with a higher octane rating can stand up to higher compression before it detonates. Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time.

Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.

The bottom line: Use premium gas only if it's required by your carmaker, or if your engine clearly runs better with it. Your owner's manual will tell you what kind of gas your engine needs.

It really is this simple: Equal amounts of 89- and 93-octane gas gives you a tankful of 91 octane.