If your engine runs fine on regular, filling it with premium
is unlikely to boost acceleration or fuel economy by more than insignificant amounts
. … The higher octane of premium gas won't make your car faster; in fact, the opposite is possible because higher-octane fuel technically has less energy than lower-octane fuel.
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.
Because regular has lower octane, it is more prone to detonation. Burning regular in an engine designed for premium on a long-term basis or under heavy loads
can cause engine knock
, and that in turn can damage the pistons, valves or spark plugs.
Can You Mix Regular and Premium Gas at the Pump?
You can mix regular and premium gas to get a mid-grade octane
. In fact, this is what most pump stations do to get a mid-grade-level octane gas. However, mixing premium and regular in a premium car will reduce efficiency and cause it to lose its power.
Premium gives better gas mileage
Because premium gas has a higher octane rating than midgrade or regular gas, it produces a little more power when burnt. Designed for performance cars with large, powerful engines, premium also helps minimize the risk of preignition inside highly-stressed, hot engine cylinders.
Sadly,
there's nothing in premium gasoline that would make it last longer than other fuels from the pump
. Since the distinguishing feature is the higher-octane levels, the only real benefit you gain is lowering the chance of engine knocking, which isn't much of a threat on most modern fuel systems.
What happens if 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.
The octane rating of gas your car runs best on depends on how the engine is designed. … But using higher octane gas than your car requires isn't actually better for your car. The FTC sums it up this way: “In most cases, using a higher octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends
offers absolutely no benefit
.”
Most luxury car makers require (or recommend) premium gas not because they're trying to be difficult but due to
the requirements of high performance engines
. The car makers maintain that engines that contain a high compression ration benefit from high-octane fuel.
Engines with high compression ratios or turbochargers often require
high octane fuel found
in premium gas for optimal performance and fuel efficiency. However, the majority of cars on the road today are optimized to run on regular gas.
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
.
Can higher octane hurt your engine?
Higher octane
levels may not necessarily increase your vehicle's performance
and could damage your engine. However, if your car requires a higher octane gas, it could run poorly if a mid-grade or premium gas is not used.
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.
Why is topping off bad?
Gas vapors are harmful to people, the environment
Huddleston says topping off
can cause gas to spill onto the ground
, causing harmful effects to the environment and people's health. If you damage your car's vapor recovery system, it won't be able to effectively do its job of protecting people from harmful vapors.
What is the best fuel for your car?
- Premium Unleaded Petrol (PULP) Premium has the highest octane rating at 95. …
- Regular Unleaded Petrol (ULP) Standard unleaded petrol (ULP) has an octane rating of 91. …
- Ethanol Blended E10. …
- E10 Fuel Compatibility Checker. …
- Can I use a higher octane fuel than recommended?
What gas last the longest?
93 octane
fuels are more refined and contain more stable hydrocarbons. These stable hydrocarbons can last 2-3 times longer than 87 octane fuel. Even in proper storage 87 octane gas can start to degrade in 3 months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to 9 months before degradation is noticeable.
