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.
The main difference with premium is
its octane rating
— 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane. The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging. … Premium gas is not “stronger” gas.
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.”
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.
The word “premium” suggests high quality, the best of the best. But what is commonly called “premium gasoline” is
a waste of money for countless
drivers. … Data from the American Automobile Association found that Americans are wasting $2 billion a year buying premium gasoline they don't need.
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.
Can I mix premium and unleaded gas? Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The
combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle
— something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.
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.
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
.
Nope
. Regular, plus, and premium gas all come with detergents to mitigate against carbon deposits in your engine. Plus and premium don't come with special powers for cleaning out the engine. If you're interested in cleaning out your engine, you're better off taking it in for service.
Why is topping off bad?
Topping off your gas tank
can cause pressure to build in the tank and flood the carbon filter vapor collection system
, only meant for vapor. Subsequently, this overflow can affect your car's performance and could possibly damage the engine.
Pro: Premium gas
will extend the life of your engine
.
Premium gas has a higher octane level, making it much smoother for your engine. By ensuring that the engine combustion occurs at the right times, premium gas limits the amount of damage improper engine combustion may cause.
Who sells the highest quality gasoline?
Chevron
. Of America's largest nationwide chains, Chevron scores the highest points in overall customer satisfaction. Its reach spans over 7,800 stores, and while some gas stations offer convenient food marts, one location in North Hollywood goes above and beyond gasoline.
First of all, premium gas
has a higher octane rating
, an important factor in helping prevent engine knock or “pinging.” Depending on where you live, this premium-grade fuel could be 90 octane, 91 octane, or even 94 octane. That's one reason premium costs more.
One state may require a minimum octane rating of 92 to be considered premium, while another may only require 90. Gas stations in the United States generally offer three octane grades: regular (usually 87 octane), mid-grade (usually 89 octane), and premium (
usually 91 or 93
).
Is higher grade gas worth it?
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
.”
