Many modern cars, especially higher end vehicles, will often recommend filling up the tank with premium fuel. This can become pretty hard on the wallet, with premium gasoline costing 40 to 50 cents more per gallon than regular. So, what does premium gas do for your car and when should you use it?
When standing at the fuel pump, you’ll see a number designated for each grade of fuel: 87 for regular, 89 for mid-grade, and 92 or 93 for premium. These numbers tell you the octane rating. This basically means the higher the octane rating, the fuel can withstand higher levels of compression before igniting, which is great for high performance sports cars. Therefore, a car with a high compression engine will usually perform better in rapid acceleration.
Years ago, people were told that an occasional tank of high octane gasoline (premium) would help clean out your engine. This was true back then, when high grade fuel contained more detergents to keep the engine cleaner, but now regulations mandate that all gasoline contains additives that keep the engine clean and decrease emissions.
Some of the higher end models and high performance cars require premium, and these should always be filled with the manufactures recommended octane levels. You can view a list of cars that require premium HERE. Another reason to fill up on premium is if you are trying to maximize your rapid acceleration, such as a 0-60 or a swift move in the passing lane. Other than these few exceptions, you can save some money and keeping the pumping regular into your tank.
Still have questions about which type of gasoline you should be using? Stop by Stroebel Automotive, we’d be happy to chat with you!