Think your car runs better on premium gas? Odds are you’re wasting your money.
If you’re currently paying a premium price for premium gas, you just may be better off putting those few extra dollars back in your pocket.
While most consumers tend to believe that a higher quality gasoline will produce better fuel efficiency in their vehicles, the truth of the matter is quite the opposite.
Contrary to popular belief, octane grades do not reflect quality but rather measure the resistance of fuel to knocking or pinging which can damage your engine. Knocking or pinging refers to the condition in which the fuel burns uncontrollably in the combustion chambers.
Despite the fact that a higher octane formula will resist knocking more than a lower octane, most vehicles are designed to run on an octane rating of 87 which is actually a normal grade not a premium grade.
Premium grades are usually only required in sports cars and certain luxury vehicles. If your engine is designed to run at n octane rating of 87 - using a gasoline with a higher rating will not improve performance or fuel efficiency.
In many cases, a lower octane gas can be used even if a higher octane is recommended. While you may give up a little power, you won’t cause any serious damage and these days, you may end up saving quite a bit of cash.
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