Should you buy Premium fuel?

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Choosing the Right Gasoline for Your Car: Save Money and Maximize Performance



Today, I’m here to help you answer a common question that every car owner faces: what type of gasoline should you put in your car? You don’t want to waste money on premium fuel if it isn’t necessary, but you also don’t want to risk using the wrong type. Let’s clear up the confusion and get to the facts about choosing the right fuel for your car.

1. Most Modern Cars Run Perfectly on Regular Gasoline

  • Most vehicles manufactured today are designed to operate efficiently on regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87. If you check your owner's manual, you’ll likely see the recommendation to use fuel with “octane rating 87 or higher.” This means your car is built to run on regular gas, thanks to modern, computer-controlled fuel-injected engines that can optimize performance without the need for higher-octane gasoline.
  • Using a higher octane gas in cars designed for regular fuel is usually unnecessary. It doesn’t improve your car’s performance and essentially means you’re spending extra money for no real benefit.

2. Federal Regulations Ensure Quality in All Gasoline

  • By law, all gasoline sold in the United States contains specific additives to reduce pollution and ensure proper engine function. While you might notice that gas pumps don’t list these additives in detail, rest assured that the quality and safety of the gasoline are federally regulated.
  • These additives work to prevent carbon buildup, improve combustion, and protect engine components. Therefore, if you’ve been using a particular brand and your car runs smoothly, it’s usually best to stick with it. As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

3. High-Performance Cars and Exceptions to the Rule

  • While regular cars are optimized for regular gas, there are exceptions. High-performance vehicles, such as Ferraris, or older motorcycles with higher compression ratios require premium gasoline with a higher octane rating to run smoothly and achieve optimal performance.
  • Additionally, some modern sports cars, like the EcoBoost Mustang, offer increased horsepower when running on premium gasoline, but they can still run just fine on regular. For instance, the EcoBoost Mustang can achieve 306 horsepower with premium gas but operates at 260 horsepower on regular.

4. Older Engines and Carbon Buildup: A Case for Premium Gas

  • If your engine is older or has accumulated carbon buildup, you might experience an increase in compression, making it harder for the engine to run on regular gas without knocking. In these cases, high-octane fuel can temporarily alleviate the issue. However, a better solution is to have your engine professionally cleaned to restore optimal performance rather than relying on higher-octane gas as a workaround.

5. Ethanol in Gasoline: What You Need to Know

  • Most gasoline today contains about 10% ethanol, which helps boost octane levels and reduces emissions. Modern cars are built to handle this ethanol blend without damage, thanks to additional additives in the fuel.
  • If you’re considering E85 (85% ethanol), be aware that this fuel is only suitable for vehicles explicitly designed as “flex-fuel.” While E85 burns cleaner than regular gasoline, it contains about 20% less energy, leading to a roughly 20% decrease in fuel efficiency. The choice between using E85 or regular gasoline depends on whether you prioritize cleaner emissions over fuel economy.

6. The Bottom Line: Regular Gas is Usually Just Fine

  • For the vast majority of drivers with standard vehicles, regular gasoline is all that’s needed to keep your car running efficiently. Unless your owner’s manual specifies premium or you drive a high-performance vehicle, you’re better off sticking with regular gasoline and saving your money.

By understanding these facts, you can confidently choose the right fuel for your car, save on unnecessary expenses, and enjoy a smooth driving experience. If you found this helpful, consider subscribing for more practical car tips, and feel free to leave your thoughts or questions in the comments. Happy driving!

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