Does My Car Actually Need Premium Gasoline?

Going to the gas station can be puzzling for those that don’t know which gas is best for their vehicle. There are several different options for fuel and each one comes with a different price. You may wonder to yourself, “is premium gasoline better than the cheaper gasoline?” We are here today to answer that question and tell you why! 

Premium fuel comes at a premium cost. But what is the point? Why pay more for gasoline? How do you know if your car needs premium gasoline? It all begins in your owner’s manual. Open it up and look to see what fuel it suggests.

An engine that has a higher compression rate needs higher octane fuel to keep it from knocking. You will notice a knocking engine as it is often very audible. This is not a good sound to hear, and can be avoided by using premium gasoline. However, if your vehicle only suggests premium, you are most likely safe to purchase the cheaper lower octane fuel without risking a knocking engine.

There are a couple myths involved with the purchase of vehicle fuel. The first is that the premium fuel keeps the engine cleaner. This is not true as all fuel companies are required to put engine cleaning fluid in with their gasoline to prevent build up. The second myth is that premium gasoline performs better than lower octane fuel. While there may be a very slight difference in performance, it is not enough to justify the more expensive price. Simply put, the premium fuel works the same as cheaper fuel in vehicles that don’t need it. But a vehicle that does require premium fuel will suffer problems if the lower octane fuel is used instead.

How is your engine running? Have you had a spring vehicle inspection yet? Now is the time! During the month of May we are offering great deals on things like oil changes and new tires.

Interested in looking at a newer vehicle for the summer months? Check out our large inventory of new and previously owned vehicles at very affordable prices. As always, our team of automotive experts are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!