ANSWERS: 18
  • In my case, yes. The vehicle is turbocharged and the manufacturer recommends premium gasoline. I've tried all different grades and the premium, in my specific car, tends to give me better gas mileage and keeps annoying pings and knocks at bay. Not all cars require premium grade. Consult your owners manual for the manufacturer's recommendation or just try the different grades and see how well it works for you. I know a lot of people who do just fine using regular too. It just depends.
  • Most times it isn't. Unless of course your car manufacturer calls for it on your particular make and model. An older car might need higher grade gasoline in order to reduce knocking and pinging in the engine while driving. But generally higher grade gasoline does nothing beneficial. Some might argue that higher grade gasoline makes their car run better but with the newer computer controlled cars, the higher octane only masks more serious problems that really need mechanical repair. Its not uncommon for someone to think that their car was running perfectly fine until they learned that what would have been a $100 repair early on has become a $600 repair.
  • Most premium grade fuels are becoming a lot better than the older ones. Here in Australia, "High density, High octane" fuels are emerging, with RON as high as 98. They are claimed to have better engine cleaning properties, and they do give a noticeable increase in fuel economy. For example, my last car had a range of 500km (312 miles) on about 40 litres of a 50litre tank of regular unleaded. (I knew the fuel economy of my car and tried to maintain a 10 litre buffer for a number of reasons) I trialled these HDHO fuels, and found that I was getting at least 10% longer range. Filling up the same 40litres netted me over 550km (344miles) I also found that the car ran a little smoother, and the engine oil was cleaner when changed. I can't vouch for fuels overseas, but my answer is this: If you feel you can justify the added expense, then yes, I believe it is worth getting premium over regular. Otherwise, unless your car specifically requires premium, it is not essential.
  • This is HIGHLY vehicle dependent. If you have a turbo/super-charged engine, then higher octane is mandatory. Likewise if your vehicle has had engine mods to increase compression (stroker kit, certain headwork, etcetera). Here is the one that many people forget though, and one I am all too familiar with. High-mileage engines tend to be a bit more finicky about octane requirements due to deposits, wear, and all. I had an '87 Corolla with ~155K that would barely run on 87-octane and would lose 10-15 MPH on hills if I ran 89-octane. And the other cars I've had have been at least as finicky, as none have been under 210K miles. Sure, I pay $4.00 a week more for 93-octane, but given the long-term consequences of knocking, it's worth it. If that piddling sum of cash is an issue, maybe you can't afford a car, period.
  • In todays cars the computers that manage the powertrain, Engine - Trans are programed and optimized to burn 87 octane fuel UNLESS otherwise stated on the insturment pannel to use a premium fuel. The use of a premium fuel can cause drivability issues if the cars computer isn't programmed for the use of such fuel. Some problems include but not limited to, lazy starts, hesitation, possible lack of power. etc.
  • No, unless you own a vehicle that specifically requires premium and states so from the factory. most vehicles are designed and built to run on regular unleaded gasoline. Buying premium gasoline, for an engine that requires only regular unleaded gasoline, is a waste of money. With the money you save, go buy a lottery ticket. P.S. i bought regular unleaded gasoline, a week ago, for $1.19 a gallon.
  • This was on AOL Autos today: Don't be gulled by slick oil company marketing ploys about the benefits of premium fuel: few new cars really need it and those that don't won't run any better from using it. There's no mystery to it. Just take a look at your owner's manual; it will tell you the manufacturer's fuel recommendations. There may also be a sticker on the gas cap or even on the instrument cluster under the gas gauge. Whatever it says, abide by it. You're only wasting your money by burning premium fuel in a car that doesn't require it. Higher-octane (91 and up) gas burns more slowly, and will actually give poorer performance when fed to engines that were designed to burn regular 87-octane fuel. But the reverse isn't always true. What happens, in fact, if you use regular or even mid-grade gas in a car that really does need premium? If the car in question is a late-model one, nothing that will cause any permanent problems. The computer will adjust the ignition timing and other engine parameters to compensate for the lower-octane juice. You may notice a slight falloff in acceleration, but no engine damage or drivability problems should arise. But with some older, pre-computer cars (model year 1981 and before) you could have a problem. For example, a Sixties-era "muscle car" with a high compression ratio must have premium fuel to avoid deadly engine knock (pre-ignition), which occurs when the gas and air inside the engine's cylinders ignites before the piston reaches its firing position at "top dead center." When that happens, the explosion tries to force the piston down when it's coming up -- and that puts enormous strain on engine bearings, connecting rods and the relatively fragile aluminum pistons themselves. Unless you want to ruin your high-compression engine, premium fuel is an absolute must in such cases. You may even have to add a can of octane boost to each tank in some cases to bring the fuel up to spec. In this case, premium fuel prevents engine knock because it is less volatile and hence burns more slowly than lower grade gas. Thus it is not as susceptible to pre-ignition. However, even today's "ultra" premiums come nowhere near the octane level of the leaded premium that was available 30 years ago. In those days, octane ratings of 100 were common; today 94 is the best you can get -- and the octane level is raised not by lead but by the addition of "aromatics" that may cause problems in older engines. Fortunately, very few cars still on the road today have high-compression engines that need such fuel. The handful that remain have usually had their engines rebuilt with lower compression pistons to run on today's lower-grade gas -- and the others can avail themselves of octane boosters readily available at auto parts stores. You should not buy octane boost, however, for use in an emissions-controlled car with a catalytic converter. Octane boosters may foul the converter and eventually plug it up. Besides, no factory-built produced since the early 1970s needs the stuff anyway. You're just wasting money and buying the advertising hype. There is one thing, though, that could cause your late model, regular-fuel car to need a higher grade gas: age. As an engine gets older, carbon buildup on the tops of the pistons effectively increases the compression ratio -- which in turn means you may find the car knocks when you use anything but mid- or even premium-grade gas. Hybrids This is a normal condition and nothing to worry about. Your engine will run great for many miles to come, so long as you feed it the stronger juice. If you wish, there are ways to flush the engine and purge the carbon from the tops of the pistons, but this service is not cheap, and the pistons will eventually get a coating of carbon all over again anyhow. It's typically cheaper and certainly less hassle just to spring for mid-grade gas. With this exception, you should stick with the fuel recommendations of the manufacturer and avoid being sucked into the trap of paying extra for something you don't need. If for some reason your car still knocks, the ignition timing is probably off or you need a tune-up. Don't crutch the problem by going up to higher grade gas; have the car looked over by your mechanic to determine what the problem is.
  • I don't even drink premium Vodka, I will be damned if my Toyota gets premium gasoline.
  • All new cars have (electric timing advance) the motors computer advances the timing until it hits knock and runs it close to knock as possible(more power, Timing advance,clean burn,max fuel econ are a direct resault. It is a fac that 93 will cause less Knock that 87 so 93 gets more timing for any givin engine And 93 has more detergent
  • what about a 100 octane i tank to my car...? its cleaner, vibrations are lower... consumption is lower... i am able to make 500 miles at full tank... u wanna know the secret? i have 4 cylinder 1.4L 100hp engine...
  • Duplicate question. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/15490
  • It depends on the octane requirements which are in the owner's manual. If you use too low octane you are essentally starving the engine it it will not work as well. If you use too high an octane you're just wasting money. However, not all brands of gasoline of the same octane are the same as there are additives in some. If you use an off brand gas you might consider using an additive such as Textron.
  • No yo...
  • Yes - premium has a higher 'octane' content which alot of newer cars require to get the desired performance. Regular gasoline is fine for all cars, but not all (older) card take full advantage of premium like newer, turbo-charged engines do.
  • depends what kind of car u have. regular has 83 octane, plus has 89 and premium has 93. What kind of car are u looking at? Octane is a hydrocarbon and the more hydrocarbons the better the engine will run. However, if you have a car that already runs well on regular putting premium won't do much. But if you have a car that requires premium and u put regular in it you will not get the same amount of power and maybe gas mileage.
  • not if you got horsepower
  • Actually regular grade is better for starting an ice cold engine because of its higher flammability point!
  • yes, not only is there an increase in fuel efficiency, but cleaner burning fuel means fewer carbon and sulfur deposits in the combustion chamber and exhaust system. reducing or eliminating the need for fuel system cleaning procedures.

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