Should I Buy Premium Gas?

If you have ever pumped your own fuel at a gas station, you may have noticed a pump labeled premium. What makes premium gas special, and who should use it for their vehicle? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. In this article, discover whether you should buy premium gas, find out what it is, learn the difference between premium and regular gas, review cars that require premium gas, and discover the benefits of the premium option.

Whether or not premium gas is the right choice for you depends on the make and model of your vehicle. You can check your car’s instruction manual to find out what type of gas the manufacture recommends. In general, most luxury cars or vehicles with turbocharged engines require premium gasoline. Most other cars can use regular gasoline, which is a more economical option. You may also choose to use premium gasoline when towing a heavy load or in particularly hot climates, as both these activities can cause the engine to overheat more quickly. Premium gas can help manage this challenge. 

What Is Premium Gas?

Premium gas is gasoline that has an octane level above 91. Regular gas, by comparison, often has an octane level of 87. Some gas stations also offer gas with an octane level of 93 and market it as ultra-premium, super-premium, or premium-plus. The octane level of the gasoline is often marked on the button you press to make your selection.

What Is the Difference Between Premium Gas and Regular Gas?

Gas with high octane levels may be more resistant to heat. Gasoline engines work by compressing and combusting a mixture of fuel and oxygen to release energy. Premium gas offers heat-resistant fuel that allows the mixture of air and gas to ignite at the proper moment through use of a spark plug. Regular gas, which has less heat-resistance, may be more likely to ignite through spontaneous combustion before the spark plug ignites.

If you hear a knocking sound when you drive, this may be due to premature gasoline combustion. To solve the problem, consider switching to a higher grade gasoline. This can help save your engine from short-term drawbacks, like a loss of fuel efficiency, and long-term damage to the engine. For cars that require premium gasoline, this solution can also help you save money by improving the miles per gallon your car is capable of and, therefore, helping you spend less money on gas.

Cars That Use Premium Gas

In addition to luxury cars or cars with high-intensity engines, there are a few “regular” vehicles that you might not realize require premium gas. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to double check your user manual before heading to the pump. Here are a few such cars to be aware of as a driver:

• Buick Regal
• Fiat 500L
• Kia Stinger
• Volkswagen Arteon
• MINI Cooper
• MINI Clubman
• MINI Countryman
• Nissan Maxima

There are also certain vehicles that require premium gas when customized with a high-level engine. If you choose to upgrade your engine, it may be a good idea to check the owner’s manual or ask a manufacturer team member whether the change impacts the type of gas you should use. Here are a few examples of cars that require premium gas with a particular type of engine:

• Buick Envision with a 2.0-L turbo engine
• Chevrolet Equinox with a 2.0-L turbo engine
• Chevrolet Malibu with a 2.0-L turbo engine
• Honda Civic with a 1.5-L turbo engine
• GMC Terrain with a 2.0-L turbo engine
• Mitsubishi Outlander with a 3.0-L V6 engine

What are the Benefits of Using Premium Gas?

Using a fuel with a higher octane level can benefit some cars and engines. Here are a few helpful results you may experience if you use premium gas:

Healthy Engine

As your car gets older, the engine may degrade and become less efficient at extracting energy from the air-fuel combustion process. Premium gas can help older engines operate in a smooth and healthy manner. If your car requires premium gasoline, its use can also prevent the engine damage that may accompany the unregulated combustion involved in premature combustion. 

Better Fuel Economy

If you drive a vehicle that requires premium gas, using it can help the process of converting the gas to energy run more smoothly. This can improve your fuel economy, helping you drive the farthest possible number of miles per gallon of gas. This may mean that you may need to refuel less often, allowing you to save money at the pump despite the increase in price from regular to premium fuel. 

Power Optimization

In addition to improved fuel economy, using the correct gasoline for your vehicle can help optimize power. If you use regular gasoline when the vehicle requires premium, it may be difficult for the engine to perform at the level of power advertised for the vehicle. By using premium, you allow the engine to reach its full horsepower capacity. This can help you achieve impressive acceleration and increase the car’s ability to tow heavy a weight easily. 

No Engine Drawbacks

Apart from the cost, there are no drawbacks to fueling your car with premium gas. While using regular gas for a car that requires premium can have negative effects, using premium gas for a car that usually requires regular is perfectly healthy for the vehicle. This means that if you’re even unsure about which fuel to select, you can select premium secure in the knowledge that there will be no negative consequences.

To understand whether you should buy premium gas, it’s helpful to understand what premium gas is and how it differs from the regular option. Hopefully, this article has helped improve your understanding of premium gas so you can fuel with confidence next time you’re at the pump. Do you have more questions about fueling your vehicle? Don’t hesitate to call our service department with questions by calling 888-461-3879 or contact us online. While you’re at it, feel free to check out the fantastic selection of new cars and used vehicles we have here at Keith Pierson Toyota. 

Gas prices should continue to fall by KOMUnews is licensed with CC BY 2.0

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