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Why do some people use premium gas?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 07, 2026

If your car requires premium, fill up with premium.

Engines with a high compression ratio typically require higher octane fuel to achieve its intended level of performance, fuel efficiency and emissions. If your car requires premium gas, don't skimp out.

Is there any reason to use premium gas?

If your car doesn't ping using regular, then there's no reason to use premium. The anti-knock level is just fine for your engine. And today's advanced engine controls adjust the engine's timing and fuel mixture to compensate for differing octane levels to prevent pinging or knocking. Many cars only require regular gas.

Is it OK to use premium gas instead of regular?

Typically, "regular" gas is 87 octane, while anything over 91 octane is considered "premium" gasoline. A spokesperson with the American Automobile Association told FOX Business that it is safe to use premium fuel in your vehicle even if it takes regular.

Would premium gas hurt a car?

That said, putting premium gas in a regular car won't hurt it. But you'll certainly spend more per gallon, and your regular car won't get better fuel economy with high-octane fuels. Ideally, any car with a high-compression engine or parts, or even turbochargers, deserves premium gasoline.

Will premium gas clean my engine?

Nope. Regular, plus, and premium gas all come with detergents to mitigate against carbon deposits in your engine. Plus and premium don't come with special powers for cleaning out the engine. If you're interested in cleaning out your engine, you're better off taking it in for service.

41 related questions found

Why do luxury cars need premium gas?

Luxury Cars require premium gas to function at higher fuel efficiency and to maximize their speed and performance. While you could use regular gas in a luxury car, using it long term will cause your engine to experience extra wear and could potentially void your warranty.

What if I accidentally put premium gas in my car?

If you accidentally put premium gas in your car, worry not—it won't damage your engine or any other components. At worst, you'll end up paying more money at the pump! Accidentally putting the wrong fuel in your car is a problem most of us will encounter at some point.

Should I use premium gas in my older car?

Older engines can be more susceptible to pre-ignition, and using premium fuel can help to prevent it.

Can you put 93 in a car that takes 87?

Can You Mix 87 And 93 Together? In addition to 95 octane fuel running through the 87 or 89 octane engines, you have absolutely no harm to your engine. The 93 octane fuel will not need to be run in any circumstances. In fact, it won't improve how your car runs.

Does premium gas give you more horsepower?

Non high performance engines do not gain horsepower from the use of premium gasoline. Examples include vehicles of brands like Ford, General Motors and Chrysler or "economy" class vehicles. Premium gasoline cleans the fuel system to a degree but does not add horsepower.

What vehicles require premium gas?

  • Audi A3; 2.0-liter turbo four.
  • Audi Q3; 2.0-liter turbo four.
  • Audi TT; 2.0-liter turbo.
  • Cadillac XT5; 3.6-liter V6.
  • Cadillac XT6; 3.6-liter V6.
  • Lexus ES; 2.5-liter hybrid four; 3.5-liter V6.
  • Lexus NX; 2.5-liter four.
  • Lexus RX; 3.5-liter V6.

Does premium gas burn slower?

Fuel with an 87 octane rating burns more quickly while higher-octane fuels burn more slowly. In engines designed for standard unleaded fuel, efficiency and performance is optimized for 87 octane and could actually perform worse with higher-octane fuel since the burn rate is slower.

Does premium gas last longer?

Sadly, there's nothing in premium gasoline that would make it last longer than other fuels from the pump. Since the distinguishing feature is the higher-octane levels, the only real benefit you gain is lowering the chance of engine knocking, which isn't much of a threat on most modern fuel systems.

Is premium gas better?

The main difference with premium is its octane rating — 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane. The higher octane gives premium gas greater resistance to early fuel ignition, which can result in potential damage, sometimes accompanied by audible engine knocking or pinging.

Do all Infinitis require premium gas?

You should use premium fuel with your INFINITI vehicle, as higher-octane fuel allows you to get the most out of your car or SUV's engine. If you use regular gas in your INFINITI instead, you adversely affect the emission control system and may even void the vehicle's warranty.

Why do German cars require premium fuel?

A very direct answer to the question is that German luxury cars are designed for higher octane. The cars have high compression engines for better performance and greater horsepower; these are the major reasons why premium octane is necessary.

Why do BMWS take premium gas?

The fuel designed specifically for use in BMW's high-compression engines is 91+ octane fuel. This means that you get more miles to the gallon, because it optimizes engine function, meaning that little fuel is wasted, allowing you to go further on a single tank of gas.

Is premium gas a waste of money?

Americans Waste HOW Much Money on Premium Gas?!

According to AAA, you're wasting money every time you fill up with premium if your owner's manual recommends regular. Apparently, Americans are wasting $2.1 billion a year buying premium gasoline when their cars only need regular.

Will premium gas increase mpg?

So is Higher Octane Fuel More Efficient? In a word, no. On its own paying for premium gasoline does not make your car run better or get greater gas mileage. Giving your car the fuel it requires to run smoothly and efficiently, without damage to the engine, does make a difference in your fuel mileage.

Who has the best quality gas?

By far, Chevron has the best quality gas in the United States. Their Techron blend of additives has been found to reduce carbon deposits and keep your engine running clean for thousands of miles. In addition, Chevron gas stations are easy to find.

What happens if you put 87 in a BMW?

The short answer is - nothing. Most BMWs can run on regular gas so you aren't at any risk of causing damage to your brother's car. When you put regular gas in a BMW as opposed to premium, the car will recognize this and may run with a little less power and less timing but all components will work properly.

Why is gas so cheap at Costco?

Why is gas so cheap at Costco? The answer is simple: they just have very loyal customers. To purchase their gas, you have to be a member, and membership sales make up about 75 percent of the chain's profit.

What is the difference between premium and regular gas?

Regular gas has the lowest octane rating, Premium has a higher octane and Super (or Supreme or Premium Plus) has the highest octane. Octane is the measure of the fuel's ability to resist “knock”. Knocking or pinging are the loud noises that occur when the air/fuel mixture is incorrect.

Does 93 octane gas last longer?

93 octane fuels are more refined and contain more stable hydrocarbons. These stable hydrocarbons can last 2-3 times longer than 87 octane fuel. Even in proper storage 87 octane gas can start to degrade in 3 months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to 9 months before degradation is noticeable.

What kind of gas do BMW use?

No matter your model, BMW recommends using only premium-unleaded fuel. That's not to say your BMW won't run on lower-grade fuel, but premium-unleaded fuel will maintain its quality in the long run, letting you drive at peak performance consistently.