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The Daily Insight

What kind of fuel should I use in my car

Author

John Parsons

Updated on May 06, 2026

The best type of gas to put in your vehicle is whatever octane level

What is the best fuel to use in your car?

Regardless of whether your car calls for regular or premium, the best choice for ongoing performance and economy is a TOP TIER gasoline. Recent AAA testing found TOP TIER gasolines keep internal engine components up to 19 times cleaner than gasolines that only meet minimum EPA standards.

Does premium fuel make a difference?

The main difference with premium is its octane rating — 91 or higher compared with 87 for regular octane. … The higher octane of premium gas won’t make your car faster; in fact, the opposite is possible because higher-octane fuel technically has less energy than lower-octane fuel.

Does it matter what type of fuel you put in your car?

The answer is – it depends. Most modern cars are designed to run on economy grade fuel, however, if your owner’s manual specifies “premium fuel required”, then choosing the right grade, or octane matters a lot.

Does premium gas do anything?

Typically, high-performance cars require premium, because their engines have higher compression ratios, while other cars can run just fine on lower octane gas. … The FTC sums it up this way: “In most cases, using a higher octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit.”

Is it OK to put premium gas in a regular car?

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.

Which gas is better 87 89 or 93?

Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. … Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time. On occasion, this occurrence will likely not harm your vehicle.

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.

What are the 3 types of gasoline?

  • Regular (the lowest octane fuel–generally 87)
  • Midgrade (the middle range octane fuel–generally 89–90)
  • Premium (the highest octane fuel–generally 91–94)
What is the best gasoline?

Mobil – Top Tier? Yes. Dating back to the mid-1980s, Mobil is one of the best-known names when it comes to quality gasoline. In 1999, they merged with Exxon to form Exxon Mobile, making it one of the largest oil companies in the entire world.

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Does premium gas last longer than regular gas?

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.

Can I put 89 gas in my car?

Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.

What vehicles require premium gas?

  • Buick Envision (with 2.0L turbo)
  • Buick Regal (all models)
  • Buick Regal TourX (all models)
  • Chevrolet Equinox (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Chevrolet Malibu (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Fiat 500L (all models)
  • GMC Terrain (with 2.0-L turbo)
  • Honda Civic (with 1.5-L turbo)

Is unleaded 87 regular gas?

Gasoline with an octane level of 87 is considered “regular,” with gasoline sold at 89 octane often labeled “midgrade” by most gas stations.

What happens if you put 87 in a 91 car?

If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don’t worry. You’re actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means it will burn differently in your engine.

Should I use 89 octane?

The general consensus is that using premium gas when your car can run on regular gas doesn’t deliver any extra benefits when it comes to engine life, fuel economy or reduced emissions. If your engine uses higher compression ratios, typically you will need to use higher octane-rated gas.

What happens if I use 87 octane instead of 89?

“Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty. … They usually warn that using lower-octane gas could reduce performance and fuel economy.

Can you still buy E5 fuel?

Around 200 of Esso’s 1,200 branded service stations in the UK will no longer sell E5 petrol. The remaining 1,000 sites will continue to sell E5 as Synergy Supreme+ 99 premium petrol. You can find a list of Esso petrol stations online.

Is Supreme gas bad for your car?

Using premium gas in a regular car will cost you more with almost no added benefits. The Federal Trade Commission says that using a high-octane gasoline rather than a recommended one will offer almost no benefits. It will not make your engine perform better or faster.

Does regular gas ruin your engine?

Over time, using regular fuel against your car’s requirements can damage your vehicle. Prolonged use can cause knocking of the engine, which can in turn void the warranty of your car; especially if the car’s manual specifically warns against using regular grade fuel.

What octane should I use?

What octane fuel should I use in my vehicle? You should use the octane rating required for your vehicle by the manufacturer. So, check your owner’s manual. Most gasoline vehicles are designed to run on 87 octane, but others are designed to use higher octane fuel.

Why is topping off bad?

Topping off your gas tank can cause pressure to build in the tank and flood the carbon filter vapor collection system, only meant for vapor. Subsequently, this overflow can affect your car’s performance and could possibly damage the engine.

What grade of gas is best for my car?

It is better for your car to use 87, 88 or even 91-octane gas than to go too low. If you have a luxury car that needs premium gas, try to fill up before driving to a high-altitude location in case you cannot find a gas station that provides the octane you need.

Does turning your AC off save gas?

Summary: Automobile air conditioning systems do not run “free of charge”. In fact in the hot parts of the world they can account for up to thirty per cent of fuel consumption.

Who has the best gas quality?

Chevron. Of America’s largest nationwide chains, Chevron scores the highest points in overall customer satisfaction. Its reach spans over 7,800 stores, and while some gas stations offer convenient food marts, one location in North Hollywood goes above and beyond gasoline.

Is Speedway gas any good?

Speedway fuel is not certified as Top Tier. … Speedway and all of its grades of fuel are compliant with all local, state, and federal regulations. Rest assured that Speedway’s priority is to consistently offer quality fuel at competitive prices without sacrificing standards.”

Why is Costco gas so cheap?

Gas prices at warehouse clubs can be as much as 30 cents lower than traditional gas stations, and the chains offer members coupons to use in their stores when they fill up. Gasoline sales at the warehouse clubs are an important part of their business and draw customers inside.

Why is premium fuel so expensive?

According to the latest data from AAA (which tracks fuel prices daily instead of the EIA’s weekly), premium costs $2.80 per gallon on average, or 60 cents more than regular. … AAA said the demand for premium gas is due to more car owners “treating themselves” as pump prices drop. That’s true, up to a point.

What is the difference between unleaded 88 and 87?

Unleaded 88 is a blend of 84 octane gasoline and ethanol. The difference is Unleaded 87 has 10% ethanol and Unleaded 88 has 15% ethanol. The 5% increase in ethanol increases the octane rating to 88.

Is it bad to mix 85 and 87 gas?

your car will be fine with that. The octane rating is just a MINIMUM your engine needs – anything from that octane upwards will work just fine. You’ll be fine. A 50/50 mix of 85 octane and 87 octane will just give you 86 octane.

Is unleaded 88 bad for your car?

A: Unless the owner’s manual says your car can handle 15 percent ethanol, you could harm your engine in the long run. The 88 octane should have no effect if you happened to fill you tank with it once, but prolonged use by a car not equipped for it can cause an engine to wear out faster.