I have a new car and was wondering if I should spend the extra money and put premium fuel in my car. Will I get extra mileage and is it really better for my new car engine?
2006-09-01 21:34:45 · 13 answers · asked by skattered0077 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Save your money. The ONLY significant difference between premium and regular is the octane rating. This is the industry standard for anti-knock compounds.
If you drive a high performance car, and it requires premium, use it, but if you drive one of the 90% other cars that don't, it will gain you nothing.
In the old days, many times we would advance the ignition timing 4 or 5 degrees to get a little extra seat-of-the-pants experience, but the car would "ping" under acceleration. To combat that, we would use premium fuel. This is where the practice of using premium fuel as "better" started.
Today's cars have computer controls that adjust the ignition timing for peak performance, and when there is detonation present, the knock sensor sends a signal to the computer to retard the timing.
There is no appreciable difference between the two grades of fuel other than the octane. All other cleaners, anti-acids, emissions-lowering elements of the fuel are pretty much identical.
For a clearer understanding, go here--->
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question90.htm
2006-09-02 00:22:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
None. Premium gas is for high tech sports cars, like the Corvette. Do what your owner's manual says.
Actually, it's not that much more expensive. It just appears to be. If regular sells for $3.00 per gallon, and premium is $3.13 per gallon, which is pretty typical, then 15 gallons (a normal full fill of the tank) is only $1.95 extra for premium for that fill. That's not that much!
Gas is gas. Premium is no better at all, unless your car manufacturer recommends it. I have a Corvette and use premium gas, because they say to. But a normal car, no, I wouldn't.
By the way, did you realize new Corvettes get 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg in the city, when driven normally? Even at a steady 110 mph, I get 25 mpg! That shows how much better quality the engine of a Corvette is, and also shows what Detroit could do if they chose to do so.
2006-09-01 23:14:50 · answer #2 · answered by MrZ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the specific brand, but most premium fuels contain additives and a higher percentage of ethanol to keep your engine and fuel line running cleaner. If you can spare the extra... (does math in head) $2 per fill up, it might help your car's engine last a little longer... or, you may just want to mix it up, and fill up with premium every other time... mixing octanes is fine for most modern cars. For instance, if you have half a tank of 87 octain, then fill up the other half with 89 octane, you then get 88 octane.
I've seen estimates that simply using a higher grade of fuel could add as much as 5 horsepower to your engine... which, doesn't sound like much, but you'd be surprised what some guys will do to their "Rice Rockets" to eke out just a few more horses... (bigger air intakes, huge noisy mufflers, etc)
2006-09-01 21:59:12 · answer #3 · answered by AdamByte 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Just use regular. There isn't any special advantages to using a higher octane in most cars today, unless you have some sort of sports car, actually probably a super sport. The only cars that SHOULD be using it are some old older models that are reccomended to buy a mechanic or if it's specified by the maker. Other than that the only advantage to using a higher octane is that it burns cleaner in your engine, but its only factionally better on gas mileage (not enough to save you any at the pump), and it IS better for your engine, but unless specified, isnt that much better. your probably better off sticking with regular.
2006-09-05 08:44:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What car is it? If the owner's manual does not say to use premium gas, you will get no benefit whatsoever. I've even heard of people getting worse gas mileage with premium.
If the owner's manual recommends premium fuel, you are likely to get more performance and quite possibly more mileage as the computer will have to adjust a few things in the engine to prevent it from pinging, and these adjustments hurt performance.
2006-09-02 08:56:47 · answer #5 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No difference with performance, only different in prices.
Had a reseach here in Australia about a new fuel that came
into the market, so they tested all types of fuel sold into the market and the result suprise you.They seems to be all the same except for the prices.
2006-09-01 22:59:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your car is designed to use regular gasoline that is what you should use. Premium will increase you mileage, but not enough to offset the extra cost.
2006-09-01 21:42:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your car may be designed for it if it is a performance model-and the answer is yes-yes. better fuel is always beneficial,wether in economy,performance or time.car will run cleaner,get slightly better mileage and engine will stay cleaner inside longer(ie: carbon deposits on valves and pistons). nejoy the new ride and peace to you and yours.----if your car requires prem.fuel and it is not used you can actually void the warranty if engine is damaged (ie: pinging damages tops of pistons)
2006-09-01 23:05:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you r car requires premium fuel, if not you really dont
get any extra advantage.
Ase Master Tech
2006-09-01 21:43:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
only use grade of gas in your owners manual, trust me there is a reason for "unleaded gas only" premium gas is for sports cars with large engines. It can damage a four cylinder
2006-09-01 23:00:05 · answer #10 · answered by jimmie c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋