4 of 23

No

Write now Article Tools

Is regular grade (87 Octane) gasoline just as good as Premium (91+ Octane) for your car? The answer to this question depends on what you drive. I own a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 liter that is turbo-charged. It only has four cylinders, but my engine provides the torque and performance of many six and even eight-cylinder powerplants. As such, the factory states that a minimum octane rating of 91 is recommended for this model. Turbocharged engines run at higher temperatures and require meticulous maintenance. As such, most cars with these types of engines require the use of premium fuel.

My particular car also requires synthetic oil as well. Just as not using conventional oil to lubricate my engine components, I would never dream of using a lower-octane fuel. Not only would the performance be compromised, but engine damage could occur if the improper fuel grade is used. In turn, this would void any warranty if I were to deliberately go against the factory specifications by trying to pinch pennies. To put it another way, if you happen to drive a vehicle that is so equipped, spending about twenty cents more for a gallon of gas will cost much less than a major engine repair out of your pocket.
Conversely, many drivers have adopted the misconception that premium fuel is "cleaner" than regular. There is certainly bad gas out there, but this is because either the truck that transports the fuel to your local gas station contains dirty deposits within the tank's interior or the holding tank itself beneath the pumps is contaminated. When this enters your car's gas tank, it interferes with proper fuel flow and can plug carburetors and/or fuel injectors. In earlier times, some rather dishonest establishments added water to the gas to stretch it further and hence enjoy more profits, but this is rarely if ever attempted today.

Again, whether or not regular grade gasoline is as good for your car as its premium grade counterpart depends on the make and model of your vehicle. While it is true that MOST cars are designed to perform fine on 87 octane fuel, and in fact putting a higher octane into the tank is simply throwing money away, this is certainly not applicable in all cases, as illustrated above.

Adhering to the factory-recommended type of fuel and oil is prudent if you wish to enjoy many useful years with your car. All it takes is paying attention to what your owner's manual says. Read it carefully!

Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Is regular grade gasoline just as good as premium gas for your car??
We want to hear your view. Write now!