Premium vs. Regular Gas: What’s the Difference?
Have you ever rolled up to a Minneapolis gas station, gotten out of your car, and paused before choosing your gas? You usually go with regular…but what if, just once, you chose premium? Your car doesn’t need premium, otherwise you’d know…or would you? What if it’s needed premium this whole time? What if premium gasoline isn’t real, but just a scam? (It’s not a scam.) What if…?
Gas pump thoughts tend to wander, but if you’ve ever sincerely thought about premium vs. regular gas, you’ve come to the right place. Below, Cornerstone Plymouth will break down the difference between premium and regular gasoline for drivers in the Plymouth area and beyond! For more information, stop by our service center today.
What is Premium Gasoline?
In the most basic sense, premium fuel and regular gasoline are the “same”: they’re both produced from crude oil and both are combustible. The difference between regular and premium gas is octane levels—the octane rating for gasoline indicates how well gas combats inappropriate fuel combustion. Premium gas tends to have an octane level of 90 or above. This means your engine runs cleaner and creates less pollution.
What is Regular Unleaded Gasoline?
Regular gas is the most common type of gasoline because it works well for most vehicles on Maple Grove roads. It’s better for the world and your health than gas that contains lead, and its octane rating is around 87.
The Difference Between Premium and Regular Gas
Did that answer all of your questions? No? Okay, moving on…While the two options may seem similar, there are a few factors that set each apart:
- Octane Rating: Octane level definitely affects performance. The higher the octane rating, the less chance there is of engine knocking, which can damage your vehicle. Also called pre-ignition, this occurrence is less common with premium gasoline.
- Engine Suitability: Regular unleaded gas burns faster than premium gas, which makes it more suited for engines that have low compression ratios. Engines with high compression ratios will benefit from premium gasoline.
- Price: Premium gas can be as much as 20 to 40 cents more per gallon than regular unleaded gas, which can add up if you are frequently driving from Minnetonka to %%target_city_5.
“Should I be Using Premium Gas?”
Before deciding whether premium vs. regular gas is right for you, keep the following tips in mind:
- If your car does not require premium gas, it won’t boost the performance or the longevity of the vehicle.
- If your vehicle requires premium gas, using regular gas typically will not harm the vehicle. If you hear knocking when you use regular unleaded gas, it is best to switch to premium gasoline.
- It may be necessary to use premium gas in vehicles that utilize turbochargers.
- Is premium gasoline more fuel efficient? Probably not. It depends on many factors, from the precise gas to your exact vehicle, but the differences for the great majority of cars when it comes to fuel efficiency is negligible. With that said, you could always test this out yourself by filling up regular on one gas run, then premium the next, calculating the miles driven after each fill-up!
Finally, your owner’s manual will always be the best reference when it comes to issues like this.
Contact the Cornerstone Plymouth Service Center Today
Additional questions about premium vs. regular gas? Don’t hesitate to contact us! We would be glad to help you figure out which type of gas is best suited for your vehicle, determine how long car batteries should last, what the differences between diesel and gas engines are, how to be fuel-efficient when driving, and give you some oil changing tips. We’ve also got plenty of great recommendations for Brooklyn Park drivers looking for fantastic used trucks, cars, and SUVs for sale.
