Any - Premium fuels - do they improve mpg? | Technical matters | Back Room Forum (2023)

FAQs

Do you get better mpg with premium fuel? ›

Premium gas has a higher resistance to engine knock in luxury and performance vehicles with turbochargers or high-compression engines, so you can hit that horsepower smoothly. Additionally, premium gas can increase fuel efficiency, potentially bringing better gas mileage for longer while decreasing emissions.

on my regular run to work (on the M6/M42 over 45 miles each way), driving fairly consistantly gently over several tanks fulls, I have found an improvement of around 2mpg on VPower and about 1.5mpg on Ultimate.

“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. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine needs service.”

Why YSK: I've heard for a long time that "premium" gas will give you higher gas mileage, more performance, a cleaner engine, etc. This is not true. Certain engines require higher or lower octane fuels depending on their compression ratio, and to prevent engine knocking.

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.

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.

It's best to drive the speed limit and use cruise control when possible. Rapid acceleration and hard braking quickly eat up fuel, so avoid those actions whenever possible. When your tires are underinflated, fuel consumption can increase by as much as 3%.

There's no such thing as “better gas.” Companies like Chevron try to tell you their gasoline is superior because it has Techron in it. However, all gas has detergents that prevent clogging in the fuel injector, and no brand of gas is better quality than any other for your vehicle.

Is Shell or Chevron better? ›

In short, both brands are equally good when it comes to quality. Considering that both Shell and Chevron are branded as top tier, it's easy to conclude that their gas meets the required performance standards.

— Kwik Trip is the best gas station brand in the United States for the third year in a row, according to the 2022 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

Octane ratings are plastered all over every gas pump, and, contrary to marketing terminology, "premium" does not necessarily indicate a fuel is "better" for your car as much as whether it is "right" for your car. Fuel with an 87 octane rating burns more quickly while higher-octane fuels burn more slowly.

Premium gas — that is, gas with an octane rating of 91 or more — is required for some high performance and luxury vehicles. Gasoline with a high octane rating is more difficult to ignite, which helps prevent pre-ignition and knocking in high performance engines.

But what's the difference, other than the price? 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”.

Regular gas is rated at 87 octane in most states, while premium gas is often rated higher at 91 or 93. Fuel with a higher octane rating can stand up to higher compression before it detonates. Essentially, the higher the octane rating, the lower the likelihood that detonation happens at the wrong time.

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.

Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.

Many of today's high performance cars require the use of premium fuel. If you find yourself in some location where the only fuel available is 87 octane then you may use an octane booster, in the recommended proportions, to bring the 87 octane up to that required by your car.

What speed maximizes MPG? ›

7. The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly. For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph (oh, and it's illegal too).

The cat-back system improves airflow, which means the engine doesn't work as hard to eliminate exhaust fumes. The reduced resistance minimizes the load on the engine, which leads to less fuel consumption. That said, the vehicle miles per gallon (MPG) or fuel economy increases in freeways and city roads.

Improve the fuel economy with iridium spark plugs

Switching to iridium spark plugs can considerably improve the mileage of the gasoline vehicles on the highway. This change comes from the fact that you now have a better ignition profile to ensure the efficient burning of the fuel.

Experts agree putting Coca-Cola in a gas tank can ruin your car. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc.

Pulstar spark plugs generate the most rapid, powerful, and complete burn possible–resulting in both more power and better gas mileage. The ultra-efficient function of our performance spark plugs not only saves you money on gas, but it also lowers emissions.

Many of the main causes for poor gas mileage are mechanical and include things like improper air flow, faulty injectors or bad oxygen sensors. "Your vehicle needs both fuel and air to give the best fuel mileage," says Nicole Miskelley, manager at PMR Auto & Diesel Repair in Marion, Illinois.

Keeping a full tank of fuel enables you to track mileage and fuel costs. You won't lose as much fuel; empty space in the tank causes evaporation through the tank's ventilation system. There will be less inconsistencies with the fuel. The pump is cooled by the fuel.

Several automobile manufacturers recommend the use of TOP TIER™ gasoline to maintain optimal performance. Costco is listed as a TOP TIER™ gasoline retailer. Find out more at www.toptiergas.com.

Thanks to advances in engine technology, today's cars utilize onboard computers that adjust for variations in fuel so occasionally using cheap gas won't damage your engine. The difference between off-brand and Top Tier gas comes down to the degree of additives that afford more protection for your engine.

Is Costco gas lower quality? ›

Is Costco gas considered top tier? You might be worried that because the Costco gas prices are low, the quality of the fuel may not be great. But just like with all of the Kirkland items they sell in their warehouse, the Kirkland Signature Gasoline is top quality.

In fact, using Techron® in a new vehicle is a good preventative measure to keep that new fuel system clean and deposit-free. It also helps to maintain the gas mileage that your new vehicle is designed to deliver.

Where Does Costco Get Their Gas? All of the gasoline sold at Costco Gas stations is Kirkland Signature™ gasoline, and Costco buys its gasoline from major and local refineries. Essentially, there is no big difference between Costco's gasoline and gasoline from other major suppliers like Shell or Chevron.

A: Costco buys fuel from major refineries and distributors in each area. All Kirkland Signature™ Fuel is guaranteed, just like the merchandise we sell inside the warehouse.

Arco gas is cheap because the company does the following: No processing fees: Arco does not use credit cards, so they don't have to charge more for credit card charging fees. Charges for debit cards: When customers use debit cards instead of cash, they charge an additional fee.

1. United States. The US is by far the largest producer of natural gas in the world, and represents nearly a quarter of total global natural gas production.

Simply put, higher octane gas won't lead to better car performance, more speed, better mileage, or your car running cleaner. Most cars require regular gasoline, and using higher octane means wasting your coins.

Higher octane gasoline reduces knocks and pings in high-pressure environments which exert more energy and burn fuel quicker.

If the octane rating is less than 91, you could damage the engine and may void your vehicle warranty. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine needs service.” Note that this applies only to engines that require premium gas.

AAA further discovered that continued use of non-Top Tier fuel could result in 2% to 4% lower fuel economy over time and hasten the likelihood of maintenance issues. Top Tier fuel can even reduce the carbon residue of loyal generic gas use on an engine by 45% to 72% over 5,000 miles.

Is it worth buying premium fuel? ›

One of the main advantages of premium petrol is that it has an official rating. Unleaded premium fuel has an octane rating which shows how well the fuel resists pressure and premature ignition. Premium petrol can also help to reduce friction, resulting in cleaner engine components and a more efficient performance.

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.

If your car's built for regular, paying a premium for premium gasoline is likely only going to benefit the oil company. That's because, despite the name, premium gas isn't necessarily better. It has a higher octane rating to keep it from causing knocking in high-pressure engines.

“If you're using premium fuel in a car that recommends premium, our research found that it could improve horsepower and fuel economy, but only by about three percent. That's a very small difference,” he told VERIFY.

One of the main advantages of premium petrol is that it has an official rating. Unleaded premium fuel has an octane rating which shows how well the fuel resists pressure and premature ignition. Premium petrol can also help to reduce friction, resulting in cleaner engine components and a more efficient performance.

Engine Suitability: Regular unleaded gas burns faster than premium gas, which is why it works better with engines that have low compression ratios. If your vehicle's engine has a high compression ratio, it is best to use premium gasoline.

Engine computers can usually adjust their timing to account for the increased octane levels, so if you put premium gas in a regular car, you probably won't notice anything. However, some engines are not designed to burn higher-octane fuel, and you may see a reduction in performance and fuel economy.

If the car is designed for regular — or doesn't specifically say that the car requires premium gas — go with regular. There are no benefits to putting premium gas in a car that doesn't need it. Cars that require premium gas will typically specify the minimum octane rating necessary.

Premium gas has a higher octane level, making it much smoother for your engine. By ensuring that the engine combustion occurs at the right times, premium gas limits the amount of damage improper engine combustion may cause. Pro: If the vehicle asks for premium, standard gas could damage it.

In a consumer notice, the Federal Trade Commission, notes: “In most cases, using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”

Will mixing premium and regular gas mess up your car? ›

Can I mix premium and unleaded gas? Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.

95 PETROL DOES NOT HAVE MORE ENERGY THAN 93 PETROL

We tend to think that '95 petrol' has more energy than '93 petrol,' but that is not true. The octane rating refers to the fuel's resistance to auto-ignition, or otherwise known as 'knocking. ' Thus the higher the rating, the greater the resistance.

Higher-octane fuel does not burn hotter. It will not clean out deposits from an engine combustion chamber. And it will not provide any higher fuel economy. But an engine's octane rating can change over time.