Be honest: do you know what the difference between gasoline grades are? You see different prices along with the gas grades but what does it mean? Here is a crash course on what you need to know for the next time you fill your car with gas.
The difference between these options is due to the octane rating of the gasoline. Octane ratings are found by how the gasoline is able to resist any knocking, or detonating, in the engine of your car.
When you go to the gas pump, you will commonly find three different octane ratings to choose from. But what do the numbers mean? A regular octane rating is 87, a mid-grade rating is between 88-90, and a premium rating is between 91-94.
Since the cost of premium and mid-grade gasoline is higher than regular fuel, why would anyone want to opt for the more expensive gas? This is due to the type of car you drive. If your car's manufacturer specifies that the car requires premium fuel, then you will want to select gas grades between 91 and 94. Cars that need premium fuel are usually cars that use supercharging or turbocharging, thus having premium fuel will improve the car's performance.
If you are someone who has a car that requires premium fuel, but you still use regular or mid-grade gasoline you are damaging your car's engine and making it run inefficiently.
What if your car only needs regular gasoline grade? You are still able to utilize the mid-grade and premium gas, but the benefits may not be worth the extra costs.
So, what's our advice? Research your car's manufacturing policies on which grade rating of gasoline is best. Taking care of your car from the inside out will help prevent damage and risks.