The Short Answer: It Depends. Let’s take a quick look at which fuel is best for your specific vehicle, and, hopefully, quell any concerns you may have for making the “wrong” choice next time you’re standing in front of the pump.
To save you some valuable time: the most accurate answer to this question is found in your car's owner's manual, if it specifies that premium gasoline is required, then you should definitely use it. However, if there’s no mention of a specific fuel requirement, you can safely use regular gasoline.
Why Do Some Cars Require Premium Gas?
As indicated by the numbers on the gas station’s pump, premium gasoline has a higher octane rating than regular gasoline. Octane ratings measure a fuel's resistance to pre-ignition, a process that can cause engine knocking or pinging, and, left unchecked, a large repair bill. Some engines, especially those with high compression ratios or turbochargers, are more susceptible to pre-ignition, and thus specifically designed with this specific fuel type in mind.
Will Using Premium Gas Benefit My Car If It Doesn't Require It?
While premium gasoline won't harm your car if it's not required, it's unlikely to provide any noticeable benefits. In most cases, regular gasoline is perfectly sufficient for engines that don't have specific premium fuel requirements. That said, you might be wondering if using premium gas in a car that doesn't require it could cause any problems, and the short answer is no. Premium gas is designed to be compatible with all modern gasoline engines.
The Bottom Line
There are a variety of misconceptions regarding higher octane gas, such as improved fuel economy, it’ll clean your engine, or that you’re less likely to encounter bad fuel, and though you’ll surely have a friend or family member with anecdotal evidence of such experiences, it simply doesn’t bear out. Modern engines, and the electronics that control fuel delivery are all designed to work in concert based on the gas they specifically call for, so going for a tank of premium purely means you’ll be paying a premium price for the same results.