Premium vs. Regular Gas

What’s the difference between premium and regular gas, and which is the best choice for your car? The answer depends on your specific vehicle. While any car can use either formula, some cars get even better performance out of a tank of premium gas. We’re here to help compare premium vs. regular gas, so you can figure out which option is truly the best choice for you.

What is Premium Gasoline?

When you look at premium vs. regular gas prices, you’ll notice that premium is more expensive. Why is that? Premium gasoline has a higher octane rating – usually around 90 or above. The octane rating indicates how well the gasoline avoids inappropriate fuel combustion. While both regular and premium gasoline is refined from crude oil, premium gas is better balanced and remains more stable under higher-pressure driving. That’s why it’s popular with luxury and performance cars in Bellaire.

What is Regular Unleaded Gasoline?

What about regular gasoline? Regular gasoline tends to have a lower octane rating of around 87. Many vehicles will not notice a difference in performance at all between premium vs. regular gas, but some higher-end vehicles might notice more issues with “engine knocking” or misfires. However, regular gasoline is built to work well with the most common engines on the market.

The Difference Between Premium and Regular Gas

Let’s take a deeper look at the difference between premium and regular gas. What factors matter the most when deciding between premium vs. regular gas?

While the two options may seem similar, there are a few factors that set each apart:

• Octane Rating: The higher the octane level, the less chance for engine knocking or pre-ignition. This is particularly important for performance vehicles.
• Engine Suitability: Regular unleaded gas burns faster than premium gas, so it works well with engines with low compression ratios. If your engine has a high compression ratio, premium gasoline is likely the better choice.
• Price: Comparing premium vs. regular gas price, premium can cost as much as 20 to 40 cents more per gallon than regular unleaded gas. If you don’t need premium, you’ll save a lot of money by choosing regular when you fill up in Kalkaska.

Beyond the premium vs. regular gas price and octane ratings, here are some other tips that can help you determine the best fit for your car:

• All vehicles can use premium gas without an issue. But if your car does not require premium gas, you won’t get any particular performance benefits out of it.
• All vehicles can also use regular gas. But if you hear knocking when you use regular gas, consider making the switch to premium gasoline for a more stable performance.
• Cars with supercharged and turbocharged engines tend to use premium gasoline. Check your owner’s manual or ask our service center for more information.

Get Quality Car Care at Serra Volkswagen of Traverse City

So, will you choose premium or regular gas? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our service technicians for more maintenance information. We’d be happy to help, so contact us at any time. We’re located in Traverse City, just a short drive from Lake City, so feel free to drop by for a chat!