How Americans Waste Their Money On Premium Gas
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มิ.ย. 2024
- Gas prices have been relatively low compared with the airy peaks they had seen roughly a decade ago; Americans are paying more for premium gasoline than standard gasoline than they have in the past. According to AAA, Americans collectively waste $2 billion a year buying premium gasoline. The critical difference between premium gas from regular is its octane rating-understanding that octane rating and what cars need what gasoline is key to knowing whether it is worth paying for premium.
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How Americans Waste Their Money On Premium Gas
This has to be the longest way to tell people "use the gas suggested in your owner's manual"
Some people happen to like information about things they otherwise wouldn't have known. Not everything is tailored toward the impatient
I know the people who build these vehicles and write up the manuals know what they're doing but the manual for my truck suggests you can go up to 16000 kms (10000 mi) between oil changes. Maybe I'm a bit old school but theres no way I'm gettting even close to that before I change my oil.
It's nice to know the "Why" of things
The 2020 Toyota corolla suggests 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or
higher. So is it 87 or 91? Any why would they say "or higher"? Why?
What are you talking about? There is a lot of good info in here
If the owners manual says it is "REQUIRED" then it is "REQUIRED". If the manual says "RECOMMENDED" then it is NOT "REQUIRED"
Not entirely true my Nissan has sticker that says its recommended but the manual says 91-96 octane.
@@jonathanjuillerat9831 then it is true
Not really true. So car companies started to do recommend on cars that should be on higher octane. Like for example turbo cars yes it may say require 87, but we recommend 91 because that does do better to prevent knock which is a issues with turbo cars especially the older it gets. Turbos cars have mire steps to maintain then people know
Now for natural aspirated engines can do just 85 unless it doe say so less carbon build up
Well said
Ignition timing on a turbo:
Am I a joke to you
Ignition timing on a turbo charged engine: literally the most important aspect of the tuning.
You know how I "treat" my car to something?
I don't drive it for that day.😎
Not moving the fluids through your daily driver could be the worst thing for it.
@@briandaves2297 one day aint gonna hurt it my guy chill. I drive mine 5-6 days a week
A true treat for your vehicle is to take it out and give it the old Italian tune-up.
so, long story short: people generally don't read their vehicle owner's manual
It's generally on filler cap.
@@Robert-cu9bm so slightly longer story, people don't read their manuals or gas caps 😆
Yep ... Pretty much 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
More likely marketing sucess and misunderstanding. Though you may be right too.
My car didn't come with a manual 😔😭
Put regular in a vehicle that requires premium...knocking on heaven’s door
My car Lmaoo
Not really, most car will just reduce performance with cpu technology. So a lot of the times you engine just isn’t making the horsepower it should be making with premium. But nothing beyond that. It’s not going to blow up your engine if you are on a tight budget and need to put regular into a car that needs premium.
@@noelsoto4329 not everyone owns a car new enough to adjust to that
@@thatdude8454 I mean it’s most cars like 2008+ if you’ve driven your car that long and don’t know what fuel you need that’s your own fault I guess.
@@noelsoto4329 some people just buy used cars because that’s all they can afford
its basically saying, "Use the gas suggested in your owner's manual"
BMW use premium, Toyota use regular, etc
BMW's premium is basically normal gas in Europe. :D In Europe regular is 95 RON which is 91 AKI.
I work for a MAJOR oil and gas company (it's gas station was shown in the video) and I can confirm that premium gasoline is mostly a scam. It takes pennies to add the additives, but due to 'premium' tag, the margin is huge.
If you have a turbo, supercharger or other high compression engine, use high octane fuel. Listen to the manufacturer, and not a media outlet that can’t accurately report anything.
But do most people have turbo chargers? I see a lot in Houston, but ifk if that's regional or not
@@jessicacole8404 they do now. A lot of manufacturers have moved towards forced induction, low displacement engines. The main thing to look at is the compression ratio. If it’s more than 10:1 I’d definitely run higher octane fuel, if it was my car. Also keep in mind that the ECU/ECM on many newer vehicles will detune your engine if you run lower octane fuel. It doesn’t hurt to run higher octane, but you can do a lot of damage if you run too low of octane fuel.
My VW 1.8 TSI (turbo stratified injection) specifies 87 octane, and they mean it! Turns out the ECU will not advance spark timing even if the knock sensors are dead quiet, it's simply unable to benefit from the higher octane. OTOH my first gen. Insight with a 1 liter 3 cylinder specifies 87 octane too, but it has 10.8:1 compression, an ECU that wants to run lean whenever possible (as a fuel saving measure) and I go wide open throttle up every hill to keep the speed up so I fill it with 93, at least with 44 mpg in mixed driving it doesn't hurt that bad.
@@evancourtney7746 I was going to say, VW had to fake data to meet emissions regulations I’m not surprised lol. If the engine isn’t experiencing knock, there’s no danger. It’s not a good idea in my opinion for them to tell people they don’t “have” to use higher octane fuel. When they bend a rod or pop a hole in a piston, it’s too late lol.
Yeah this video is really overdue lol
A lot of cars now are using forced induction which means it needs higher octane to be more efficient
This video would have been helpful if it was released 10 years ago
“It’s a waste of money to buy a thing if you don’t need it and not a waste of money if you do need it”.
Sick, great info
You would be surprised how many people don't understand these two concepts.
@@scottbecker4367 while true, i can appreciate the notion of wanting to know more about why you don't need it, especially for the layman who typically only has an understanding that 'better' things cost more. And this is one thing that even if you know a car burns gas, most driver's understanding of that process stops there.
@@themadmallard fair enough.
@@scottbecker4367yeah its basically vice-versa statement
I bought a bicycle that I didn't need but I wanted so is that a waste of money?
The additives identified as detergents in some brands, including in Shell and Costco premiums, are reported to have five times the amount in the lower grades. Those detergents help keep fuel injectors cleaner, longer, requiring less maintenance, which saves money. And the knock sensors don't just alter spark timing to stop the knock, they cause a decrease in efficiency, ie, mileage and power. As admitted in the video, the savings are "only" 3-5%, which is about the difference we pay for premium in Cali. And, as more vehicles are not normally aspirated, all to boost performance and efficiency, more will require higher octane ratings. Why not just produce more of the additives, as the video suggests, to get the "better" prices for the extra octane we have in Cali? I think it's ridiculous for people on the Midwest to pay 50¢ to a dollar more for premium.
Indeed, when I recently filled up at an Exxon pump, I saw a sign, pasted onto the pump, saying thje Exxon-Mobile brands have more detergent in their premium grades. If I recall correctly it said 5 times as much. The web site listing top tier brands listed Exxon, but I did not see a sign at my Exxon station saying the gasoline was top tier. I don't see this label anywhere in NC.
We're paying 70 cents more per gallon now for premium here in Chicago.
Theres quite a few turbos now certified to run on regular. I OWN one. On average per my data logger I loose 8 degrees of timing -2 after TDC on takeoff for regular with ac on vs 12 degrees BTDC on takeoff with premium! So 14 degrees difference in timing. Exhaust gas temps are wayy higher with regular too. Theres wayy more unburnt fuel out the exhaust with regular too!
@@willc5512 Don't forget about these new turbo direct-injected gas engines are prone to low speed pre-ignition.
Yet somehow my cat runs terrible on Costco brand and better on arco or shell.
I have a Cadillac ATS 2.0T, for which it is manufacturer recommended that I use premium. I did a test, albeit not incredibly scientific, but observable. I ran 3 tanks of premium and then 3 tanks of regular and I found that the regular use wasn't as efficient, so any dollars I saved at the pump were lost in distance driven per tank. The car also runs so much better on Premium, so it makes sense to just run the good stuff.
my 2017 Corvette wants to drink 93 octane but all I can find is 91 octane around me. You should use whatever the manufacturer recommends because it's been tuned for performance/efficiency/emissions.
Have you tried Midgrade?
@@mathisnotforthefaintofheart I haven't. The price difference here isn't enough to bother, and Premium is ethanol free, which the car prefers anyway.
@@runabout76 It's true that the difference in gas price is more psychological. I used to have a car that was supposed to go on premium but I always used midgrade...no issues.
Depends on your engine. My 2016 colorado with its direct injected 11.7 to 1 comprettion rattlesnon everything but 91 plus. Forget the cleaning claims. Its pre ignition.... yes it does now req 91 or better. Not a waste. Not a 90s 305. 350 or 4.3. Thi injected engine. The comtression is under 9 to 1.... it can run on around low 80 octane without issue. In that type. Yes. Anything other than cheap stuff is a waste.
Call it Supreme Gas and watch it sell out like crazy
Call it White Supremacists and watch it sell out
The 2 replies before me obviously don't get it 😂😂
Edit: Also the 1 guy after me 😂😂
Best sweet light crude oil on the planet presently is out of IRAN.
US is pump nasty fracking crude.
It comes out a slurry and takes alot of filtering for it to become even cheap gas.
The reason gas is so cheap in US today is Saudi Arabia is mad with US fracking.
Saudi Arabia opened its oil valves cheap to make US fracking go way under in lo$$.
As in like supreme the streetwear brand? Sorry I’m slow..
ans dye the gas red
"because corn is so cheap" .... because it's heavily heavily subsidized.
It's the same price as premium - and significantly less available. Plus there's the corrosion issue as well.
Ethanol doesn't cause corrosion in any modern motor vehicle back to the 90s.
E85 will clean the carbon in your motor and usually clogs stuff up if you always ran regular gas that corods everything e85 does not cause corrosion
completely left out the part of ethanol being less energy dense and lower MPG than gasoline for some reason, too.
Ya you lose like 2mpg compared to gas henry ford was making his cars to run on ethenal to help the farmers but he wasnt able to out due john Rockefeller and gasoline
As a Mercedes-Benz technician, use the suggested gas octane in the owners manual. I've replaced and rebuild lots of engines due to customers using lower octane fuel in higher compression engines because its cheaper. 👍🏼
Agreed, but the as a MB technician do you agree that MB is ripping off customers by making delicate darlings with touch me not features??? Quality control is down the drain. As an owner I would never ever recommend MB to anybody ever again!
since when could anyone rebuild a mercedes engine ?
yeah, There is like Honda/infinity. Then there is Lexus. Germany is for beer and chocolate.
As Mercedes Benz driver you use the highest and most expensive one to flex a bit more.
I'd be embarrassed to admit to any association with the world's worst car maker, Mercedes.
Nice to see mention of e85 in this article. I’ll gladly choose e85 at $2.19 /gal over premium at. $3.75. My Audi is FFV, and is spec’d for 93 oct. or better. My 2016 Ford Focus is FFV with 12:1 C/R . My gas mileage is the nearly the same e85 vs regular. More of this type of vehicle, please.
E85 can due more harm to both of your engines than regular gas could ever. Especially if it's improperly mixed at the pump
@@ssj2camaro21 .. and that's where testing comes in to play. Test the fuel before pouring it in the tank. 1 minute routine can save thousands in repair & replacement costs.
Use it if your owners manual requires it. Otherwise it’s a waste of money.
So simple and yet so not followed by the masses. The exact same thing goes for oil changes. Change your oil by what your owner's manual says, not what your dealer or Jiffy Lube say.
Then again, you may want to avoid buying cars that require it if possible.
Exactly. Just read the manual.
@@MichaelRockfez I don’t necessarily agree with that. Higher compression ratios can increase efficiency. Just factor in everything including its real world fuel economy when making your decision.
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I'd be more curious to know how many people fill their car up with 87 when they should be using 91 just to save a few dollars.
Not many people considering it is the high performance vehicles that need higher octane. Who is going to buy a Ford Mustang or Dodge Charger and put cheap gas in it? And with high compression engines you can really feel the cheap gas- its more sluggish. With a normal engine you don't really feel a difference with high octane. And even in some cases can ping the engine occasionally if the fuel is too rich.
I use high octane gas in motorcycles because they get better performance and more gas mileage out it. I can feel the difference in octane because motorcycles are almost always high compression engines. Maybe once in a while if I feel cheap I'll do midgrade. They will run on regular but you feel a reduction in performance and kind of sluggish sometimes. Usually the owner manual on a motorcycle will recommend mid grade or better. On some of the sports cars low octane gas is bad for the engine.
But in a regular car or truck high octane makes no difference. It isn't a high enough compression engine to use the octane and can even sometimes ping if the fuel is too rich.
There are other factors. Like usually when I talk about "premium gas" I don't mean high octane. I mean like BP or Shell. They have better quality gas compared to most other brands. This does make a difference if you compare a low octane BP gas to low octane Chevron. They have better fuel additives and they also test their gas. A lot of these other brands they don't test their gas and you have shady gas station owners that water down their gas with ethanol and stuff- so you get bad gas mileage.
Like my 20 year old junker SUV I have high octane fuel doesn't do anything for it, but it gets a lot better gas mileage with BP gas. And also gets better mileage and performance with ethanol free gas. Motorcycle doesn't seem to be much difference with BP or ethanol free, but does perform better with high octane. Though I try to use a name brand like shell or something in most cases.
@@raymondkidwell7135 The high performance vehicles owners will most likely for sure use higher octane fuel yes. But there are a lot of regular cars that recommend and some even require it that I'm referring to like Mitsubishi outlanders v6, GM's 2.0L turbo vehicles like regal, equinox ect.. Even Subaru's old 3.0L flat six was a premium fuel engine. The list goes on, mostly regular cars that normal non car people purchase.
@@raymondkidwell7135 you probably wouldn’t buy a high performance car if you didn’t know how to take care of it.
People who lease lol
@@raymondkidwell7135 Lots of people are really cheap when they think no one will notice. I've seen cars with high performance engines at the gas pump with people putting in regular gas. Cheap of stupid? Maybe both since they often go together.
Higher octane is needed in high compression engines to avoid knocking (preignition) and in carburâtes engines because of stupid ethanol added in regular!
I own an old carbuteted car and I have had zero issues running it on regular gas for years. I put in premium once and the only difference I felt was my wallet feeling emptier than usual.
, my 2017 Corvette wants to drink 93 octane but all I can find is 91 octane around me. You should use whatever the manufacturer recommends because it's been tuned for performance/efficiency/emissions.
No it's not. Tell me you don't own a car without telling me haha
I had a motorcycle with an 11:1 compression that ran on regular
I miss these gas prices…
Mine car tells me “put whatever gas you want, but if your car starts making funny noises, that’s on you!” I drive a Jeep
Because your car can detect if your duel octane is higher then 87.
If you had a turbo car that needs 92+ premium then it will pre ignite and damage your engine if you use regular 87.
Your jeep most likely is a 4 cylinder so 87 should be its gas.
I have a fiat and i buy cheapest supermaket gas,it works.
I live in Europe, the Netherlands. I find it amazing how low octane levels they sell in the USA. Regular fuel here has 95 octane, premium 98 and high octane fuel has 102.
@@martintechtips4827 same gas mate. Different math
@@NatsumeKonno If it’s a four-cylinder it’s a turbo, six cylinder uses the 87 octane.
RIP to all the high compression motors out there
Nope. 11-1 in my corvette.
Even harley builds their motors with high compression rate to run on premium gas, ..
I go to my local small airport and buy AVGAS. 100 octane fuel!
93 in my high comp motor. Exactly what I built it to run on. Sounds like this video was made by someone that thinks everyone should have a Prius
HA! Mazda has done the high compression engine correctly with their skyactiv G engine at a 13-1 compression ratio running on 87 octane ;)
CNBC it's so cool that you guys use videos from my hometown of Chattanooga TN in your videos! You all have used two videos of the dealership I used to work at (Economy Honda) in two of your other documentaries. In this one at 8:20 it is the 2 gas stations right outside of the Costco in Ringgold Georgia.
Americans be like “fuel prices are crazy”. Yeah we pay $7 a gallon in the UK
For real that’s expensive
Wow sucks to be you
@@barrackobamar Not really, we get free healthcare, no risk of being shot, a really low homicide rate, at least 5 weeks paid vacation by law and we can’t just be fired without following a multiple warning process.
Maybe, but in Europe you can travel across multiple countries in a single day. In North America chances are you cant even travel across a single state/province in a day. So getting somewhere will take much more fuel so in the end it probably evens out with a cheaper price because there will be more fuel used.
@@amp5291 You’d save some fuel if you didn’t all have stupid V8 engines
i wonder how much gas a year is wasted through that “drip” that always happens when you take it out of your car....
Don't worry about it. (75,708 drops of water per gallon)
482 billion gallons per year!
its about 260 gallons per day.
Like next to nothing
I make sure to tap the nozzle several times until I don't see it dripping anymore.
Hey that smells like regular. She needs premium dude. PREMIUM! DUUUUDE!
Screw the honor system. My baby needs me!
@@PaulsWildLife hey you're ruining it for the rest of us
*Moe Szyslak:* Geez, this hot rod is souped up six ways from Sunday! Never had you figured for a gearhead, Homer.
*Homer:* Oh yeah, I'm a real expert.
Otto?
Tmnt?
My 2004 Mach 1 misfired with 91 but hummed on 93. The hi compression mixed with spark gap noticed the difference between two different premium gases
Besides pre-ignition, two other important characteristics of fuel, the rate of burn and the temperature at which it burns, effect the engine knock mentioned in the video. Another characteristic of regular gas not mentioned is it's tendency to deteriorate over a short period of time (one month or longer), resulting in very poor burn performance. This is not seen when used in cars that burn the gas put in the tank in a one or two week period, but regular gas used for lawnmowers or other small engine equipment used only occasionally will go bad and have to be replaced after a month. Here is where premium fuel excels in performance and can run well in the small engines even after six or more months of sitting in the tank. The alternative is to treat the regular gas with additives which will bring the cost up comparable to premium fuel.
I have a car that has been sitting for more than 3 years. Besides replacing the fuel, what else should I replace? Motor oil, trans fluid?
@@IntrovertedN00b Regular gasoline, especially with the added ethanol, will go bad after a month or so, and so I would drain all the gas out of the tank, add fresh gas, then run the fuel pump and discard the first few cups of gas, to be sure to get all the old gas out. I just had to do this with a motorcycle which had 2.5 year old gas and just would not run on all four cylinders. The other fluids will be fine. Be a good idea to start with a fresh oil change so as to keep track and change it every 3000 miles (or 5000 with synthetic). Trans fluid can be changed at its regular interval of every 50K miles. Keep in mind that all vehicle fluids need to be replaced at regular intervals, including power steering fluid (at 100K miles) and brake fluid (100K miles).
Had a Mercedes where Circle K exists 90% of where I live it was horrendous even with Premium I burnt through sparkplugs even Costco helped only so much I'm pretty sure that was Circle K supplied too
@@IntrovertedN00b --don't forget to change the Fuel filter(s)! Maybe the filter in the gas tank also. 😎👍
This video fueled my interest in premium gas.
Quit knocking for likes with this comment.
@@wjb4578 Input: A clever sentence using forced induction
I'm pumped by these comments, but your mileage may vary.
Turbocharged engines are not necessarily more fuel efficient. A lot depends on how heavy your foot is.
Very True. Supercharger, Turbocharger, doesn't matter . All these do is increase the amount of oxygen , oxygen needed to burn more fuel ..
My 9nth grade Science teacher said " British Thermal Units , BTU''s . The law of physics dictate BTU''S cannot be beat ,. They are the difinitive bottom line ". That's why boosted engines aren't any more economical than a bigger engine without it . The BTU s in the fuel dictate how much force or energy must be burnt to move the load x distance. Either a little engine spinning very fast or a larger engine spinning slower . Same amount of fuel consumption... I use Primo in my ride because it gets about 4-5 more mpg using it , ( it almost equals it's self ). And my cat runs best with it . No valve rattle, less downshifting , cooler running. I buy non - ethanol gasoline for my 2 cycle engines and lawn mowers. They have paper gasket material that is eaten by alcohol. It's 90 octain ethanol free Pure cracked crude oil Gasoline . It does even better than premo in my car . But at 3$ + a gal I only use it In small engines that require it .
@@jeremyturner9067,
Reduced vehicle weight will help to improve fuel economy, especially in city driving where you are accelerating a lot.
@@jessstuart7495 Yes , I think my car needs to go on a diet . It only gets 37 miles per gallon . Or I could just take the doors hood and hatch off of it . That would make it lighter. Lol. 🙃
Jess Stuart have you done any research to support this claim? A 400 hp 1.5L turbocharged engine will have a higher BMEP and lower FMEP than a 400 hp 5.0L V8 naturally aspirated engine. BSFC, quantified in grams per kW/hr will be substantially better in the downsized turbocharged engine.
@@jeremyturner9067 37 mpg? Try my car that's gets 18 mpg at best
And now we're back to nearly all time highs of consumer gas prices. I'm about 8% below the highest I've ever paid right now.
I enjoy these informative videos. I would suggest you do a short program on ethanol. If consumers are not reading the owners manual I'm sure they don't understand the ethanol scam.
car chokes on regular, doesn't on premium...so I'm using premium as REQUIRED.
What car?
@@WanderingExistence most cars with severe carbon build up.
@@scoobdooittoo I assume that's only for non-direct injection cars?
@@scoobdooittoo There are additives you can put in your fuel tank so that carbon build up is eroded.
Define Chokes.
She needs premium dude!.. PREMIUM!!!
simpsons references
lol
Lol snake
DDDUUUUUUUDDDDEEEE!!!!
*Snake:* Give me my car, fatty >:o
*Homer:* Hey, this is my car! And I'm not fat, it's glandular >:(
*Snake:* Right -_-
I have a 2014 Dodge dart GT and Recommended fuel is plus ,but when I get to quarter tank I hear rattling. When I use premium no rattle at quarter tank and way better performance.
The minimum octane in Australia is 91, with 95 and 98 also available. There is also E10 10 percent ethanol with 94 octane and E85 for some vehicles and racing cars.
In Europe you have 95 and 98 and that's it (besides diesel, but that works differently).
Australia uses the RON rating which is different from the AKI rating used in the USA. Your RON 91 octane is equivalent to AKI 87.
@@NotExpatJoe Thanks for that.
“Cars that don’t need it” *shows Range Rover*
Range Rovers dont need it, they never work and stay at the repair shop. So why put ANY gas in them :p
@Minne Swen Says someone who cannot own one.
@Minne Swen I have leased one in the recent past. Zero issues.
@Minne Swen But nowadays that is the same for everyone. Have you seen Mercedes vehicles after 2018. They have some of the poorest construction and reliability.
@@mansees Mercedes actually improved their build quality, not compared to w124 or some like that but still pretty good.
Wait so there’s people driving camrys and accords who are pumping premium? 😂 they deserve to be ripped off
Yeah a lot of people are, just silly
Cnbc is full of *hit!
Higher octane has less oil and it leaves fewer coked on deposits on the valve train.
Aviation & racing fuels begin at 104+ octane.
Most modern Hondas and a few Toyotas recommend premium fuel, specifically the turbo variant. So not all drivers are being ripped off, mostly the drivers in older models are since it's just regular fuel.
🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣
I have a 2004 Honda Accord coupe V6 with 235,000 miles on the odometer. My 1st fill up was 91 octane even tho 87 is ok to use. I’ve only put 91 in my car since then and my engine continues to run great!
I have a 2012 Acura TSX that I bought in that year. For the first 9 years, I ONLY used premium fuel (which Acura recommended for this car). Then one day I read on a TSX forum that people were using regular fuel with no drop off in performance. So I tried regular fuel....and I noticed no drop off in performance or fuel economy. I had been wasting money all these years. Granted, this was for an Acura TSX. There are definitely higher performance cars that really do need premium fuel to perform at their best, but my car clearly isn't one of those.
2009 TSX here. I'm thinking about alternating between regular and premium.
People are really putting premium gas in their Toyota Camrys just because premium “sounds” better?
Higher octane burns slower and colder then cheap oily gas.
Cheap gas burns hot an violent and causes Detonation knock.
Detonation is when a gasoline engine acts like a diesel. Youll get valve train chatter under load or the engine will bobble and thump shutting down with the key.
@@noneshere its not about how hot gas burns its about how hot gas can get before it burns
Just get racing fuel bro it must be better. Thats like super premium rating.
premium gas adds 5 hp per gallon
@@noneshere So you would put premium fuel in a Honda Civic?
This video is for people who have “regular” vehicles and think putting premium gas in is beneficial. If you have a performance vehicle which you would know then those would obviously require and run better on premium gas.
Well listen to you, Mr. Premium.
Yep.
100% facts!!!
@Teddy Li Your transmission does not use motor oil.
@@inorite4553 😆
In western Canada, Shell used offer 3 grades: 87, 89 & 91. In 2022 Shell replaced the 89 grade, kept 91 and began offering 93 super premium. So now Shell only offers 87, 91 and 93. I imagine the popularity of 89 gas was low and consumer wanted something higher octane than 91 for high performance engines. For instance my car's fuel door states 91 but 89 can be used.
I use premium in my car because it says in the manual and on the gas cap "PREMIUM UNLEADED FUEL 92 OCTANE OR HIGHER ONLY." A friend liked my car and bought one. He didn't read the owner's manual and put regular gas in it. He could tell almost immediately when it started knocking and running rough. He now uses premium.
It’s official, we’re literally getting dumber
And it wasn't before lol?
Its just more obvious now lol
I wasn't aware we were supposed to be born with the knowledge of how a car engine works. As someone who is a self-taught programmer, something I'd venture to say most people don't know how to do, including yourself, I'd be considered "dumb" because I don't invest most of my time learning everything I can about how a car functions? Pretty sure that's why engineers exist.
Don't judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree. Birds can't breath under water.
@@SilverAura Bro stfu and read your car manual. I swear people these days just hop in their car and just drive, don’t do any self maintenance or read their manuals
When people rely on the internet for every question they have they stop forcing their brains to work. The weaker the brain gets, the more they rely on their computers. It will only get worse.
No one likes a bad “knock knock” joke. Read your manuals!
Knock knock who's there? Manuel. Manuel who? I don't know but odds are that he's an illegal alien so send him back
Or check the gas cap or gas door
@@mistamaog most cars don’t tell you that 😂
,,KNOCK
KNOCK
NI***AAA"
(Lamar Davis, GTA V, 2013)
Techron in Chevron gas really does make a difference in older vehicles.
Learned a lot about fuel, and got a crash course in engineering. Awesome. Now I finally fully know what all those engine related terms really mean now.
Bro if my tank says premium only, shes getting premium only.
Fr. Like yes I’m surprised my gti says use 91 or higher but it’s gonna get 91 of higher even if it seems overkill
100%
I had a Ford Svt car that needed premium only. Ran out of gas in middle of nowhere, someone stopped and gave me some regular gas to get to the gas station. Had to change a sensor because it fowled it up and cause the car to run like ass.
Yes that's the only time you should vs using premium...
My WRX says premium required and I'm not gonna risk messing up my turbo.
I had a 2016 VW GLI that recommended premium to achieve the rated horsepower and I certainly noticed less power w regular fuel. Not that I always needed the extra power. My new cars also say recommended premium.
I’d rather listen to the engineers that help build my car rather than CNBC
I usually just listen to the engine. And refer to milage figures for confirmation. But my ears tell me, what my trip computer tells me in about 600 miles. The car runs better, and smoother on premium gas. Has a better pickup. and gives me on average an extra 90 kilometers to a tank of fuel. Which more or less cancels out the added cost of premium fuel. But I get a much quiter and smoother running car for it. Which in turn should also be easyer on the drivetrain. So well worth it to me personaly.
Just look at your owner's manual. I use premium in my outboard engine only. My kid has a VW that uses premium. Everything else we use regular. Easy.
Thank you! Go by the manual.
Neither of those vehicles need a premium.
Well said. Also - if you live at altitude, expect lower octane ratings due to lower barometric pressure. IE: my Tacoma says to use 87 but in Utah we have 85, 87 and 91 vs the 87, 89, 93. So it's acceptable to use 85 octane.
if you want highher octane, just put some acetone A.K.A lacquer A.K.A paint striper into it...it's going to clean your fuel injectors and ur catalytic converter at the same time. www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/acetone-and-octane.282229/
well i think its more of a question of if you can't afford to maintain the car, you shouldn't buy it.
4:50 what kind of animal let all that gasoline drip to the side of the car like that?
That triggered me so bad lol
@@foufoufun same lol
People aren't very smart
AAAAHHHHHH THE HUMANITY...
muricans and karens
Shell V Power Nitro + is on another level of fuel, nothing else compares.
Dude, didn't you watched the video? It is the same stuff but with more detergents. Trust me I'm a mechanical engineer and have sport turbocharged cars that I take to the track. The only different gasoline is the one you find near the race tracks, or VP fuels that you buy in cans or flex fuels. Is the Shell V power better than the 7 Eleven gas for example? Yeah it is, but it is because it's in the top tear class along with Chevron and others.
@@darkrulier Where gas differs is heavy oil vs light oil gas.
@@darkrulier I'm still using it and full synthetic, and my car runs perfectly as a result. I don't know I why I notice the difference 🤷
No, my 2017 Corvette wants to drink 93 octane but all I can find is 91 octane around me. You should use whatever the manufacturer recommends because it's been tuned for performance/efficiency/emissions.
Owners manual? Most the vehicles I’ve owned that require premium have it right there in the Gas cap the required octane rating
Premium seems to help my old truck run smoother and get better fuel economy
Yeah, that happens with old engines without a knock sensor.
It doesn't happen with modern engines
@@JJJT- yep, a lot of modern engines can automatically sense the octane rating and change the timing accordingly.
@@michaelworkman5590 Because your truck is old and has carbon built up on the pistons. You need a fuel additive to try to blow it out.
The problem is the naming of the fuel and American Fuel Marking strategy.
for other county it stil low grade....
the problem is marketing lol no its the fat cats that want more more more profit they had a meeting on jekly island a long time ago... and everrryting now has fuel oil in it cosmetics plastic etc.. this is why our earth is dieing why the great plastic reef exsists why smog is around why the earth is heating why winter is now 1 month or more later.... and you think its marketing.. its greed... on all the industry... they can make cars that run on water that are battery powered by hydro damns etc yet wont...
Actually it's genius! People are idiots and the higher grade means more profits.
The super duper cleaner fuel with 7483833737282838 more miles per gallon with lots of additive to make youd engine run cleaner!
I found one problem. With my German diesel car, if I use normal diesel, I always get check engine light after some time. After costed me 3K to replace two sensors in dealership, I finally figured if I use premium diesel, the lights won't come back. I had similar issue with BMW gas cars. So do your math.
I had a 2007 Audi A4 s-line. Manual called for 91 octane. I could fill it with 87 or 89 but thw engine would ping a lil more than with the 91. I still have a 1970 Camaro with a small block v8 with about 500 hp. 91 is a must in that car.
Who knew the bad guy from the 5th Element was a gasoline expert now.
Watch for these keywords “Required” or “Recommended”. Required means you absolutely need it, recommended means it’s optional. Usually these keywords can be found on your gas cap or gas cap cover as to what your vehicle needs. Trust me, I’m an expert.
Horror story, I had a car that needed premium and a gas pump provided regular gas when I selected premium. My engine was toast and there was horrible pinging. Engine tear down shows 3 out of 4 pistons has holes melted through them
OH hes an expert lol
Almost all modern engines are able to detect what quality fuel you're using and adjusts appropriately to protect the engine. If you use the wrong kind, it won't shut off your engine. You just won't get as much power and as much fuel economy.
In the US all vehicle must be capable of running on 87 octane.
I have a 93 Thunderbird SC and they Ford achieved this was the supercharger belts can be removed.
Modern vehicles achive this with knock sensors and VVT.
@Fed up w. all most Everyone these r the facts thou. There is a lot of variables to take into account and manufacturer guidelines is the easiest to get the right octane but certain situations do demand higher octane
@@inorite4553 yes. Newer ‘regular’ cars should be able to detect. (Highly dependent on specific vehicles) But not all cars. Usually high performance cars will require 91 octane minimum (at sea level) and the ECU will assume that’s the minimum in the tank any lesser.... well it’s bad news.
Better Fuel eco linked to vehicles that run higher than recommended octane (for vehicles requiring regular gas) have some current issues it is experiencing such as carbon build up (which increases cylinder pressure and increases chance of knocking, the knock sensor usually pulls back some ignition timing from the range it is allowed to), to extreme heat environment, (more fuel to cool cylinder) to low quality low octane gas, to towing. In this situation, sometimes running mid grade works fine to improve this temporary or permanent situation.
In non extreme duty situations (like daily driving), sometimes changing to a different gas station can yield some better quality 87 octane gas that can restore fuel eco without the need for mid or prem gas. There’s so many variables to take into account
+1 informative; thank you for sharing it with us.
I always used regular gas for my car. Even all the vehicles that I had in the past, too.
My scientifically minded grandfather used to tell me about this back when I paid 40 cents a gallon for premium.
Because it burns faster and cleaner
Always read user manual and use the fuel recommended by automaker. My accord required regular fuel current Mazda 6 runs on premium. Every turbo charged vehicle operates smoother on premium
Usually high horsepower engines need higher octane gas to delay detonation. The higher the octane, the higher the compression you can run which means more power. If you put regular gas in a engine with high compression it will ping/knock.
^This, surprised more aren't saying this. Premium is recommended for my vehicle, but during a local gas shortage in 2020, I had to briefly run 87 because that's all that was available; car sounded awful & 'drove' like absolutely crap.
Running a lower octane would save me somewhere between $41 - $175/year, but my engine hates it; not even worth it IMO.
This is informative, thanks, keep them coming.
If you didn't know the different between regular and premium before watching this video, your car probably didn't need it
i dont think the majority of premium gas car owners realize why the car needs it.
If you don’t know the difference between regular and premium before watching this video, you car is probably not running right
@@12th.jahlil yeah my dealer just told me always pick the highest number one.
IF IT SAYS REGULAR IS GOOD BUT PREMIUM IS FINE OR RECOMMENDS PREMIUM BUT REGULAR IS FINE...THEN MID GRADE WHEN ITS CHEAPER AND FUEL PRICES ARE LOWER IS PREFERABLE
Not really, i put premium gas in my Honda its now a Lamborghini
If I put 87 my check engine turn on
😂
@@123abc8632 whst kind of car
I put regular gas in my Lamborghini now its a Honda
I have a 07 honda accord with the v6 and the shell nitro definitely wakes it up quite a bit more than when I use the lower octane fuel. The difference is most noticeable accelerating off the line.
If you run a lower octane fuel, your engine runs the chance of knocking (pre-ignition) which can cause engine damage. However, there are new software developments in the ECU where an engine will advance spark, detect knock (small amounts) and determine its running a lower octane fuel thus, selecting a different base map with less spark advance to run off of. By doing so, you’d lose power due to less Spark advance but will remain able to run the engine nonetheless. However, this is not ideal; especially, for high compression/performance engines.
My scat pack 392 challenger requires 91. Always follow what owner manual states to run.
"SHE NEEDS PREMIUM!"
-Snake
Underrated comment
"Snake, snake....I don't know any snake"
For all the non OG people. The term of snake is from a simpsons episode look it up genius
@@THE-xp3hp OG?
@@THE-xp3hp For all the non OG people, my comment was from Harry, from Home Alone...look it up people.
Make a video “why Americans waste so much money on things they don’t need compared to others”
@Austin Martín Hernández But I'm sure the things you need are the right things to need and buy. Hypocrite ...
because "Hell Yeah !"
Because we can
I hate the term "waste money" but buying fuel for your car that you essentially don't need to just make it operate is at its very core a waste of money.
@@pb4ugo08 that makes absolutely no sense!
I drive a 2013 F-150 crew cab with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, which, for those that don't know, is twin turbocharged. It had a 36 gallon tank. I switched from regular to premium, and consistently get 2mpg better on premium. Doesn't sound like much, but 2mpg X 36 gallons = 72 more miles per tank. Ford "recommends" regular. Yeah, I'll stick with premium, thanks.
I have interference engine, turbo charged, high compression. Manual says 91 or higher. The extra cost for high octane is cheaper than an engine rebuilt.
When I was a kid in the 80s , I remember the options were Regular, Unleaded and Super Unleaded.
Super unleaded??? unleaded should already mean no lead...
Ultra instinct unleaded 😂
@@Juan-mw5tt 1973 IS WHEN US BANNED LEADED GAS
Still is
@@masterpalladin 1986 Hyundai Stellar used leaded gas.
By the likes/dislikes ratio, lots of TH-camrs pay for premium.
It really chaps the cheeks of certain people to be shown that they are suckers wasting money
Maybe that - but a lot of vehicles do require 91 octane. Both of mine do. The video makes a distinction, but the title is objectively wrong as stated (I haven’t disliked the video, but my guess is that’s why people are).
My 2015 chevy ss runs on 91 but when i hit up the track i run on e85
The most common answer to my friends why do you use premium gasoline? Because I've never had a problem with using it . I just end the conversation there. I'm not gonna win this one 🤣
I run only E85 in my rotary engines because it burns very clean and does not under relatively high compression pre det.
Ill be sure to send cnbc the bill when my engine predetonates
Glad i see this comment
If you listened they said if it tells you to use high grade fuel is use it
if your car is made 2000 year or newer you have a knock sensor which will reduce timing in the event of pre ignition.
@@blainejenkins3739 Which is a cop out when the video title is meant to be click bait
@@willkilla no it saying. If u r using premium gas for the sake of premium u r wasting ur money. If u r using because ur car needs it then it's fine. Like when ppl say u have gunk in ur car put premium gas
I hear people say, “the higher the octane the more clean the gas is and will not clog up my gas filter” lol 😂
@Romero Bryan ok? But HOW is it cleaner? Lol
People will say whatever they want to support their own perception, no matter how false.
@@thefuzzypickle8277
Generally speaking premium doesn't contain ethanol. Ethanol - which is in virtually all "regular" gas is corrosive, attracts water, breaks down faster, and is harmful to engines that aren't built to deal with it - and will decrease engine life in said engines. Fortunately virtually all modern cars are built to handle small amounts of ethanol mixed in to fuel, so it generally isn't an issue any more (although it will cause the gas to go bad sooner - but that generally isn't an issue for cars that are regularly used)
Long story short, cheaper gases are technically worse because of their additives, but are "fine" and won't damage modern cars. If your car is made in the last 20 years, don't worry about it. (never use cheap fuels in small engines like chainsaws, snowmobiles, etc - it will damage your engine, especially if it's allowed to sit unused)
And you probably don't want to use regular gas in vintage cars, they weren't built for ethanol and will suffer the negative effects.
In Australia, fuel octane ratings (RON = Research Octane Number) range from 91 for "regular unleaded", to 94-95 for "plus" and up to 98 for "premium" fuel. How is the US octane rating determined?
This is shown in the video in a close shot of a pump (see at 1:20). The US uses AKI, or Anti-Knock Index, which is defined as (RON + MON)/2. RON, Research Octane Number, measures the performance of the fuel at low temperatures and low speeds. MON, Motor Octane Number, measures the performance in high temperatures and high speed. So, let’s say, a fuel which is RON 92 and MON 82 is the same as AKI 87.
In the uk there's only about 5 cars that need premium fuel and 5 cars that can retune the engine to use the higher octane
If your car has a turbo, just get the more expensive gas.
Not always. Again, you have to look at your auto manual and see what it says. The 1.5T Civic for instance, does not require "premium". Some forced induction engines have been tuned so that the timings don't cause pre-ignition for 87+ octane fuel.
My car has turbocharger. It does not need premium
@@KennyakaTI You need to tune your car for higher octane
Normally a turbo will need a minimum of 89 Gasoline
@@outremer91 I don't need to tune it. It's fine. The recommended gas is regular and that's what I'll use.
The octane rating your vehicle requires is in your owners manual and sometimes its actually on your gas cap or inside the fuel door. If you put anything besides 93+ octane in my Challenger it will let you know about it in short order!
The Hemi in my Ram require 89 but it performs a lot better on 93 and I will always buy premium
Yellow cap means ethanol friendly and faster
My sports car runs slower on Sams gas lolll
Premium gas may be a waste of money, but if the mechanic recommends synthetic oil, it could be worth it. A couple of years ago my Chevy 3.9 v6 was showing low oil pressure. It's a 10+ year old minivan so engine work was not looking like attractive option. I had just put in a factory rebuilt transmission the year before. The mechanic suggested to try synthetic oil. Three years later (now) the car is still going strong. Twenty dollars extra a few times a year seems like nothing compared to a new engine or a new car. Don't cheap out when it matters.
in Germany regular gas is required to have 95 octane
Plus is at 98
Racing-fuel you get at a normal station is at 100, sometimes 102
For proper racing-fuel 110 is the required minimum
I didnt know these numbers differ so damn much
I once saw a video that explained how its calculated. Basicly US 85 and EU 95 is the same. Just different measuring style.
If premium is recommended but not required for your car, run premium anyway. It burns cleaner (better for the environment), optimizes power and - if you plan on keeping your car for a long time - may save you money on having to walnut blast the carbon build up off your valves.
That is a complete lie. Higher octane fuel for engines that require lower octane is not fuel efficient
@@ChErRyaVe20pK You are correct but that's not what he was saying. "If premium is recommended but not required for your car" meaning the manufacturer recommends premium gas but the engine can run regular as well. In this case, the engine will run more efficient and possibly produce slightly more power.
@@josephcastro88 you're right actually. I misinterpreted it
@@ChErRyaVe20pK douch
Save you time on the video. Look at your owners manual for recommended octane rating, tire pressure and everything about your vehicle. How genius is that🤷🏽♂️
But their drama is so entertaining 🤗
My car recommends 32psi. I find 38psi is much better. Car handles much better, rides better, noticable mpg bump up, and the tires don't look flat. On road trips I set to 40psi.
@@carnage50x 👍🏼obviously manual recommendations are an educated guess to handle most climates and conditions. Higher PSI would mean less drag on your tires, hence better MPG. That could also result in less traction depending on how and what surface you drive. As long as you're aware of what you're putting in and why, you can obviously make adjustments that suit your needs.
@@carnage50x Tire inflation recommendations are a bit different because Engineers cannot control the quality of the air you use. Fuels are regulated to ensure uniformity across markets which allows Engineers to design better performing engines and provide more accurate recommendations for fuel use.
Unless your vehicle has a high compression ratio or is a forced induction engine (turbo or supercharger) you don't need to run premium fuel. The compression ratio is the difference between the volume in the cylinder when the piston is at its lowest point compared to when it's at the highest point. Anything over around 10:1 compression should run premium fuel.
My bmw x5 with the 4.4 needs premium. If I run regular my mpg goes way down making regular gas more expensive to run. The power suffers also.
When you’re tuned on 93 you cant do nun about it 😂
The title should say: How marketing of gas companies turned into a 2 billion dollar revenue.
Whats more important is where you get your fuel. How old is the station and its tanks. Is it top tier fuel last check your owner manual and see what your car manufacturers recommends.
Most cars require 87 or higher to operate. BUT, many cars have 2 statements. 87 being the minimum requirement while also recommending 91+ for best performance and efficiency. And then you have higher end class of engines that require 91+. Newer engines like the Ford Ecoboost can monitor OAR (octane adjust ratio) to change the fuel tables and timing to get the best performance for the fuel being used.
As a former chemistry student and a current mechanical engineering undergrad, I’m suprised by how accurate this is. You guys don’t usually get your topics this accurate.
As a mech engineer, agreed.
@@AgentGG1967 the timing is only adjusted once the engine starts knocking which means only when the knock sensor is tripped period and while this is true, this only applies to cars that require high octane. If you have a car that requires 91 octane, it might still be allowed to run on 87 but it will adjust its timing it's a little bit
@@AgentGG1967 yes, this is true period however, knock control is not an issue at all if your car is meant for 87 octane.
If you have a Honda Civic that requires 87 octane, it's true that your power will be reduced when you have knock, but it will never have knock unless you put even lower octane.
the only time your car's power will ever be reduced with the lower fuel is if you have a super high performance car that requires higher performance fuel.
so again, even cars that have 91 octane requirement still can run on 87 octane just with timing adjustments... But you still should use 91.
if you have a car like a Honda Accord or a Toyota Corolla that only takes 87 octane, there will never be any knock on 87 octane therefore it will not have to adjust the timing therefore no reduction in power used by using lesser fuel.
@@AgentGG1967 do you want me to link you various studies with engines running on a bench? Or do you want to Google it yourself?
@@AgentGG1967 Analyze this: 2:10
Premium seems to help my old truck run smoother and get better fuel economy
I agree I've always used premium for my 14 year old Fuison. When I put regular in by mistake I notice a huge difference in the transmission especially when shifting gears and I also get engine stutters. I feel my long term use of premium has prolonged the life of my vehicle and saved me maintence cost because I have yet to pay for any major engine or transmission issue.
I think you don't use your truck very much.
that's most likely because premium gases have more additives that clean carbon buildup on your pistons which cause hotspots
I have a twin-turbo 6-cylinder Volvo. It says use premium and that's what I do. The times I tried lower octane I got worse mileage and worse performance and it ran unevenly at lower speeds. I hear people say can I put regular in this or that Euro car and they don't run as well with regular or mid-grade gas. That's true of the higher-end Japanese and Korean cars as well. If premium is required, get premium. If premium is recommended, get premium. If regular is required or recommended, get regular or midgrade if that's recommended.
Most definitely can improve gas mileage and is even needed in higher compression motors.
Your car might need the extra octane because of the compression ratio (older cars sometimes need it, cars with turbo chargers and/or superchargers often need them).
I also know some people who buy premium (up north) because some gas stations sell premium ethanol-free fuel and they needed ethanol-free fuel for their lawnmowers, tractors, or antique vehicles (but they didn't necessarily need the extra octane). In Georgia, it's easy to find ethanol-free regular, but not ethanol-free premium (I bookmarked 3 gas stations relatively near where I live that offer it). In Wisconsin, I found it easy to find ethanol-free premium, but not ethanol-free regular (if somewhere offers it, I don't know who or where, so I just buy ethanol-free premium because I only need a few gallons).
If you are willing to spend extra money on fuel in the hopes of getting some benefit, I suggest you buy Lucas fuel stabilizer. It has fuel injector cleaner and lubricates your cylinders. It actually does make my car feel like it runs better and it supposedly improves your fuel economy if you use it often enough (particularly if your injectors were clogged).