Have you ever wondered why there are different types of gas available at the pump? Apparently it’s because different types of cars require a higher quality of gas in order to function at their highest ability, which was unbeknownst to me. Take the example of my friend and her Volkswagen Passat. She is required by the manufacturer to use premium fuel to fill up the gas tank in order to ensure maximum performance. But in today’s struggling economy with premium gas prices in the Raleigh, NC area ranging anywhere from $4.11 to $4.30 it is getting more and more difficult for her to fill her tank. This got me to thinking: Can consumers get away with filling their premium cars with regular unleaded gas?

According to a recent article that answer can only be found in the owner’s manual of the car. For every vehicle the owner’s manual will provide three basic provisos for gasoline usage: only regular gas is required, premium gas is recommended, or premium gas is required. Deciding which option is best is completely up to the driver, however if the owner deviates from the third option in order to save on gas price, they are posing danger to their vehicle’s performance, which may end up costing more in the end. So what exactly are the benefits of that more expensive fuel option? The word “premium” may mislead people into believe that this type of fuel is of a higher quality than regular but that is not true. Premium doesn’t mean better quality, but instead refers to a higher octane, which is the rate at which a fuel burns. So although using a higher-grade gasoline may give you better engine performance, it doesn’t guarantee that the car will get better mileage.

According to experts, the battle between regular and premium isn’t what is important. Far more important is actually the type of gas you put in your car. By using a major brand that includes a special detergent such as Chevron’s Techron, you are essentially protecting your vehicle from harmful and performance hindering dirt build-ups, thus increasing the length of life for your car.

So whether you choose to fill your tank with the “creme brule” of gas, or you decide to save some money and go with the popular and regular “Jell-O” brand is completely up to you. Just be sure to make sure your car likes it first.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto //