Does Your Car Need Premium Gas?
Your vehicle's fuel requirement depends on its engine design. Check your owner's manual or fuel door for the minimum octane rating.
What You Need to Know
Octane ratings:
- Regular unleaded: 87 octane
- Midgrade: 89-90 octane
- Premium: 91-93 octane
Higher compression engines typically need premium fuel to prevent engine knock. Performance-focused vehicles often require it. Using lower octane fuel than recommended can cause:
- Engine knocking or pinging
- Reduced horsepower and acceleration
- Lower fuel economy
- Potential engine damage over time
How to Find Your Car's Fuel Type
- Open your fuel door and look for a label inside
- Check your owner's manual (usually in the fuel section)
- Search your vehicle's model year and make online
- Ask your dealership
Premium Fuel Cost Impact
Premium gas typically costs 20 to 50 cents more per gallon than regular. Over a year, this adds up. If you drive 12,000 miles and get 25 miles per gallon, you'll need 480 gallons annually. The price difference could be $96 to $240 per year.
Can You Mix Fuel Types?
Occasionally using regular gas instead of premium won't cause immediate damage. However, doing it regularly can harm engine performance and efficiency. Stick with what your manual recommends for best results.
Sidekick tracks your fuel spending over time. Monitor your actual costs to see how fuel choice impacts your vehicle budget.