SOUND OFF! Do YOU Use Premium Fuel In YOUR Car? Do YOU See A Difference?

In the automotive community there still exist quite a few myths. Take, for example, how many miles you should go before doing service intervals, what the best way to break in an all-new car and, lastly, what kind of fuel is the BEST to put into your vehicle.

And, during a conversation with Agent 001 today while we were bantering about the BMW X1 he acquired, 001 noted it requires premium fuel. Now from my perspective premium fuel is the only way to go. We know, for a fact, that higher octane fuel eeks out more performance from the motor. And with a forced induction vehicle, I can't think of any reason why I'd want it running less efficient.

Even in my daily driver, which takes regular fuel, I consistently run premium fuel.

So, this got both of our brains ticking. What do YOU do, Spies?

Do YOU use premium fuel in your vehicle (93 octane +) ? If so, do you see a difference?

RNeekChic - 11/2/2013 3:49:31 AM

+2 Boost

I'm personally driving a BMW F30...even though technically BMW's manual says Plus gas is sufficient, I still only fill up with Supreme/V Power (Highest Octane). I do definitely feel a power/performance difference. This also goes for gas between Chevron and Costco.

On another note...if you can afford to drive a entry luxury to luxury car.... you can afford that $1-2 net difference in filling up with higher octane....just saying.

USNA1999 - 11/2/2013 8:20:19 AM

+1 Boost

When new and for the first few years I only used premium (on a LS460) but for the past year I have been using regular unleaded. Personally, I can't tell the difference. The car is reaching 140K miles, drives extremely well eventhough most of my driving is on I95 and I4.

gkearns56 - 11/2/2013 8:48:41 AM

+1 Boost

I can definitely notice the difference when using it in my Audi A6. The car runs smoother. Assuming you fill up once a week (52), at $3 difference in fill-up cost, that's approximately $150 bucks per year. If your driving a car with high performance motor, $3 bucks a fill-up isn't going to hurt the wallet. I also try to find gas stations in my area which do NOT use Ethanol. They are hard to find anymore. That Ethanol addition to gas is CRAP. That seems to do more damage to engines then the grade level. Over the past couple of years I've had my small power equipment such as blower, chain saw, weed eater needing complete carburetor overhaul in them because of the Ethanol in gas. It rots the small equipment fuel lines and just destroys the small engine power equipment's carburetor. Wonder how good it is for cars then??

ChiAutoGuy - 11/2/2013 2:22:13 PM

+3 Boost

I'm not sure if I really see a difference but as RNeekChic pointed out if you can afford the car that requires premium what's another $1-$2 net...

Sciros - 11/2/2013 4:57:13 PM

+2 Boost

My car is a direct injection turbo and premium is recommended for max performance and fuel economy, and while it'll RUN on the lower grade stuff there's just no point in filling up with the latter since it won't save me anything.

MattDarringer - 11/2/2013 5:51:01 PM

-4 Boost

In my Mustang Laguna Seca YES there is a difference

Mustang953 - 11/2/2013 7:20:09 PM

+1 Boost

Interesting discussion. Out here in Western South Dakota we are being fed 85 Octane crap as regular. 87 is mid grade and 91 is premium. All now have ethanol. The 85 octane pumps have notices on them advising people to check their owners manual, as it may damage the engine. East of the Missouri River, they have the same octane ratings as shown in your photo. We were screwed by the state legislature who allow this garbage to be sold west of the river. I use premium in my '13 SHO, and mid grade in the wife's NA '13 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is a flex fuel vehicle, but using E85 is a disaster, as milage is in the 12 mpg range. So, if you are a tourist going to see Mount Rushmore, do not use the regular, which by the way costs more then the mid grade.

Agent00R - 11/2/2013 7:44:07 PM

-1 Boost

I've always used premium (93) in my modified daily driver VW Golf. On one occasion the attendant — NJ, remember — filled it with regular (87) and it felt a bit different. Definitely down on power and not as smooth.

Similar results in an S4.

Similar results in my significant other's Mazda 3 sedan as well.

stampfer - 11/4/2013 12:19:58 PM

+1 Boost

'09 BMW E90 335i -- PREMIUM-- wouldn't even dream of anything less
'13 Acura MDX-- manufacturer specifies premium-- usually premium, sometimes plus
'07 Honda CRV-- Regular.

vdiv - 11/4/2013 4:37:49 PM

+1 Boost

On the rare occasion that I fill up with gas, it is always premium, Shell, Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobil, BP. Cheap gas has less detergents which degrades faster and results in more carbon deposits so I avoid it.

Of course I drive my Volt mostly on battery power so those occasions are 4-5 months apart. I never know what the gas price is "supposed" to be :)

aussie2u - 11/4/2013 9:17:46 PM

+1 Boost

I drive a BMW F30 turbo and while I used to always use premium as the cars compression and timing were optimized for this grade, I switched last year to regular and notice zero difference in acceleration or fuel economy. I tried looking for a difference too and just found none. So does the BMW recognize the difference proactively and adjust or only after it detects "knock / ping"? Maybe I'm not getting pre-ignition off the regular so all the mappings are staying the same? Someone intelligent expand upon this please...

vdiv - 11/4/2013 10:36:14 PM

+1 Boost

Not that I am intelligent by any measure, but it think that on one hand the octane rating and additives vary a lot, and on the other modern engines can adjust both the timing and the fuel mixture in real time and rather significantly to accommodate for various fuel and environmental conditions.