Most people are pretty clear on which gas they should put in their vehicle but most people don’t know why, or even what the difference between the gases means! Well don’t stress, I’m going to lay it all out for you in this week’s blog and the next time you hit the gas station you can feel smarter than the average joe.

If you don’t already know there are three different types of gas and they are Regular (the cheapest and most used) aka the 87, and premium fuels aka 92 and 93. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself what do those numbers mean? Or why do certain vehicle get premium gas and other get regular? Well, those numbers do mean something and the different gas will depend on your engine.

The Numbers: The numbers you associated with the different types of gas speak to how high their octane level is. Octane is how much compression a fuel can withstand before it ignites. A high octane, like those in premium fuel, won’t pre-ignite or explode as quickly, which explains why high-performance cars with higher compression engines often require higher octane gas. Engines that take higher octane fuel tend to work more efficiently and emit fewer emissions and exhaust.

Why does the right fuel matter?

Cars are designed to run best with a specific type of fuel, and your owner’s manual will let you know what that is. You still might be tempted to save a couple of bucks by putting the regular gas into a premium fuel vehicle, I wouldn’t suggest it. If you use a lower than recommended level, the gas may combust too fast for your engine. That can cause the engine to make a knocking noise. In addition to this unwanted noise, a lower than recommended gas can also reduce your car’s power and fuel economy and cause engine

When it comes to the opposite, putting premium gas in a vehicle that can take regular is a little different. The general consensus is that using premium gas when your car can run on regular gas doesn’t deliver any extra benefits when it comes to engine life, fuel economy or reduced emissions. So save your money and fill up with regular gas.