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With that question in mind, the American Automobile Association set out to find the answer we’ve all been waiting for. And in a nutshell, premium improves the fuel economy and performance of modern, premium-recommended vehicles, though only by a margin.
Titled “Proprietary Research Into The Use Of Premium Octane Gasoline When Recommended, But Not Required, By the Manufacturer,” the study brought together six very different vehicles recommended to be fueled with premium: the Ford F-150, Cadillac Escalade, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Audi A3, Ford Mustang, and Jeep Renegade. If fueled with premium, all the cars except for the Audi (-1.0%) posted small MPG gains, ranging from 0.7% for the Mazda up to 7.1% for the Cadillac.
Another area the AAA focused on is average horsepower improvement using premium, using the same six vehicles to find if spending extra on premium is worth your money. Once again, the results are mixed, with the Jeep’s output decreasing by -0.3%. At the other end of the scale, the Mustang, F-150, and A3 increased by 3.2%, 2.1%, and 2.1%, respectively.
The report’s bottom line is, always fuel with the manufacturer-required octane rating, otherwise the engine won’t operate as intended. The AAA gives the A3 as a case in point. Here’s how the cookie crumbles: “During road testing, the Audi A3 had audible engine knock in road driving on a severe grade at low speed when using regular gasoline.” To the point, this worrying find “supports using premium gasoline in the A3 at all times."
On the flipside, the American Automobile Association highlights that even the largest increases in output and gas mileage are far below the average price gap between regular and high-octane fuel. “Using national averages, the difference in retail cost between regular and premium gasoline is approximately 20 percent to 25 percent,” translating to 50 cents per gallon.
If you were wondering if your car needs premium instead of regular, don’t forget to check what the automaker recommends to pump into the tank. The potential to boost performance is there, but the engine has to be calibrated to require that fuel to see the full benefit of splashing money on the more expensive stuff. To this effect, the AAA recommends owners of vehicles that aren’t required premium gas to opt for regular fuel.
Another area the AAA focused on is average horsepower improvement using premium, using the same six vehicles to find if spending extra on premium is worth your money. Once again, the results are mixed, with the Jeep’s output decreasing by -0.3%. At the other end of the scale, the Mustang, F-150, and A3 increased by 3.2%, 2.1%, and 2.1%, respectively.
The report’s bottom line is, always fuel with the manufacturer-required octane rating, otherwise the engine won’t operate as intended. The AAA gives the A3 as a case in point. Here’s how the cookie crumbles: “During road testing, the Audi A3 had audible engine knock in road driving on a severe grade at low speed when using regular gasoline.” To the point, this worrying find “supports using premium gasoline in the A3 at all times."
On the flipside, the American Automobile Association highlights that even the largest increases in output and gas mileage are far below the average price gap between regular and high-octane fuel. “Using national averages, the difference in retail cost between regular and premium gasoline is approximately 20 percent to 25 percent,” translating to 50 cents per gallon.
If you were wondering if your car needs premium instead of regular, don’t forget to check what the automaker recommends to pump into the tank. The potential to boost performance is there, but the engine has to be calibrated to require that fuel to see the full benefit of splashing money on the more expensive stuff. To this effect, the AAA recommends owners of vehicles that aren’t required premium gas to opt for regular fuel.
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