I remember when I got my first car. It was a used Datsun hatchback for which I paid my life savings, $1,000. There was no power steering, no power brakes, well no power anything for that matter. That didn’t stop me from being proud of owning that car or putting premium gasoline in the tank.
Premium gasoline promises to make your car perform at its peak. Some premium gasoline manufacturers even claim that it their fuel will actually help protect your car’s engine and extend its life, but is it true? Is it worth putting premium gasoline into your car? With the cost of gas these days, this is a timely question.
Premium gasoline contains a higher octane and also a higher price.
Now here is the answer.
According to Car and Driver Magazine, premium gasoline makes no difference in all but the highest performing cars, such as the Ferrari. Even these cars may survive fine on regular gasoline, at least until they get older. This means that if you spend the extra $.25 or more per gallon, you are just burning up your money.
The study conducted was an extensive one and included a fleet of cars. They quote, “Our tests confirm that for most cars there is no compelling reason to buy more expensive fuel than the factory recommends, as any performance gain realized will surely be far less than the percentage hike in price.”
I know that some people may still swear by premium gas, but if you believe Car & Driver Magazine, then the extra performance they think they are getting is all in their heads. Save your money by putting regular gas in your car and use the extra for something that could really make a difference, such as paying off debt or saving up for your next vehicle.