Can You Put Premium Gas In Any Car?

Can you put premium gas in any car? Should you put premium gas in any car? If you have this question when you roll into the Montebello gas station, it’s time to get some answers. Get to know the difference between regular and premium gas, and learn more service tips from the experts at Camino Real Chevrolet.

Why Is Premium Gas Considered “Premium”?

Gasoline comes in different forms. When you visit a gas station in Los Angeles or Alhambra, you’ll probably see numbers on the pump ranging from 87 to 91. What are these numbers? They are the octane ratings. This indicates how much the fuel can be compressed. Regular gasoline, 87 octane, is designed to work with the standard compression ratio found on most cars. 

Premium gasoline, 91 octane, is considered a higher octane formula. Supercharged or turbocharged engine designs have higher compression ratios, and premium gasoline is designed to work well under those conditions. Regular gasoline leaves performance and luxury vehicles at greater risk of something called “fuel knocks” or early fuel ignition. However, this is not a risk for the majority of vehicles.

What Kind of Gas Does My Car Take?

What type of gas does my car take? Should I chose premium regardless? Here is brief FAQ based on the questions we hear at our service center:

• Can You Put Premium Gas in Any Car? Yes, all cars can safely use premium gas without any risk of engine damage. Not all cars benefit from the upgrade though.
• What Type of Gas Does my Car Take? Check your owner’s manual for recommendations based specifically on your make and model. Performance and luxury cars benefit from premium, but most other vehicles can use regular.
• What Happens If I Use Premium Instead of Regular? Performance and luxury cars will get better performance from premium, but regular cars will generally not. So, it might not be worth the extra cost unless you have a turbo- or supercharged engine.

Get More Service Tips with Camino Real Chevrolet

Want to know what kind of gas does my car take? The experts at Camino Real Chevrolet are here to help. Contact us to learn more about your vehicle’s needs, and schedule your service today with our experts for quality maintenance. We’d be happy to offer customized advice based on your driving needs!