If Premium gas isn't necessary, as I saw in a Yahoo story just now...

Question

why do people fall for it and pay more, especially in these trying times?

Answer 1

it isn't "Necessary" per say, But some engines work better on it, and if you run them on the cheap stuff, they develop knocks and pings, and eventually parts need to be replaced.

Answer 2

Depends on the compression ratio of the engine. Average commuter vehicles are designed to run efficiently on 87 octane gasoline. Higher compression performance vehicles require higher octane or you'll get detonation (pinging), which is when the fuel/air mixture ignites prematurely. Higher octane fuel can be compressed without igniting on it's own. Most of todays engine will not benefit from higher octane, you really are just wasting money.

Answer 3

suprisingly, some cars say in their manuals that they need high- or mid-grade gas to function properly.  I've always burnt mid-grade, and my cars have always lasted longer, and gotten better mileage.  

Answer 4

Some cars, usually performance and luxury cars, "need" premium (the manufacturer recommends it). I have noticed that less people are buying premium. In some places, gas stations will lower the price of premium to the same as regular just to get rid of it.

Answer 5

There are a few new cars that require premium gas (Mazda Miata, for example), and some that "recommend" premium, but will run fine on regular.  In those cars, the engine simply adjusts the spark timing to prevent "pinging".  So, the vast majority of new cars on the roads today can safely use regular gas, at a saving of about 20 cents a gallon.

Answer 6

im not sure but i think cars with supercharged or turbo engines HAVE to run on premium

Answer 7

It is called advertising. Being conned into believing that by paying more for something somehow guarantees something.  While it doesn't hurt anything, they are hard pressed to prove a betterment unless it is "their scientists doing "their tests and measurements".

    While people claim that they last longer by using "X" product, they are not doing a side by side test(in other words, they did not buy a second car and were running it at the same time on the other brand) so it is in their opinion...and they may be "very brainwashed"....regardless of the facts.

   High octane for high compression engines.  Turboed or supercharged engines are low compression engines so can run on lower grade fuels.  Check manufacturer recommendations on new motors and follow that.  As the engine wears(they all wear) you can move down the octane rating without a problem as the compression will have decreased naturally due to the wear(20,000 mi+)