If you’re like me, you like to get the most from your fuel. You also want to take care of your car’s engine and make sure it lasts as long as possible. That’s why I used to pay the extra 20 cents a gallon and put premium fuel in my vehicles that were at least 10 years old.
But if you’re still doing that, it may not be necessary. In fact, there’s a difference between “recommending” premium fuel and actually “requiring” it. And if you realize the difference, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars at the fuel pumps each year.
Most of the time, if the manufacturer simply recommends premium fuel instead of regular, it’s not going to damage your engine. The only thing that will happen is that your car is going to run less efficiently than it would with the lesser octane. But with the difference in price, you’ll still save money every time you put gas in your car. With prices hovering around $5 a gallon for premium, you can sacrifice some efficiency for a lower price.
However, if you have a sports car with a supercharger or turbocharger, premium fuel is essential. You can get away with the cheaper gas, but it’s going to wreak havoc on your engine and cause some costly damages. Unfortunately, in the case of performance engines, you’re still stuck with the expensive stuff.
Keep that in mind when you visit your local Buick dealer. Those cars run just fine on regular fuel. Test drive one today and see how smooth of a ride they give. You’ll fall in love before you leave the lot.
