Well, that depends on what you are driving. Cars with engines designed for regular fuel make up 70% of the vehicles U.S. drivers use. Which means approximately only 30% of the cars on the road today need to use premium grade fuel. According to a new AAA study American drivers wasted more than $2.1 billion dollars in the last year by using pricier premium-grade gasoline in cars built to run on more traditional regular fuel. http://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/09/u-s-drivers-waste-2-1-billion-annually-premium-gasoline/ One of the common misconceptions about premium fuel is that it is better quality fuel however it is actually just higher octane fuel.

What is Octane and why does it matter?

Octane is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon of the alkane series, obtained in petroleum refining. The Octo meaning 8 carbon atoms.

According to Exxon Mobil octane rating is a measure of a fuel’s ability to resist ‘knock’. The octane requirement of an engine varies with compression ratio, geometrical and mechanical considerations and operating conditions. The higher the octane number the greater the fuel’s resistance to knocking or pinging during combustion. https://www.exxon.com/en/octane-rating.    

The best way for you to tell if you need to run a higher octane fuel is to consult your owner’s manual or check the inside of your fuel door. Both of these areas should post the fuel requirements of your vehicle.  Like the above averages state you probably drive a vehicle that can run on regular octane fuel.  We find that it’s mostly your high performance vehicles and higher end European cars that will require premium grade octane.

Is there a reason to use a higher octane if my vehicle calls for traditional regular?

Extremely hot weather, changes in altitude, or exceptionally hard driving conditions, such as towing heavy loads, may cause knocking. I’ve experienced this with my personal vehicle when towing. If I don’t use premium octane fuel the engine will ping or knock.

What about quality?

Yes there are differences in quality

For only a few cents more you can purchase what known as top tier fuel. Top Tier Detergent Gasoline is the premier standard for gasoline performance. Seven of the world’s top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance. You can go to Top Tier’s website to find which stations sell top tier fuel but In general most name brand fuel companies sell it. Look for a sign that says top tier if in doubt.  http://www.toptiergas.com/