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Premium vs. Regular Gas: What’s the Difference?

Car fueling up on gas

Most people don’t give much thought to the difference between premium and regular gas, but it’s something worth learning about. With that in mind, we’ve put together a quick premium vs. regular gas overview to give you all the information you need to know. Read on to find out more with our service experts today!


What Is Regular Gas?

Look across the road on your way to work and most of the vehicles you see will be running on regular, and the difference between regular and premium comes down to octane. Regular gasoline is 87 octane, whereas premium gas will usually be 93 octane.

The octane rating tells you how clean the fuel is, and vehicles designed for higher performance generally require higher octane fuel.

What Is Premium Gasoline?

Why do performance vehicles need 93 octane fuel? Because they have larger engines, use forced induction, or use more performance features like turbocharging. With the fuel burning a little cleaner, premium gas gives engines a little more power. It’s also worth mentioning that most high-performance vehicles are designed with premium gas in mind, so using it is more of a demand than a choice if you have one of those models.

Things You Should Know About Premium Gasoline

  • Why is Premium Gas More Expensive? You’ve probably noticed it costs more to top up with premium gas. That’s simply because it costs more to produce gas with a higher octane level.
  • How is Premium Gas Made? Premium gas is made in the same way as regular gas, but it goes through more refinement to achieve that higher octane.
  • Why Does Octane Matter? A higher octane level means you have less pre-ignition, which is something that harms your engine over time.

We’ll Help You Decide if Premium Gas is Worth the Added Cost

The team of professionals here at Wilson Kia is always willing to help you get the most of your vehicle and answer any questions you might have. Whether you need to speak to our finance department about the benefits of buying vs. leasing or want servicing tips and tricks from our service center, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read up on the difference between wheel alignment and balancing today.

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