This was sent to me via Infiniti newsletter.
The basic question we want to answer is, “Should you consider spending the extra money for Premium gas?” The answer is a qualified, “No.” The fact is, for most car and truck engines, Regular grade 87 is fine.
That’s good news, but what if your owner’s manual recommends Premium grade fuel? The key word is ‘recommends,’ which really means it’s okay to use Regular under most driving conditions. Virtually every expert – even those from oil companies and auto manufacturers – say that using Regular will not harm engines, but you’ll probably not get the ‘advertised’ performance. In other words, you may add a second to the zero-to-60 mph time a reviewer said you should expect from your car. Again, using Regular gas will not damage the modern engines of most of today’s cars.
Modern engines with advanced computerized engine management systems rapidly adjust their ignition timing at the first indication of knocking. For this reason, using Regular will not void your manufacturer’s warranty unless, in the rare case, your car’s owner’s manual states that Premium grade gasoline is REQUIRED. The owners of high performance engines that require the highest octane are well aware of this fact because high performance was an important factor in choosing their particular cars.
What Grade Do You Give Your Engine?
This is just for information and not suggesting that anyone should go to a lower grade fuel. However, if and when gas prices start peaking into the $4 or $5+ range I will probably remember this article.
When
my G I recall driving 42 miles to and from work 5 days a week. When gas prices were $3.65'ish +/- .10 cents depending on where you go in California. On average I was paying $75 per week. $300 a month on gas that's half my car payment.
Since gas has gone back down I'm paying on average $35 - $40 per week, and $160 a month. So, you can see how the numbers add up as the fluctuation of fuel goes.
