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Aug 17, 2005 7:15 pm US/Pacific
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Consumer Paige: Premium Vs. Regular Gas?
LOS ANGELES (KCBS) ―
These days you almost have to close your eyes while squeezing the gas nozzle…for fear of passing out once you see the total.
"A half a tank of gas is about $35 now…gotta do it so I do it."
Yes, you got to do it, but you do get to choose which grade of gas to buy. Do you go for premium, or settle for regular? This guy went for the good stuff.
So you feel like you're treating your car better if you put higher octane in it? Well, if you take care of it, it will take care of you is pretty much the idea. But is he really taking care of his car?
If it doesn't ask for premium fuel you gain absolutely nothing by paying the extra to give it the higher grade.
Kevin Smith is editorial director for Edmunds.com, a website which offers consumers advice about cars.
"Typically a basic transportation car is not going to need premium fuel and it won't do any better on premium fuel."
Smith says check your owner's manual. If premium fuel is required, plan on biting the bullet, but if the manufacturer only recommends premium, you may be able to get by with a lower grade.
"If it's recommended, you may have an option to go to a lower grade fuel -- although there will be some tradeoff there if you're saving a ton of money in the process. It may be a tradeoff you're willing to accept."
Otto Lopez agrees. He's a mechanic with more than 25 years experience. Otto say older cars with carbuerators were much more finicky. Today's cars have fuel injection, sophisticated onboard computers, knock sensors and other features that make octane levels much less important than they used to be.
If you are driving a high performance car, you may need premium. His advice for the rest of us:
"Just get regular gas, it'll be the same on the highway. You won't be able to tell the difference."
And will it hurt the car?
"No. Won't hurt the car at all."
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc., All Rights Reserved.)