Modern Vehicles Need Premium Fuel

There are a few names of it - “high test fuel”, “super unleaded fuel” or “premium fuel” – all of them stand for the same – the most expensive gasoline you van get at the pumping station, except, perhaps, diesel. As prices for fuel are getting higher every day car manufacturers have to develop cars with smaller but more powerful engines, very often with forced induction. Unfortunately these power plants have one significant drawback – they need higher octane… which is the premium fuel\s distinguishing characteristic.

According to Kelley Blue Book research, in 2002 there were 166 car models requiring high test fuel. This year the number of such models has achieved 282. While for some car models the use of premium fuel is advisable, other companies like BMW demand car owners to use high test fuel across the whole model range. It is not necessary at all to use high test fuel for engines which do not call for it. At the same time you must run this fuel in engines specifically designed for it (for necessary information check the fuel filler door or your owner’s manual). In the event you feed you high performance engine with non-premium fuel, the horsepower and fuel economy will suffer. So do not try to save your money at the pumping station in this way.