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

When you visit the gas station in Queens to fill up your car, you’ve probably noticed that there are options for premium and regular gas. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between premium and regular gas, Major World is here to help! Our service center has put together a comparison below of premium vs. regular gas, that has everything you need to know to make an informed decision for your particular vehicle. 

What is Premium Gasoline? 

Let’s start with simple definitions of premium vs. regular gas. While they share some similarities, like they’re both combustible and are both made from crude oil, their major differences come from their octane level. Premium gasoline is much higher octane, usually 90 or above, which keeps your engine cleaner and generates less pollution. As such, premium gasoline is more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline. 

What is Regular Unleaded Gasoline? 

Regular unleaded gasoline is much more common than premium. It burns faster and is better for the environment (and your health!) than gasoline with lead in it. It’s also less expensive than premium gas because its octane level is lower, around 87. Regular unleaded gasoline usually works perfectly well for most Brooklyn vehicles.

The Difference Between Premium and Regular Gas

Now that we’ve defined premium and regular gasoline, let’s look at what sets them apart from each other. There are three major differentiating factors:

• Octane rating: Premium gasoline has a higher octane rating than regular. A higher octane level means a lower chance of engine knocking, which can damage the engine and the vehicle.
• Engine suitability: Regular unleaded gas is better for engines with lower compression ratios, since it burns faster than premium. Be sure to check your engine’s compression ratio before making a gasoline decision. 
• Price: Regular gas is more affordable than its premium counterpart, often costing 20 to 40 cents less per gallon than premium. If you’re frequently filling up your tank around Bronx, these numbers really add up!

As you decide whether premium vs. regular gas is best for your vehicle, be sure to keep these things in mind:

• Using premium gas in a car that doesn’t require it will not boost the car’s performance.
• Likewise, using regular gas in a car that requires premium gas won’t harm the vehicle. However, it might cause your engine to start knocking, so you’ll want to switch to premium as soon as possible.
• If your vehicle utilizes turbochargers, you may want to use premium gasoline instead of regular.

Contact the Major World Service Center Today

If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed above, or want more information about the difference between premium and regular gas, feel free to contact our office anytime! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also schedule a service appointment right from our website if you need to bring your vehicle in for a tune-up or for regularly scheduled maintenance.