Premium vs. Regular Gas

Have you ever wondered about the difference between premium and regular gas? Is it worth the extra expense to go premium? Do you need the extra octane to get you up the hills for hiking, or is that money you can put towards your favorite Bel Air coffee run instead? Jaguar Los Angeles can help you decide premium vs. regular gas for driving in the Beverly Hills area.

What’s the Difference Between Premium and Regular Gasoline?

All gasoline is made from crude oil that’s been refined. The combustion engine – the conventional engine in cars that aren’t hybrids or electric – is designed to run on gasoline. The difference between premium vs. regular gas is octane. What is an octane rating? It’s a standard measure of the performance of fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can take before it ignites. Higher-performance engines require a higher octane gas than lower performance engines. Lower octane ratings are better for the environment. Regular gas usually has an octane rating around 87, while premium is usually around 91-94 octane, with mid-grade at 88-90 octane.

Which Gasoline is Best for You?

Your car’s owner’s manual will tell you what octane grade is required for your specific car. Many engines are specifically designed to use regular gasoline. High-performance, high-compression engines like the one in the Jaguar XF benefit from premium gas. If regular gas isn’t cutting it for your car, you’ll know by the sound of your engine knocking and pinging when you accelerate. That’s the sound of the fuel igniting too soon. This can cause unnecessary wear on your engine. Regardless of octane rating, using a Top Tier gasoline will help any engine stay free from deposits that cause wear.

Learn More About Your Engine at Jaguar Los Angeles!

Contact the specially-trained technicians in our service center to help you do what’s best for the life and performance of your engine. If you want to know what happens if you don’t change your oil, how often you should be changing your oil, or how to get the best fuel economy in Los Angeles, or what fuel and fluids will help your Jaguar operate at peak performance, they can answer your questions, make recommendations, and help you get the most out of your car.