Is premium better for older cars?

Asked by: Camden Waters  |  Last update: August 19, 2025
Score: 5/5 (15 votes)

Is premium gas better for older cars? - Quora. That depends upon the engine fitted ,older sidevalve motors have lower compression ratios so a lower octane fuel is suitable, higher compression overhead valve engines generally need higher octane fuels to help prevent knocking.

Is it better to put premium gas in older cars?

Unless your car specifically states that it requires an octane rating higher than 87 or you've changed the tune/engine in such a way that pre-ignition is an issue there's no real need to purchase anything better than regular. You will not get any additional performance and you're effectively just wasting money.

What is the best gas for older cars?

Engine Design: Most older cars are designed to run on regular gasoline (usually 87 octane). Using premium gasoline (91 octane or higher) won't improve performance or fuel efficiency if the engine doesn't require it.

Which fuel is better for older cars?

For many classic cars, ordinary Euro 95 is more than sufficient. It is important however, to ensure that not too much ethanol has been added. For example, E10 gasoline (with 10% ethanol) is absolutely out of the question.

What cars actually need premium gas?

Generally, luxury cars and high-performance vehicles are designed to run on premium gas. Brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi often make cars that require premium gasoline. Vehicle models with turbocharged engines, such as Mini Coopers or Subaru WRX also typically need premium fuel to perform at their peak.

Goss Garage: (Un)Leaded Gas - Fuel Facts for Classic Car Owners

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Does premium gas get better mileage?

No, any fuel efficiency gained using premium fuel would stem from engine performance, not the gas itself. Buying premium gas won't have you visiting a gas station any less frequently, especially with a standard engine not designed to take advantage of premium gas.

What happens if you put 93 gas in an 87 car?

Nothing happens when you mix 93 (premium) and 87 (regular) octane gases. The mix is called “midgrade” gas. Some of the benefits of 93 gas include better engine health, reduced engine knock, better fuel economy, and more power. Note that your owner's manual indicates what type of gas works best with your vehicle.

Why do old cars need leaded gas?

Lead helped reduce knocks or “pinging”. Lead massively raised the octane levels of gasoline, and it needed to be once engines in the late 1950's started to ramp up compression ratios in the never-ended horsepower race, while still operating on very primitive ignition systems.

What is the best gas additive for older cars?

Stick To PIB or PEA Detergents. So for old gas, if you're in a position where you really have to use it, remember to use a high-detergent fuel additive. The reputable types of these additives will specifically tell you that they contain injectors or other kinds of detergents.

What happens if you mix premium and regular gas?

In older vehicles, mixing regular and premium gas would've caused serious engine knocking, and would have happened rapidly. Nowadays, engines are more adaptable to the variety. Is it bad to mix premium and regular gas? Well, not necessarily.

Do old cars need more gas?

It seems like common sense that, as a car gets older, it tends to get worse and worse gas mileage. In reality, it's more accurate to say that poorly maintained cars are more likely to have worsening gas mileage over time.

What grade of gas is best for your car?

The best type of gas to put in your vehicle is whatever octane level the car's owner's manual specifies. Generally, here's what you need to know about octane gas types: Regular fuel is 87 octane. Premium is 91 or 93.

What is the best gasoline for older cars?

The answer to the question what's the best fuel for my classic car is usually an easy one to answer. Pure E0 gasoline (pure gasoline without ethanol).

Is premium fuel worth it?

Therefore, if you drive a sports car, to help maintain its performance, it may be worthwhile using premium. On the other hand, if you drive an ordinary vehicle, it will be unlikely that you will see a noticeable difference. Therefore, regular petrol or diesel is frequently the more popular choice.

What happens if I put 91 instead of 87?

The majority of engines require 87. However, if you put 91 into one of these cars, then your vehicle will still operate adequately. Some vehicles, such as sports and vintage cars, call for 91. If you put 87 into the system of one of these high-performance vehicles, then the engine is not going to break down.

Is unleaded gas bad for old cars?

Effects of Unleaded Fuel on Classic Cars:

Without lead, older engines could experience valve seat recession, a condition where the contact between the valve and the valve seat is eroded over time. This can lead to reduced engine performance and increased wear.

What fuel for old cars?

While high-octane fuel is preferred for classics, they can run perfectly well on lower octane petrol, especially if the ignition is adjusted to counteract the change in combustion rate.

What year did cars stop using leaded gas?

In the United States, leaded gasoline for use in on-road vehicles was completely phased out as of January 1, 1996. Most other countries have also stopped using leaded gasoline in vehicles.

What is the most reliable car model?

Most reliable cars
  • Lexus ES 300h. CarMax owner rating. 4.7. ...
  • Nissan Leaf. CarMax owner rating. 4.3. ...
  • Toyota Corolla. CarMax owner rating. 4.5. ...
  • Toyota Camry. CarMax owner rating. 4.6. ...
  • Toyota Corolla iM. CarMax owner rating. 4.6. ...
  • Lexus ES 350. CarMax owner rating. 4.7. Price range* ...
  • Toyota Yaris. CarMax owner rating. 4.5. Price range* ...
  • Honda CR-Z.

Can a car run on 20 year old gas?

Is old gas in the tank bad for your car? The quick answer. In almost every case, old gas is not an issue.

Do older cars get worse gas mileage?

As an engine ages, fuel economy will decrease somewhat. However, in most cases, this decrease in fuel economy has less to do with the age of the engine and more to do with how many miles you've driven and whether your vehicle has faulty or worn engine components.

Does premium gas give better mileage?

Using premium does not increase fuel economy, so don't waste money using high-test in a car if the manufacturer recommends regular gas.

What are the disadvantages of high octane fuel?

Cons
  • There's only one type of vehicle that NEEDS to use premium fuel and that's petrol engines with a high compression ratio. ...
  • All car manufacturers have said there's no need for a diesel vehicle to run on premium diesel fuel.
  • Premium fuel costs a lot more money than standard fuel.

Will 93 octane clean my engine?

Does higher-octane gas clean engines better? Not really. The EPA mandates that all gas, no matter the octane level or brand, add cleaning agents. In other words, all levels of gas and all brands carry similar cleaning agents.