{"id":1849,"date":"2026-06-06T14:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1849"},"modified":"2026-06-06T14:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:33:08","slug":"high-octane-gas-is-more-expensive-than-regular-do-you-really-need-premium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=1849","title":{"rendered":"High-octane gas is more expensive than regular. Do you really need premium?"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Premium gasoline has always been more expensive than regular gasoline. But because of the United States\u2019 ongoing conflict with Iran, filling up with higher-octane fuel may be hitting some Triangle drivers\u2019 bank accounts even harder.<\/p>\n

Read more Patton Oswalt Dishes on ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Ratatouille’ Love and More Fun Facts<\/a><\/p>\n

It may be tempting for drivers who typically put mid-grade or premium gasoline in their vehicles to switch over to regular to save money. In North Carolina on Friday, the average price per gallon of regular gas<\/a> was about 85 cents cheaper than premium and about 45 cents cheaper than mid-grade, according to AAA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But filling a vehicle designed to run on premium gas with regular gas could cause serious and expensive problems, Rick Sapienza, Wake Technical Community College\u2019s dean of Transportation Technologies<\/a>, told The News & Observer.<\/p>\n

Drivers should play close attention to the language in their vehicle\u2019s manual or on the fuel filler door. If premium gas is recommended<\/i>, that means the vehicle is optimized for the high-octane fuel but will run on a lower grade, Sapienza said.<\/p>\n

If premium gas is required<\/i>, though, drivers really should fill up with premium. Failure to do so could cause engine damage and void a warranty, Sapienza said.<\/p>\n

On the other end of the spectrum \u2014 and perhaps this is less common now, with high gas prices \u2014 some drivers whose vehicles don\u2019t require premium gas may be using it anyway, thinking it could have some benefits.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018He shot me!\u2019 Ex-NC police officer pleads guilty in unarmed motorcyclist\u2019s death<\/a><\/p>\n

If that\u2019s you, feel free to stop. Using the premium gas shouldn\u2019t damage your vehicle, but it\u2019s not doing you any favors, either, Sapienza said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYears ago, people thought it would give you more power, that was the urban myth and legend,\u201d Sapienza said. \u201cAnd it came out in studies that you were just wasting your money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consumer Reports<\/a> tested the theory. It filled two vehicles that recommend premium gas \u2014 the 2015 Acura TLX four-cylinder and 2016 Nissan Maxima V6 \u2014 with regular instead.<\/p>\n

Both sedans had the same fuel economy with regular gas as they did with premium, Consumer Reports found. The cars also felt and sounded the same while driving.<\/p>\n

The Department of Energy\u2019s fuel economy information website<\/a> echoes the claim that under normal driving conditions, using a higher octane fuel than required may result in little to no benefit. But, the website says, using higher-octane fuel may slightly improve performance and gas mileage in certain situations, such as towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads, particularly in hot weather.<\/p>\n

Read more Why South Carolina owes North Carolina $1 million for canceling football series<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Premium gas is more expensive than regular, and it may be tempting to use regular even if higher-octane fuel is recommended. Read this before filling up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nHigh-octane gas is more expensive than regular. 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