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Should You Be Using Regular Gas When Premium Gas is Recommended?

Friday Jul 31, 2009

This article explains what happens when you use regular gas in premium recommended engines.

Contributor: Robert Falden
Published: Jul 30, 2009


6 Comments »

T G:

Should I use premium when Owner’s Manual calls for Regular?
Getting P0430code intermittently(Catalyst Efficiency below threshold bank2) on my 2000 5speed Cougar V6, 83k miles.
The seller claims that he never got that code, recommends using premium gasoline instead of regular. Do you think I should try or the Mid grade at least?
In my understanding, higher octane burns slower dumping raw fuel into exhaust, degrading catalytic converters on cars not designed to run on Premium, am I wrong?

July 31st, 2009 | 6:22 am
Mr. Wiseman:

Yes it prevents build up in your cylinders and pistons,
and does harm your car.
References :

July 31st, 2009 | 11:24 am
my_best_guess:

Premium is waste of money. Sounds like you may have some poor combustion on bank 2, could be weak spark from a plug or wire. Is it skipping at all?
References :

July 31st, 2009 | 11:26 am
Steve from PA:

The only time Ive heard of high octane doin harm was with race fuel(leaded) 110 octane in car designed for premium…eventually the cats would burn out if you didn’t cut it with the required octane. But there should nt be that much of a difference between 87 and 89…Half the time that regular is closer to mid grade any way out of the pump..
References :

July 31st, 2009 | 11:28 am
mdk68gto:

try a tune up and stick with what the book calls for. no need to use the high octane if you do not need it. the 3 liter engine is not a high compression engine, and it does not run that hot to Create problem with pre-detination. octane is a resistance to burn . it does not mean that you are dumping raw fuel into the exhaust. the previous owner is an idiot.
References :
ase certified master tech.

July 31st, 2009 | 11:30 am
Mark F:

Premium gas makes no difference on an engine designed to run on regular. That won’t help.

You may have a bad Cat or it may be a bad O2 sensor, probably the downstream one. You will have to get it tested to be sure.
References :

July 31st, 2009 | 11:32 am
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