What happens if you accidentally put regular gas instead of premium?

Using regular gas in an engine that requires premium could void your warranty. That is most likely to happen if using regular causes severe engine knock or pinging (premature ignition of the fuel, also known as detonation) that damages the pistons or other engine parts.

What do I do if I put the wrong octane in my car?

If you mistakenly fill up with regular fuel, your car’s ECU will adjust engine timing and performance to work with the lower-octane fuel. In most cases, this is ok for the times when there are no premium pumps around, but it’s not ideal to run the cheapest fuel possible for extended periods of time.

Will regular gas damage a premium engine?

The key for drivers is to know whether premium gas is merely recommendedfor their car or if it’s required. In today’s automobiles, advances in engine technology mean that even if the owner’s manual recommends premium gasoline, the car will typically run on regular without issue and won’t damage the engine in any way.

What to do if I accidentally put 87 instead of 93?

If you usually fill your tank up with 87-octane gasoline and you accidentally put in a higher octane blend (say, 91, 92, or 93), don’t worry. You’re actually filling your car or truck with a different blend of gas, which means it will burn differently in your engine.

Can I use unleaded 88 in my car?

Unleaded 88 has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in all 2001 and newer cars, trucks and SUVs.

Does premium gas have ethanol?

Premium gas doesn’t provide any more power or contain better additives than regular gas, and it contains the same amount of ethanol as other grades. It just resists detonation (knock) better than lower-octane gas—nothing more, nothing less. If so, keep using 89-octane to regain some power and save your engine.

Will 93 octane hurt my engine?

Most cars on the road recommend a standard grade 87 or 89. Premium gas 90-93 is completely okay to put in a standard vehicle. Car experts say there is no risk of damage to a standard car using premium fuel.

Can you use regular gas after using premium?

Can I mix premium and unleaded gas? Yes, drivers can mix the two types of fuel. The combined gas types will result in an octane level somewhere in the middle — something the vehicle “will survive,” according to The Drive.

Is there ethanol in premium gas?

Premium gas doesn’t provide any more power or contain better additives than regular gas, and it contains the same amount of ethanol as other grades. It just resists detonation (knock) better than lower-octane gas—nothing more, nothing less.

Is it better to use premium gas in an older car?

As the cars that are heavy or have turbochargers have higher compression ratios, they knock without premium fuel. Therefore, using premium in older cars is necessary rather than regular cars. There are no visible side effects or benefits of using premium gas in a regular gas car.

Should you use premium fuel when driving?

Whatever the case, if your vehicle’s gas cap or owner’s manual tells you to use premium fuel, do it. The Drive’s contributors have found themselves stuck without a premium fuel pump in the past, and can say that both driver and vehicle will survive a trip with regular gas.

Can you use regular gas without a premium fuel pump?

The Drive’s contributors have found themselves stuck without a premium fuel pump in the past, and can say that both driver and vehicle will survive a trip with regular gas. Mixing fuels of two different octanes will result in a tank of fuel with an octane rating somewhere between the two fuels, depending on the amounts of each.

How much more does premium gas cost per gallon?

Premium gas can cost 20 to 60 cents more per gallon depending on where you live. Paying more to pump premium gas into a car designed for regular gas will have a low return on investment. Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews.