Premium Fuel vs Regular
Fuel in the tank is like money in the bank, my Grandad would always say, and with the price of fuel seeming to continuously rise, he had a point. However, is it worth paying that bit extra for premium unleaded and diesel?
If you believe the marketing, premium fuels improve your car’s performance and protect your engine, however, they can cost up to 15p more a litre than standard unleaded and diesel fuels.
The reason premium fuel is more expensive is due to its higher research octane number, the benefits of this are lower fuel consumption as well as better engine protection and performance.
Does premium fuel improve mileage?
In theory, it should, shouldn’t it? You’re paying more for the fuel, you should expect to get more mileage out of a tank. The theory is correct (to some extent), the higher-octane rating will make the premium fuels burn more efficiently, delivering more power for less fuel burned.
However, are you going to notice a big difference? Probably not. You might notice you get a few extra miles out of your tank, but it’s probably not worth spending the extra 15p per litre.
Does premium fuel improve performance?
Yes, premium fuel does increase performance. However, unless you’re driving a Ferrari or Lamborghini, you’re probably not going to notice much difference. Premium fuels suit high-performance engines due to the increased pressures and temperatures in the engine.
Does premium fuel reduce engine wear and tear?
Higher octane fuels help to reduce engine knock. Engine knock occurs when residual fuel reignites in the engine, often causing various issues in the engine. The higher the octane of the fuel, the more likely it will burn in a controlled manner.
Again, unless you have a high-performance car where engine knock is more prevalent, you’re unlikely to notice much of a difference.
So, should you pay more for premium fuels? The short answer is, if you have a high-performance car, yes, if you don’t, no as you won’t notice much difference.