Premium fuels for cars: Are they worth paying extra for?
Written by Daily Fix - Published 20-Jun-2023, last updated 21-Jun-2024
Premium fuels are typically more expensive than regular gasoline or diesel, but do they offer any real benefits? In this article, we will take a look at the pros and cons of premium fuels to help you decide if they are worth the extra cost.
What are premium fuels?
Premium fuels are petrol or diesel with a higher octane rating than regular fuels and additives that the manufacturers claim offer benefits to the vehicle owner. You may have heard of Shell V-Power for instance, or BP Ultimate - these are what are marketed as premium fuels.
Octane rating is a measure of a fuel's resistance to premature ignition, also known as knocking. Knocking can cause engine damage, so higher octane fuels are often recommended for high-performance cars with high compression engines.
Premium fuels contain additives not present in regular fuel including detergents, corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants.
The specific additives that are included in premium fuel can vary depending on the manufacturer. However, all premium fuels will contain at least some of the additives listed above.
Do premium fuels offer better performance?
In some cases, premium fuels can offer better performance than regular fuels. For example, a high-performance car with a high compression engine may experience knocking if it is run on regular petrol. Using premium fuel can help to prevent knocking and improve performance.
However, it is important to note that the benefits of premium fuels are not always noticeable in everyday driving. For most cars, the difference in performance between regular and premium fuel is likely to be negligible.
Do premium fuels offer better fuel economy?
There is some evidence to suggest that premium fuels can offer slightly better fuel economy than regular fuels. However, the difference is usually very small, and it may not be worth the extra cost.
Premium fuels can cost over 20p per litre more than standard fuel, so you have to calculate whether the extra miles you achieve per fill-up is worth the extra cost of the fuel.
Overall, the evidence on whether premium fuels offer better fuel economy is mixed. Some studies have found that they can improve fuel economy by a small amount, while others have found that there is no difference. More research is needed to determine the true impact of premium fuels on fuel economy.
Things to consider when deciding whether to fill up with premium fuel
Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
- The type of car you drive. High-performance cars with high compression engines may benefit from premium fuels.
- Your driving habits. If you drive in a demanding way, such as on steep hills or in stop-and-go traffic, you may notice a difference between regular and premium fuels.
- Your budget. Premium fuels are more expensive than regular fuels, so you need to decide if the extra cost is worth it to you.
So are premium fuels worth the extra cost?
Whether or not premium fuels might be worth the extra cost depends on a number of factors, including your car's engine, your driving habits, and your budget. If you have a high-performance car with a high compression engine, then premium fuels may be worth the extra cost to prevent knocking and improve performance. However, if you have a regular car and you do not drive in a demanding way, then you are probably not going to notice any difference between regular and premium fuels.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use premium fuels is a personal one. You need to weigh the potential benefits against the extra cost and decide what is best for you.
Next time you fill up at the fuel station, try filling up with premium fuel. See if you get better MPG and/or you feel the car performs better than when running on standard fuel.
The long-term benefits (if any) of the various additives found in premium fuel is difficult for the average driver to measure, but if you get more miles per tank when using premium fuel then you need to calculate whether the extra miles are worth the extra cost of the fuel.
So are premium fuels worth the extra cost? The jury is still out on that one!