Does your car actually need premium petrol?

AutoExec Summary
Officially, your car may require premium petrol with a minimum octane rating of 95 or 98, but can you get by with regular unleaded instead? While it may be tempting to save money by using cheaper fuel, filling up with a lower-octane fuel could cause damage and a loss of performance over time. The numbers on fuel pumps indicate the octane rating, with higher ratings being more stable fuels. Using a lower-octane fuel can lead to knocking or pinging in the engine, causing a loss of performance. While your car won’t spontaneously combust with regular unleaded, using premium fuel is recommended to prevent lasting issues and maintain performance. The engine was found to accept a certain fuel, but issues like spark plug glazing and fuel injector leaks were discovered. Older cars without knock sensors may experience problems running on premium fuel, leading to engine damage. It is better to err on the side of caution and use the recommended fuel to avoid costly repairs.

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