# Regular vs Premium Gas

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133 "2007-06-23T16:37:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deanc2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@deanc2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deanc2000)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133/1 "2007-06-23T16:37:46Z")

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Here is my question: Is it better to fill-up with Premium gas? Will it add more miles to the gallon, thus negating the savings?

I know of one car that requires premium, Mini Cooper, and it’s said that if you put in regular, the car won’t perform as well.

Any input?

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**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133/2 "2007-06-23T16:39:51Z")

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[The Master](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html) has spoken.

Sgt Schwartz

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133/3 "2007-06-23T17:42:27Z")

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Modern cars have computers that can sense impending detonation and retard the timing or dial back the turbo boost accordingly. So if you put regular gas in a car that requires premium, You’ll degrade performance if it’s a new car. If it’s an older car without the electronic gimcrackery, you run the risk of destroying the engine from detonation or ‘knocking’.

Putting premium in a car that only requires regular will do nothing except burn more of your money.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regular-vs-premium-gas/409133/4 "2007-06-23T20:03:06Z")

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I suspect that there will be a lot more information on which most knowlegeable posters will agree than a debate, here.

Off to **GQ**.

[/Moderating]