# Types of Gasoline
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 31, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834 "2002-12-31T06:38:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/1 "2002-12-31T06:38:12Z")
What are the advantages to getting different grades of gasoline?
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### Author:  [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/2 "2002-12-31T06:39:54Z")
Well there is an advantage in High Octane Gasoline. (it speeds up your car very quickly)
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/3 "2002-12-31T06:51:01Z")
I don’t think that’s true, fauxpas.
I’ve read in various consumer magazines that unless your car specifies that you MUST use higher octane gas, it’s pretty much a waste of money. Performance gained is negligible.
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### Author:  [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/4 "2002-12-31T06:54:54Z")
I’m sure the car mavens of the group will check in,this has been discussed previously.But from all I read,go with the lowest octane that gets the job done.Meaning most regular cars.
Higher octane needs are only for higher compression engines,if my dd on the subject was complete.
Usig a higher octane (higher price) gas means money out the tailpipe,with no corresponding performance enhancement for most people.
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### Author:  [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/5 "2002-12-31T07:01:20Z")
Sorry, I did a quick search on “gasoline” and didn’t find anything relevant. I didn’t feel like wading through hundreds of fart posts by searching for “gas.”
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### Author:  [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/6 "2002-12-31T07:03:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by fauxpas \*
> \*\*Well there is an advantage in High Octane Gasoline. (it speeds up your car very quickly) \*\*
No.
**PetW** , this has been discussed several times. Here are some older threads you may want to check out:
[Racing fuel in a family car](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140963)
[Does Premium Gas clean an engine designed for regular?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=132690)
[Questions concerning premium-grade gas.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=131112)
[High Octane Gasoline](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127724) [premium unleaded, worth it or not?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125700)
[Ocatane ratings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109479)
[Chevron with Techron… does it really work?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90957)
[Using high octane (104+) gas in a regular gas engine](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86125)
[Regular? Special grade? Premium gas? I should know this by now, but…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70545)
[Does it matter which gas I use in my car?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54480)
[Does it Hurt to 87 octane in a 93 octane only car?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51952)
[Gas Ratings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48484)
[What’s up with different gasoline?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43726)
[More on gas…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34812)
[Premium Gasoline](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15196)
[Is there any difference in gas octane ratings?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13517)
These are but a few of many, many, many, gasoline rating threads.
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### Author:  [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/7 "2002-12-31T07:11:45Z")
Ah… I just realized that I accidently searched for posts no later than yesterday. Sorry about that.
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### Author:  [@fauxpas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fauxpas)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-gasoline/145834/8 "2002-12-31T07:20:30Z")
oh…sorry guys. I thought Petw meant like in racing. Im very sorry.