Can I Switch From Premium To Regular Gas?
With gasoline prices hitting record highs almost daily, you might be wondering if you can get away with filling up your expensive car with regular instead of the expensive premium gas your manufacturer recommends. The answer: Regular’s fine in most cases, but it’s best to check your owner’s manual.
There are three basic provisos for gasoline usage in owner’s manuals: when only regular gas is required, when premium is “recommended” and when premium gas is “required.” Only in the third instance will deviating from the manufacturer’s requirements potentially harm your car.
If premium gas is required, those cars are designed to run only on premium and could possibly be damaged if you use regular over a prolonged period. Cars that require premium gas are typically made by luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, VW and Audi, and some Acuras are also on that list.
Another effective way to save on gas is to drive like your grandmother. That means gentle acceleration, gradual braking and avoiding hard stops. Accelerating too quickly can mean you have to brake harder and that can waste gas.
