Just imagine. You recently purchased a luxury car. However, after purchase, you will find out that certain makes and models recommend using premium gasoline.
But do you really need to shell out extra cash every time you fill up your gas tank, or can you use Regular even in vehicles that require Premium?
That’s the question Aeschbach Auto (@aeschbachauto), a small auto repair shop based in Wisconsin, recently answered on a viral TikTok. In the nearly one-minute video, an anonymous mechanic is asked what would happen if he filled a luxury car with low-octane fuel, or “regular” 87 octane gasoline. As of this week, his commentary clip has been viewed more than 2.4 million times.
Can I put “regular” gas in a premium-labeled car?
According to Aeschbach Auto mechanics, drivers only need to refuel their cars with regular fuel “in most cases.” This is especially true if you’re just idling or cruising on the highway, he says.
“You can run,” he said.
However, the mechanic warned that you should not get into the habit of using regular gasoline in a car that requires premium. He said that under “heavy loads”, or hard acceleration, you could notice engine knocking, which could lead to premature wear.
“In really bad cases, the engine could be damaged,” he warned.
This much is true. According to The Drive, premium gasoline prevents this. The website states that this phenomenon usually does not have a negative effect on the car’s engine if regular gas fills are sporadic. However, repeated engine knocking can cause long-term damage to your car. In older cars that require higher octane fuel, the magazine said the car could start knocking “before you even leave the gas station.”
A mechanic at Aeschbach Auto said that in most new cars, “the computer is smart enough” to adjust engine parameters accordingly if low-octane fuel is detected. Still, we didn’t recommend using regular gasoline if your car specifies that it requires premium gasoline.
“If you have to fill up for gas in an emergency and the place you stop by doesn’t have premium gas…you can be sure you can fill up your 89 or 87 as long as you drive responsibly to another gas station and refill with the proper gas. It’s gas,” the mechanic said.
A writer for The Drive agreed. “If you want a premium on your car, you probably won’t actually save any money if you go with a regular car because you’ll finish sooner,” he added.
@aeschbachauto What happens when you put regular gas in a car that recommends premium #carmaintenance #mechanic #cartok #carcommunity #carsoftiktok #mechanicsoftiktok #autorepair #gas #gasoline #gasstation ♬ Original sound – Aeschbach Auto
Some users do not accept this advice
Despite the mechanic’s warnings, several commenters said the luxury car ran just fine on regular gasoline.
One user boasted, “I always use regular with no problems.”
“For the past 15 years I’ve been using 89 instead of premium in Mercedes and never had any problems,” added another.
And some were skeptical about the mechanic’s video.
“Save money and that’s it,” one naysayer wrote.
While these individual anecdotes may be true, there are also horror stories about what can happen if a luxury car’s engine isn’t given the right amount of gasoline.
“My mother never bothered to look in the manual to find out what type of gas her car needed,” one man said. “After driving it for a few years, one day the engine seized up.”
“I’ve always used premium on my Acura, but when I had to go regular at one point, I felt like I could notice a huge difference in performance,” another person shared. did.
As a result, some luxury car drivers issued a PSA to viewers: “If you don’t want or can’t afford high-octane gas, don’t buy a luxury car.”
“If you can’t afford premium, you shouldn’t buy a luxury car,” one user wrote.
Another person advised: “Always follow your car manual.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Aeschbach Auto via a comment on TikTok.
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