# Premium Gasoline

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015>\
**Category:** Power/Fuel\
**Tags:** gasoline\
**Created:** [June 29, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015 "2008-06-29T19:40:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![m0flei01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@m0flei01](https://community.cartalk.com/u/m0flei01)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015/1 "2008-06-29T19:40:35Z")

</div>

My 2001 Subaru Legacy uses regular unleaded gasoline (87 Octane). Can my mileage be increased by using premium (93 octane) gasoline? If yes, by how much?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015/2 "2008-06-29T19:42:40Z")

</div>

No. Not at all. The higher octane simply produces a slower burning fuel more compatible with high-compression engines. It has no extra energy or magical mileage powers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015/3 "2008-06-29T22:31:18Z")

</div>

No, it offers you no advantage at all unless your engine is designed to use it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015/4 "2008-06-29T23:13:32Z")

</div>

No benefit will be derived by using premium fuel in engines that only need regular. Higher octane fuels are needed in higher compression engines to operate properly, but in your case all that would happen is you waste money.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/premium-gasoline/16015/5 "2008-06-29T23:33:36Z")

</div>

Octane rating is simply the fuels ability to resist detonation in high compression engines. Low compression engines don’t need it. It doesn’t make them any more powerful or efficient.