Do you put premium petrol in your car ? You ’re probably run off your money . A new study by AAA detect that 16.5 million Americans had filled up their cars with premium gasoline unnecessarily in the past class . That ’s $ 2.1 billion , completely blow .

or so 70 percent of Americans own cars that have no practical need for exchange premium gas and only call for regular . AAA conducted tests using 87 - octane ( regular ) and 93 - octane ( premium ) gas in those kinds of railcar and found that the agio gas gave absolutely no benefits above the regular gas .

“ Drivers see the ‘ premium ’ name at the pump and may sham the fuel is better for their fomite , ” John Nielsen , AAA ’s handle director of Automotive Engineering and Repair , saidin a statement .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

Just 16 percent of Americans own a car that requires premium fuel . And if you ’re in that 16 percent you in all probability know who you are . The remaining 14 percent ? Those mass need the mid - grade gasoline . At this breaker point I ’d suggest tick off your car ’s manual of arms to figure out which camp you ’re in .

But here ’s the part where cable car novices might really be thrown for a loop . According to AAA , there is a broad variety of calibre in petrol , depending on which retail merchant you select . Which is to say that not all 87 - octane gas is created equal .

FromAAA :

William Duplessie

Previous AAA research found that fuel timbre varies importantly among gas retailers and that using a petrol that meets TOP TIER criterion can ensue in 19 times few locomotive alluviation , increase fomite performance and improve fuel thriftiness . To protect vehicle investments , AAA urges drivers to use the appropriate gasolene as mold by their car ’s manufacturer ( regular or agio ) that run into TOP TIER standards for engine cleanliness and performance .

So all those “ top tone ” gas advert I make fun of on TV ? Apparently there ’s something behind that .

“ When it hail to petrol , ‘ insurance premium ’ does not mean ‘ better ’ if your vehicle does n’t command it , ” continued Nielsen in the AAA statement . “ Drivers look to upgrade to a high lineament fuel for their vehicle should save their money and select a TOP TIER ™ gasoline , not a higher - octane one . ”

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So unless your railroad car really need 93 - octane gas , go onward and grab that 87 nozzle . There ’s no sense throwing away money just because the sticker says “ premium . ”

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