Is It Beneficial to Occasionally Use 93 Octane Gas Instead of 87?
Exploring whether running a tank of 93 octane gas is beneficial for vehicles that typically use 87 octane.
Understanding Octane Ratings
Octane ratings measure a fuel's resistance to knocking, not its quality or energy content. For most vehicles designed to run on regular fuel (87 octane), using a higher octane fuel like 93 does not provide additional power or improve fuel economy. Higher octane fuels are primarily beneficial for high-compression or turbocharged engines that require them to prevent knocking.
Potential Benefits of Higher Octane Fuel
While using 93 octane in a vehicle designed for 87 won't harm the engine, it won't provide any significant benefits either. Some drivers believe that using premium fuel occasionally might help clean the engine or improve performance, but this is largely a misconception. The cleaning benefits come from detergent additives, which are present in all grades of fuel, not just premium.
When to Use Higher Octane Fuel
If your vehicle's owner's manual specifies that premium fuel is required or recommended, then using 93 octane is necessary for optimal performance. However, if your car is designed for 87 octane, there is no need to switch to 93 octane as a precaution. It's best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for fuel type.
Answered from our EPA fuel data and general, well-established fuel facts in response to real driver questions. Anything car-specific — especially whether premium is required vs recommended — is in your owner's manual, so we point you there instead of guessing.
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EPA/DOE FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24.