Don't waste your money on Premium gasoline

So a precision tuned engine ZR1 or Z06 engine that says PREMIUM REQUIRED in the manual and at the fuel gauge is just marketing hoo-ha?

Why do pilots bother with high test aviation gas in their high compression piston engines, when 85 octane will do? Those engines are computer controlled too, the knock sensor should sort it out right?

A mechanic once told me he uses high octane in his vehicles, even if only regular is recommended.
He claims there are more 'cleaners' in the high octane fuel and for the few dollars more per tank, he feels it is worth the expense.

I never took his advice and don't think it is accurate.

I use low octane in my vehicles because it works, and I'm cheap. :)

70 percent of cars don't need anything other than regular gas but 60 percent of car owners put in a higher grade believing that there is some kind of an advantage. There is not. However, if the owners manual of your car says you DO NOT need "high test" and you use it anyway, it's really none of my business how you waste your money. Heck, I went to a new breakfast place today and it cost my wife and myself $26 to SPLIT one breakfast. The coffee and the soft drink cost $3.75 each!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a first and last time for everything. It's just a matter of choice. You choose to over pay for breakfast (only once) or you choose to over pay for gas (again and again).

Every since the 80s when cars became computer controlled you don't need premium gas. There is a knock sensor that if it detects knock the computer will adjust so it can run without knocking (ignition knock or sometimes called ping)so you can run regular with no problem.
The car manufactuers often say to use premium because they do when doing the EPA testing (you can get just a little better milage) so they have to say to use it.
Bill

I saw the article on the news on television tonight. This is nothing new. About 15 years ago or more, and during the 2001 fuel scare after Sep 11, it was in the news that most vehicles don't need premium, it was a waste of money, and added no benefit to the performance of the vehicle. It's still true today. I've never used premium for anything, on anything. (and I actually do have a car that runs on gas, ... and 2 John Deere riding mowers, and a snow blower, and a generator, and a log splitter).

I accidently put low octane gas in the high compression engine of my Subaru, less than half a tank... Almost instantly it started running poorly and hard starting. After a bottle of octane booster and an ECU reset it was happy again.

My ram says 89 octane recommended, it runs ok on 86/87 but the fuel economy drops a bit.

The new ram I'm shopping say premium required, not sure why they changed that.