subject: Premium Vs Regular: What Porsche And Audi Service Experts Say [print this page] When your stopping for gas for a fill up in your luxury sports car, you often have the choice between regular gas, premium or super premium. From Charlotte, NC to Wilsonville, Oregon, Audi service professionals are often asked whether it's worth paying extra for premium gasoline. Premium gas may be more expensive than regular, but most Audi and Porsche service experts strongly suggest eating the cost and filling your sports car up with the good stuff. (Some engines even require it.)
If you own a high-performance car, you should always consider using premium gasoline. Here are the top five reasons to opt for premium instead of regular:
1. You can achieve higher horsepower. According to Porsche service gurus, cars intended to run on high-octane gas can lose up to 5 percent of their power when run on regular. The loss is due to engine knocking, which makes your sports car less efficient. Because premium gas is so refined, it reduces knocking and makes your car run more smoothly, squeezing out that extra bit of horsepower. Premium gas can also improve your acceleration by up to half a second, in a zero to sixty mile per hour acceleration.
2. High-performance engines experience fewer service problems. For drivers of a high-end Ferrari or Porsche, service costs may be reduced in the long term by opting for premium gas instead of regular. Unlike regular fuel, premium doesn't leave deposits in the engine, the buildup of which can clog sensitive parts such as exhaust chambers and pistons.
3. Older vehicles can last longer. For older sports cars, Wilsonville, Oregon Audi service pros recommend using premium gas, which burns hotter than regular and keeps the engine cleaner. This, in turn, helps extend the life of the vehicle.
4. You own a supercharger engine. Supercharger engines get their power boost by forcing extra air into the engine - the more oxygen available, the stronger the combustion. (Remember, a fire needs oxygen to burn.) Because supercharger engines pump in fuel and air so rapidly (faster than the car's sensors can adjust for engine knock), it's best to use premium gas to keep engine knock down.
5. Premium gas doesn't cost as much as people think. Although many consumers think of premium gasoline as expensive, it's not quite as pricey as many people believe. Typically, premium gas costs about a dime more than regular. That means if you're purchasing 20 gallons of fuel, opting for premium adds only around $4 to your final tab. For sports car owners who want to get optimum performance from their vehicles, it's often worth it.
All in all, filling up with regular gas in order to save a few bucks can have a long-term negative impact on the engine, even if you don't notice any problems right away. To find out whether premium fuel is recommended for your car, consult your owner's manual to see whether it says "premium fuels required" or "premium fuels suggested," or contact a Wilsonville, Oregon, Audi service for advice.
