Is Premium Gas Worth It?

Premium gasoline (91 or 93 octane) costs $0.15 to $0.25 more per litre than regular (87 octane) at most Canadian stations. On a 50-litre fill-up, that’s $7.50 to $12.50 extra. Over a year of weekly fill-ups, you’re spending $390 to $650 more for premium fuel. The question is whether your car gets any benefit from it.

For the vast majority of cars on Canadian roads, the answer is no. If your owner’s manual says "regular unleaded" or "87 octane," using premium provides zero benefit. Premium gas does not clean your engine, does not improve fuel economy, does not extend engine life, and does not make your car faster. Modern engine management systems are calibrated to run optimally on the fuel grade specified by the manufacturer.

The key distinction is between "premium required" and "premium recommended." If your manual says required, you must use it — the engine has a high compression ratio that needs higher octane to prevent knocking. This is common in luxury and sports cars (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, many Audi models, Lexus performance trims). If it says recommended, the engine can safely use regular fuel. It will automatically adjust ignition timing — you may lose a marginal amount of horsepower (usually unnoticeable in daily driving), but you’ll save hundreds per year.

The myth that premium gas is "better quality" or "cleaner" persists because of effective marketing. All grades of gasoline sold in Canada must meet the same Canadian General Standards Board standards for detergent additives. Regular gas has the same cleaning additives as premium. The only difference is the octane rating, which affects knock resistance — not fuel quality.

If you’re unsure what your car requires, check the fuel door or the owner’s manual. If it says "87 octane" or "regular unleaded," that’s all you need. Save the $390–$650 per year and put it toward something that actually benefits your car, like proper maintenance, quality tires, or a dashcam.