Is Premium 98-Octane Fuel Worth the Cost for Your Car?

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At gas stations around the world, premium 98-octane fuel often sits beside regular 91 or 95-octane options, usually at a noticeably higher price. Many drivers assume that the most expensive fuel must be the best choice for their car, promising better performance or cleaner operation.

However, the reality is more complex. Whether 98-octane fuel is a valuable investment or an unnecessary expense depends largely on the type of vehicle you drive and how it is engineered.

To understand the difference, it’s important to know what octane rating means. The octane number measures a fuel’s resistance to “knocking” — premature combustion inside the engine’s cylinders.

High-performance or luxury engines, which operate at higher compression ratios, require higher-octane fuel to prevent knocking and ensure smooth power delivery. In these engines, 98-octane fuel allows for maximum performance, efficiency, and durability.

For luxury and sports cars, using 98-octane fuel is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Cars designed by manufacturers like BMW, Porsche, or Mercedes-AMG are tuned to run on high-octane fuel.

Using lower-octane gasoline in such engines can cause knocking, reduced power, and potential long-term damage. In these cases, the extra cost of premium fuel is justified as it ensures the vehicle performs as intended by the manufacturer.

However, for regular cars, the situation is different. Most everyday vehicles are designed to run efficiently on 91 or 95-octane fuel. Filling the tank with 98-octane gasoline in such engines won’t provide noticeable benefits in performance, fuel economy, or longevity.

The engine’s control system will simply adjust to burn the higher-octane fuel without taking full advantage of its potential. In other words, it’s like paying for premium quality you can’t use—an unnecessary expense.

That said, using 98-octane fuel occasionally won’t harm a regular car. Some drivers use it once in a while to clean the combustion system or for peace of mind on long trips, but it should not replace regular fuel as a routine choice.