(February 9, 2009) – Some owner’s manuals say certain automobiles require premium (expensive) gasoline.  Sometimes that’s bunk.  Sometimes the requirement is placed in the manuals so that the manufacturer can advertise a higher horsepower – horsepower that you probably don’t need.

The kind of gasoline you require depends a lot on how you drive.  With gasoline prices creeping up again, it’s important to know what you really need to spend. Here’s the way to test.  Drive until your tank is almost empty, then fill up with regular unleaded gas.  Drive as you normally do.  If you don’t hear the engine pinging and if you get the same gas mileage,  your car will do just fine on the less expensive gasoline.