In these days of soaring gas prices, you may be tempted to switch from premium to regular gas. A good way to save money, or something penny-wise but pound foolish? Bankrate.com reports...
Voice over 1: You don�t need a reporter to tell you what�s happening with gas prices. And the higher the octane the higher the price. So the temptation is there�should you switch to regular to save a few bucks?
Voice over 2: There�s no argument that if your engine is knocking, the octane you�re using isn�t high enough. Beyond that, there�s disagreement. Some experts say regular is fine for most cars. Some insist it isn�t.
Voice over 3: Mainstream advice, like you�ll get from the Federal Trade Commission and Petroleum Institute, say to follow the recommendation in your owner�s manual.
Voice over 4: But some consumers use premium when it isn�t called for. They just think it�s better. Well, according the Federal Trade Commission, �Using a higher octane gasoline than your owner's manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit.� It won't make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.
Voice over 5: So when you approach a pump, don�t think of gas as �regular,� �plus� or �super.� Think of it as A, B or C. If your car takes A, use A. B and C aren�t right for your car, and they�re a waste of money.
Voice over 6: So why do so many drivers think premium will improve their performance? That�s no mystery. The name alone implies it�s better, as does all the advertising at the pump. At least in the early 90s the FTC stopped allowing oil to run TV ads saying it�s better. Even so,
SOT: Is premium better than regular?
Standup: The word premium is a marketing term to make more expensive gas sound better. Premium gas isn�t better...it�s just different. Use it if you have to, but never if you don�t. For Bankrate.com, I'm Kristin Arnold.