Paying More For Premium Fuel – Does It Really Make A Difference?

One of the most common choices you have to make when buying or leasing a new vehicle is whether to plump for a petrol or diesel engine.

What you choose often comes down to personal preference, but can also hinge on factors such as how many miles you drive (many people argue that diesel cars are better for regular long distance drivers) and the price of the fuel at the pump.

But have you ever stopped to consider whether it could be worth paying more for so called ‘super unleaded’ or ‘premium diesel’ when you pull up on the forecourt?

Firstly, let’s take a look at how premium petrol and diesel differ from their ‘regular’ counterparts.

Super unleaded petrol has a higher octane number (octane numbers are used to measure a fuel’s performance) than regular unleaded, and as such burns more efficiently. This means that it should deliver more power but burn less quickly. It’s also often known to contain things such as detergents that will help to keep the inside of your engine clean.

Just like its petrol alternative, diesel fuel that’s branded ‘premium’ is usually of a higher quality and burns more efficiently (leading to an improved MPG performance). It too usually contains additives that’ll help keep your engine dirt free.

There’s also the cost difference at the pump. When we checked petrol website petrolprices.com on 8th October, the average cost for a litre of super unleaded was 119.00p, rising to 121.98p for premium diesel.

So do they actually improve performance of your vehicle?

Unfortunately, there’s no ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer here as it depends greatly on a few different factors.

With super unleaded, it depends on the type of car you have, how you drive it and the kind of journeys you make.

The higher octane rating of super unleaded works well with high-performance engines as it can have a greater effect on the amount of available power. This is because engine pressures and temperatures are greater, so it can be used to increase the amount of horsepower and push up performance.

Vehicles with smaller (or more ‘regular’) engines don’t require the same levels of engine pressure as they’re not delivering such high levels of power - and therefore don’t benefit as much from the high-octane levels of premium unleaded.

If you’re a diesel driver, you may be surprised to know that there is usually even less difference in performance and economy should you choose the premium brand over regular diesel. There are some benefits however, as premium diesel can potentially help your engine to run more smoothly and keep it cleaner. This – over time – can help to boost your vehicle’s performance and economy.

So what can you do to test for yourself?

Well, you can do just that; test. We’d recommend trying about three to four tanks worth of premium petrol or diesel (just make sure it’s the correct one!) to see if you notice a distinct difference. If you don’t, then it’s probably worth sticking to your regular fuel. If you do, then it is over to you to decide whether the cost difference of up to 10p per litre is one you can afford.