Can you blame drivers for choosing and 87 Octane fuel instead of the 92 Octane or something even high? It’s tough enough to pay the $4 a gallon (and even more in some places), but it’s even more difficult to pay another 20 cents or more per gallon on top of that.
For some car owners, using regular unleaded simply isn’t an option. Some cars require it in order to prevent damage to the engine. But some of them are using the cheaper grades anyway.
This is creating some chaos for gas station owners. With people using mostly regular unleaded, it’s difficult to predict how much mid-grade or premium gas to order. In some cases, they are even running out of the regular grade and they have to shut down some pumps until more fuel arrives.
One driver in Queens, New York drove to three different gas stations in his area before finding one with regular fuel. His car requires premium, but he says the savings are worth it even though he hears a “pinging” in his engine every once in awhile. “When premium hit $4.10 a gallon, I realized there was a sliding scale between performance and economizing,” he said. Many Americans are reflecting those sentiments as well.
With most new and certified pre-owned vehicles from your local Buick dealer, you can get by with using regular gasoline, too. Don’t let the high prices of premium fuel break your budget. Get a car that runs well on regular fuel instead of needing premium grades for ultimate performance.
