Which Hyundais need premium gas?

Each year, Hyundai releases new vehicles that improve on previous models. There are a few things that determine how well a vehicle performs. The power of the engine, fuel efficiency, handling, and smoothness of the acceleration are just a few of these. As Hyundai continues to improve and refine these areas, it may lead to some changes in how you operate your vehicle. For example, if you’ve always put regular gas in your vehicle, you may now be better off with premium instead.

But what exactly is premium gas, and when should you put it in your Hyundai vehicle? If you’re unsure, Hyundai of Auburn is here to help. Below, we’ll explain the differences between premium and regular gas along with which Hyundai models would benefit from using premium.

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What’s the Difference Between Premium and Regular Gas?

The biggest difference between premium and regular gas is that premium gas is of a higher octane. While regular gas typically has an octane of around 87, premium gas comes in between 91 to 94. This is important because higher octane gas is better balanced and is less likely to spontaneously combust. This allows the engine to perform better, especially in more luxury vehicles.

Most vehicles that require premium gas either have a turbocharged or a high-compression engine. These high-performance engines are better able to hit their increased horsepower thanks to premium gas’s higher resistance to engine knock. And while you can use premium gas in other vehicles, you likely don’t need to and can instead opt for the more affordable regular gas.

Why Does Premium Gas Cost More?

The primary reason that premium gas costs more is that it’s more expensive to produce. One reason for this is that U.S. regulations require sulfur levels to be under 10 parts per million. The sulfur reduction process also lowers the octane level, so the process is more challenging for premium gas.

Other potential causes include greater domestic production of light crude oil and caps on benzene. Since there is more domestic production of light crude oil, this has led to a surplus of naphta, which is a lower-octane feedstock. Due to this surplus, refiners have started blending the lower-octane stock into their gas, which means more of a focus on regular gasoline over premium. As for benzene caps, it poses a significant health risk, which is where it’s heavily regulated. These strict limits force refiners to spend more resources on measuring benzene levels, leaving less time and money for premium gas production.

In short, gas companies must spend more resources refining and collecting premium gas compared to regular gas, which is why they have to charge more for it. You should, therefore, only use premium gas if you’re actually going to get some benefit from it.

Is Premium Gas More Fuel-Efficient?

It’s also important to note that despite some myths to the contrary, premium gas doesn’t really impact fuel efficiency. You may see a slight improvement because your engine is running better with premium gas, but there’s nothing in the fuel that makes it last longer. So, if you’re looking to maximize your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, you may be better off exploring one of Hyundai’s hybrid models rather than one that uses premium gas.

Does Premium Gas Clean Your Engine?

Unfortunately, no, premium gas won’t clean your engine. When we talk about engine cleaning, we talk about removing carbon buildup from inside the engine. Carbon buildup will happen over time regardless of the type of fuel you use. If you’re concerned about cleaning your engine, there are some detergents you can use that help to reduce carbon deposits. However, the best course of action is a regular service visit to a trusted Hyundai service center.

Which Hyundai Models Use Premium Gas?

To ensure you’re putting the right fuel type in your vehicle, it’s important to know whether regular or premium fuel is preferred. Fortunately, this is rather simple with Hyundai vehicles. For most models and in most years, you can put regular gasoline into the tank. Putting premium fuel into your Hyundai won’t damage it, but you’re likely paying extra and not receiving any benefits.

However, there are a few exceptions. Some newer-model Hyundai vehicles can come with a turbocharged engine, in which case you’ll want to consider using premium fuel. For example, the 2024 Hyundai SANTA FE can come with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in some models.

Some other Hyundai models that have an available turbocharged engine are the 2023 Hyundai KONA, the 2023 Hyundai ELANTRA N, and the 2023 Hyundai SANTA FE. If you get one of these vehicles or another model with a turbocharged engine, you can use premium gas to get the most out of your engine and a better ride quality.

Learn More About Hyundai Vehicles at Hyundai of Auburn

Here at Hyundai of Auburn, we pride ourselves on making the car-buying experience as simple and quick as possible. That’s why we offer numerous tools on our website that can speed up your car-buying journey. For starters, you can browse through our new inventory or our pre-owned models right from the comfort of your home. After that, you can value your trade-in to see what it’s worth, then plug that number into our payment calculator to see what you can afford. Finally, if you plan on financing your next vehicle, you can get preapproved online in no time.

Find Your Next Vehicle at Hyundai of Auburn

Still have questions about using premium gas in your Hyundai model? Or maybe you’d like to explore some of the Hyundai models for yourself, including the ones that rely on premium gas? In either case, if you’re in the Auburn, Alabama, area, then Hyundai of Auburn is here to help. Get started today with any of our online tools, call us at 334-321-0777 or contact us to schedule a visit to our dealership. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you find the perfect Hyundai vehicle for your needs.

a man pumping gas into his car at a gas station by sippakorn yamkasikorn is licensed with Unsplash License