Octane Booster vs Premium Gas: Which is the Better Choice for Your Car?
Octane booster and premium gas are two products that are designed to increase the octane rating of gasoline. Octane rating is the measure of a fuel's ability to resist "knocking" or detonation, which can cause engine damage or failure. High-performance cars and racing vehicles require higher octane fuel to avoid knocking and achieve optimal performance.
But which one should you choose: octane booster or premium gas? In the following sections, we will compare the two products based on their differences, benefits, and drawbacks, to help you make an informed decision.
What Is Octane Booster?
Octane booster is an additive that is mixed with pump gasoline to increase the octane rating of your fuel. It is a popular choice among car enthusiasts who want to efficiently/effectively improve the performance of their car's engine. Where successful octane boosters like BOOSTane Engineering separates themselves from other brands is that not only will it improve the overall performance of your engine by increasing the ignition timing, it provides the capability to tune your engine to high octane levels (over 100 octane) with the BOOSTane Professional Blend.
Essentially, most effective octane boosters come in a highly concentrated liquid to blend with pump gas. Mixing a higher than recommended ratio of octane booster to pump gas or using it solely as a fuel replacement can and may cause damage to your engine, so it is imperative to select an octane booster like Boostane which provides an online mixing calculator to help achieve proper octane levels at all times.
In terms of costs, because octane boosters generally come in concentrated form, it has the ability to convert as much as a full tank of pump gas, in some cases even more (depending on the application) with just a few ounces. Where octane boosters thrive greatly in terms of costs is whenever an upgraded performance demands the use for race fuel.
Typically, 100 octane race fuel is offered in either 5 gallon pails valued easily over $100 or as much as 55gal drums, whereas 32 ounces of Boostane Professional when blended properly with 93 octane from the pump will yield 32 gallons of 100 octane for a for a fraction of the cost.
What Is Premium Gas?
Premium gas is a type of gasoline that has a higher octane rating than regular gas. In the United States, premium gas has an octane rating of 91 or higher, while regular gas has an octane rating of 87. Premium gas is typically more expensive than regular gas, but it is required for some high-performance cars and racing vehicles. Like octane boosters, not all gasoline (regardless of octane levels) is created equal.
Top-tier gas is a particular type of pump fuel that has enhanced detergents that protects the engine better than what most gasoline provides. As a result, the cost of using Top Tier fuel is more expensive. The way to determine whether or not a gas station offers Top Tier gas is to check for the official logo at the pump indicating that Top Tier gas is provided. This applies to all grade levels sold at the pump.
Key Differences
The main difference between octane booster and premium gas is that octane booster is an additive that increases the octane rating of regular gas, while premium gas already has a higher octane rating than regular gas.
Octane booster is also more affordable than premium gas, but it requires more frequent use since it only increases the octane rating of the gasoline that it is mixed with. On the other hand, premium gas is more expensive but does not require any additional additives.
Octane Booster vs Premium Gas: Benefits
Both octane booster and premium gas offer benefits that can improve the performance of your car's engine.
The benefits of octane booster include:
- Increased horsepower
- Better fuel efficiency
- Improved acceleration
- Reduced engine knock
- Improved throttle response
The benefits of premium gas include:
- Improved engine performance
- Better fuel economy
- Cleaner engine combustion
- Reduced emissions
- Enhanced engine longevity
Octane Booster vs Premium Gas: Drawbacks
While both octane booster and premium gas offer benefits, they also have their drawbacks.
The drawbacks of octane booster include:
- More frequent use required
- Can be harmful to catalytic converters (certain brands)
- May cause engine deposits (certain brands)
- Misuse can/may cause damage to your engine
The drawbacks of premium gas include:
- More expensive than regular gas
- Not necessary for all cars
- May not improve performance
Final Thoughts
It is not only valuable to understand the differences of octane booster versus premium gasoline but the advantages and disadvantages as well when using them with your vehicle prior to use. Overall, octane boosters can be an affordable than premium gas for boosting engine performance and offering additional benefits.
