Americans wasted $2.1 billion on premium gas during the last year

[FlyingPenguin]

My father is one of these people. He used to always buy premium back in the 70s and 80s. Even today he runs a tank of premium through his car every once in a while to "clean things out".

I had a Cadillac STS that HAD to use premium due to being a high compression engine. I was told by mechanics I trusted that while throwing a tank of regular in there once in a while, like if I had no choice, wouldn't hurt anything, but over the long term it would cause a lot of problems. Loved that car but I was happy to stop paying for premium when I got rid of it.

http://www.businessinsider.com/american ... m=referral

[normalicy]

Yeah, I had a Cadillac that needed premium too. Got real cranky without it. My Dodge Ram with a Hemi doesn't like the regular as much as the mid grade stuff. But yeah, most new cars don't need anything but regular.

[Err]

It would help if manufacturers would put on the gas cap the recommended octane. My 5.7L 2010 Charger took 89 (mid grade) and my 5.7L 2010 Challenger takes 91 (premium). Our 2010 3.8L Town and country runs either 87 or 89. The book recommends 89 if towing.

[Pugsley]

I just wish they would post cetane values on Diesel. You never know what your getting at the pumps.