Is using higher octane fuel really worth it

Hey everyone, I’ve got a 2023 Hyundai I30 N line that I share with my mom. She keeps wanting to fill it up with 95 octane instead of the minimum 91 octane and I’m not sure if that’s necessary. I feel like it’s just wasting money, but she believes it’s better for the car long term. What do you think? Is it actually beneficial

No, it just empties your wallet faster. Stick to what the owner’s manual says.

Octane measures resistance to knocking. Higher octane doesn’t automatically boost performance. If your car isn’t knocking on 87 octane, going to 93 won’t improve anything.

Mercy said:
Octane measures resistance to knocking. Higher octane doesn’t automatically boost performance. If your car isn’t knocking on 87 octane, going to 93 won’t improve anything.

Great explanation

Stick with the octane the manufacturer suggests. And always go for Top Tier gasoline, as it helps keep your fuel system clean. Look up Top Tier gas for options; Costco and Citgo are good choices.

Floydcars said:
Stick with the octane the manufacturer suggests. And always go for Top Tier gasoline, as it helps keep your fuel system clean. Look up Top Tier gas for options; Costco and Citgo are good choices.

I prefer Shell and Chevron/Texaco because they have the best additives. Exxon/Mobil is close behind, but I notice slightly lower mileage with them compared to Shell or Chevron/Texaco.

Just use what the manual recommends. Anything more is a waste of money.

Quality and octane are measured differently, which is why they have different names. As others have said, look up Top Tier gas in your area to avoid contamination.

For some cars, it can be beneficial, like Hyundai N models where higher octane really works. But for most cars, there is no advantage.

Lilyharper said:
For some cars, it can be beneficial, like Hyundai N models where higher octane really works. But for most cars, there is no advantage.

Doesn’t apply to the Ioniq 5 N though

/s

Lilyharper said:
For some cars, it can be beneficial, like Hyundai N models where higher octane really works. But for most cars, there is no advantage.

If you tune your car to use higher octane, then it can help, usually in performance-focused cars like the N-Line or N models.

Lilyharper said:
For some cars, it can be beneficial, like Hyundai N models where higher octane really works. But for most cars, there is no advantage.

I had a Sonata N Line recently and just used cheap unleaded fuel. Not that I liked that car anyway

@MYLES
N Line is not the same as N.

Follow what’s in the manual. It will say if higher octane is beneficial.

Fill it according to the specifications.

Higher octane fuel often isn’t oxygenated. I use it for anything that might sit for a while. Otherwise, just use what the car calls for. No E85 for me, but I had a Cadillac that required high octane and you could tell if you used regular.

How many times do we need to answer this? What does the owner’s manual say? Use what is recommended.

You probably won’t notice any performance difference. You will feel the cost though.

I assume there’s no benefit unless the car is old and has knocking issues. Most modern turbo engines are fine with regular.

I can guarantee the fuel during your test drive was the lowest octane available nearby.