It’s a constant battle–trying to save money on gas while still reaping premium fuel benefits for your certified Toyota. You love your vehicle’s pep and smooth ride, and want to know if premium fuels make any difference in the drive or life of your car. So, do they? Let’s take a look at what premium fuels really are and what, if anything, they can do for you.

So just what is a premium fuel? The only real difference is that premium fuels have a higher octane rating. The higher the octane number, the less the fuel ignites by itself before the spark plugs get to it. When fuel pre-ignites, it’s called “engine knock,” and it can damage an engine over time. Different engines require different octane levels to prevent pre-ignition. Not all cars require higher octane levels to prevent engine knock, however, which means you could be wasting your money if you buy premium fuel. Will it matter with your new or pre-owned certified Toyota?

The most important thing you can do is to check your owner’s manual. It will tell you what octane rating you need in order to protect your engine. No matter where you are, from Florrisant to St Louis to Kirkwood to O’Fallon, the pump will also list the octane rating for each level of fuel. Just make sure the gas you’re filling up with has at least the octane rating your car needs, and you’re good to go.

So what can premium fuels provide if your certified Toyota doesn’t require them? Well, you should know that they don’t burn any cleaner. No matter what you’ve heard, they won’t keep your engine running more smoothly, either. It doesn’t matter what is added to the fuel, it’s probably not in sufficient quantities to help your engine in any real way. So check your manual, and go with the recommended octane level. Your car will be happy, your engine will run smoothly, and you’ll save a bit of cash at the pump.