LEWISBURG -- Putting gasoline in our vehicles is a necessity, but are you paying more than you need to?
A new study found buying premium grade gas may be a waste of money.
Tammy Sinibildi filled up her Nissan Altima at Fuel On on Route 15 in Lewisburg. Regular gasoline there is $2.18 a gallon and that's what she is buying.
"It's cheaper. I have to drive farther to work and it's cheaper."
Sinibildi's boyfriend puts premium gasoline in his vehicle and tells her she should do the same. But she does not see the need.
"I think my car runs the same either way. I'm not going to waste the money on premium."
According to a recent study by AAA, Sinibildi is right. The study finds that American drivers waste more than $2 billion a year on premium gas.
"Most people do not need it," said Andy Ramirez at Kost Tire and Auto. "Probably 95 percent of the motoring public have no need for premium gasoline."
Ramirez is the lead mechanic at Kost Tire and Auto in Williamsport. He agrees with the AAA study.
"Today's vehicles are made to run as well as possible on no matter what you put in them. If you want to put the cheapest gasoline you can find, throw it off in there."
In fact, AAA's tests revealed there is no benefit to using premium gasoline in a vehicle that requires regular unleaded fuel.
Clair Grove of Selinsgrove agrees. He tried premium fuel once.
"There's a difference in price, but not in performance for me."
When it comes to figuring out what kind of gas you need for your car, AAA recommends you follow your owner's manual. It will tell you right here.
Some drivers have to use premium fuel. Carl Kizis needs it for his pickup truck.
"You can't put that cheap stuff in, it doesn't seem to run real good," Kizis said. "(Cheap gas) will make a ping like sometimes."
But according to AAA, unless your vehicle requires it, premium gasoline does not mean better gasoline.
