Do Audi Cars Need Premium Gas?

Audi recommends you use premium gas in almost every model. However, most drivers don't understand what premium gas is or why they need it. So, we asked our engine experts here at Audi Mission Viejo to explain the different types of gas and how they affect your Audi. We'll also address some common misconceptions of what might happen if you use the wrong gasoline.

What Is Premium Gas?

Oil refineries rate gasoline by octane levels. Simply put, the octane rating is the fuel's ability to withstand heat before combustion occurs. It's important to understand that octane isn't an ingredient. When you buy 89-octane gas, you aren't getting fuel with 89% octane. 

The lower the octane rating you see, the sooner the fuel will combust. Conversely, the higher octane gas will take longer to ignite. Audi engineered its engines to ignite the gas inside the cylinders at precise compression levels. As a result, premium gas is recommended for peak performance.

Gas stations sell fuel with octane ratings ranging from 87 to 94. Some gas stations use names such as regular, premium, and super as marketing tools, but there's no industry standard per se. However, most gas companies call 87-88 octane fuel regular gasoline. Then, they label 89-90 octane gas mid-grade and 91-92 octane fuel as premium. 

Most experts agree that premium gas has a minimum octane rating of 91. Some companies label 93-94 octane gas as super, super-premium, ultra-premium, or something similar. 

It's important to remember that the label isn't as crucial as the octane rating. So, if your owners manual recommends you use 87 octane gas, you can use fuel with an 87 or higher octane rating. You won't harm your engine using a higher-rated fuel than recommended. Some people believe higher-octane fuel improves power and efficiency, but that isn't the case. It won't make your engine get better mileage or produce more power. 

However, if you use a lower-octane fuel than recommended, it could cause damage to your engine components. Audi's lineup includes models with turbocharged engines and high compression ratios. As a result, these engines need a higher-octane fuel that won't ignite early. Igniting before the proper compression results in a loss of power and efficiency.

How Octane Affects Combustion

Your Audi engine has four, six, eight, or 10 cylinders depending on the model. With every camshaft revolution, the cylinders open, and a fuel/air mixture is injected. Then, the cylinder closes, the mixture compresses to a precise ratio, and a spark ignites the fuel. This fuel explosion creates energy that rotates the camshaft and transfers the power to the transmission. The transmission then sends that power to the axles to propel the vehicle.

A cylinder fires once for every two camshaft rotations. So, at 3,000 revolutions per minute, a cylinder produces a contained explosion 1,500 times. The occasional early combustion won't harm your engine, but it can damage the cylinders and related components if it happens frequently. And with the number of cylinders firing every second, misfires can add up quickly. 

Unfortunately, using a lower-rated octane fuel can cause early combustion. Also known as misfires, early combustion happens when the fuel explodes early, not by the spark ignition but because the compression ratio is too high for the fuel.

When a misfire occurs, your engine makes a knocking sound. Knocking could indicate a serious problem with your engine, or it could be caused by low-octane gas. We recommend you switch to the proper fuel if you hear knocking. And if the sound persists, have our service center inspect your Audi immediately to avoid serious damage.

Audi Models That Need Premium Gasoline

If your Audi has a turbocharged engine, you need to use premium-grade gasoline. However, you can use regular gas if your Audi has a naturally-aspirated engine. Here's a list of Audi models that need premium fuel.

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 has a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine capable of 228 horsepower and requires premium fuel.

Audi Q5

This stylish SUV features a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower and uses premium gas. In addition, Audi offers the Q5 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that boosts power to 362 horsepower.

Audi Q7

Audi's seven-passenger SUV offers sleek style and impressive performance with a 335-hp engine that drinks premium gas.

Audi Q8

The Q8 has a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo engine that produces 335 horsepower and uses premium fuel.

Audi A3

The Audi A3 sedan's inline four-cylinder engine has a turbocharger that requires premium gas to put out 201 horsepower.

Audi A4

You have a 261-hp inline four-cylinder turbo engine that requires premium fuel.

Audi A5

Multiple powertrain options with the A5 provide turbocharged power, from the inline four-cylinder that makes 261 horsepower to the 3.0-liter V-6 with twin turbochargers that produce 444 horsepower. These engines need premium fuel for peak performance.

FAQs

Why Do Some Cars Require Premium Fuel?

The compression ratio of the engine determines the need for premium fuel. Generally speaking, a turbocharged engine operates at higher compression ratios, requiring high-octane fuel to withstand the compression without misfiring.

What Happens if You Put Regular Gas in Your Audi Instead of Premium?

We always recommend using the proper fuel in your Audi. However, if you need gas and the station you stopped at only has regular fuel, you can still use it. It would be best if you only added enough to get you to another gas station with premium gas, though.

Is It Worth It To Use Premium Fuel?

Yes, if your Audi was designed for premium fuel. Using premium gas on these Audi models helps them perform at their best, providing the power and efficiency you've come to expect from Audi.

 

Explore the 2023 Audi Lineup In Mission Viejo

Audi has long produced luxury cars and SUVs with impressive performance. As a result, most models require premium fuel. If you're searching for a stylish and capable vehicle to elevate your Mission Viejo, California, commute, we invite you to shop our virtual inventory. You can visit our Marguerite Parkway dealership if you prefer a more personalized experience. One of our professional staff will answer your questions and let you test-drive your favorite Audi model.