Most people just need to pump regular gas, and they’re probably happy about it, given that anything above that is more expensive. For some people, it probably never even occurred to them to check whether their car actually requires something different.
For the majority, that’s probably fine for their car, but when you have a luxury car, it may require a higher grade of fuel. But this woman isn’t quite convinced that the higher price tag is worth it for her car.
Putting Regular Gas In Her Escalade
In a TikTok, content creator Kristin Maxine (@kmaxine.88) recounts a conversation at work that had her thinking more about the gas she puts in her car.
Maxine explains that she and her co-workers were complaining about gas prices when one of them mentioned offhand that she must be frustrated at gas prices even more than the rest of them, given that she drives a Cadillac Escalade and has to put premium in it. The problem is, Maxine doesn’t actually put premium in her car, but her co-worker insists she’s supposed to.
"They didn't tell me that when I bought it," she says.
She says he told her to check the inside of her gas cap, saying it should list the octane requirement right there. He said it should read something like 91, while regular unleaded is 87. Maxine says she had never looked at the inside of her gas cap in her life.
"Oh, OK, that's only four off; that's not bad. Four is not much," she responded to his dismay.
"I could just see the rage building in his eyes," she says.
He explained that's not how octane ratings work. The number isn't a measurement you can eyeball and approximate. You either meet the requirement, or you don't.
Maxine remained unbothered but reached out to commenters for help.
"Okay but seriously though what's gonna happen if I don't put premium in it?" she asked in the caption.
What's The Difference Between Regular And Premium Gas?
It comes down to octane rating. According to Progressive, regular gas has an octane rating of 87, midgrade falls between 88 and 90, and premium sits at 91 to 94. The octane rating measures fuel stability, specifically, how resistant the fuel is to spontaneous combustion inside the engine. Higher-octane fuel is more stable, which matters in high-performance or turbocharged engines that generate more heat and pressure.
If a car requires premium, using regular can cause engine knock, which is a knocking or pinging sound that happens when fuel ignites at the wrong moment in the combustion cycle. According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), excessive engine knocking over time can lead to expensive repairs. But there's an important distinction between "requires" and "recommends." KBB notes that mixing premium and regular is generally fine for modern vehicles; the problems only surface if a driver permanently ignores a higher-octane requirement.
The flip side is also true. Putting premium in a car designed for regular is just a waste of money. It won't make the engine run better or more efficiently. As KBB puts it, the idea that premium is a "treat" for your car only boosts the profit of the gas station.
The way to know which camp your car falls into is to check the owner's manual, the label near the gas cap, or the inside of the fuel filler door.
Commenters React
“Girllll mechanics wife here.... anyone with newer car or suv should be using premium!!! spend a lil more money now on gas so you dont spend ALOT more on parts later,” a top comment read.
“Premium gas is a scam,” a person said.
“Yes, you’re supposed to put premium in Escalades…but I get it girl lolz,” another wrote.
Motor1 reached out to Kristin Maxine for comment via email and TikTok direct message and to Cadillac via email. We'll be sure to update this if they respond.
@kmaxine.88 Okay but seriously though what’s gonna happen if I don’t put premium in it?
♬ original sound - Kristin Maxine
