Fueling Performance: Do INFINITI Cars Need Premium Gas?

Does your INFINITI really need premium gas? Learn about gas types and the impact they can have on your vehicle and its performance in this guide.

When it comes to fueling your INFINITI, choosing the right type of gas is essential to keeping your vehicle running smoothly, efficiently, and reliably. While it might be tempting to save a few dollars at the pump by purchasing the cheapest fuel, doing so can negatively impact the performance and longevity of your vehicle’s engine. 

Read on to learn everything you need to know about INFINITI gas types — from the benefits of using premium gasoline to the potential consequences of using regular fuel. 

What Type of Gas Does INFINITI Take? 

Let’s start by directly answering the question that brought you here in the first place: do INFINITI cars need premium gas? The short answer is yes, INFINITI recommends using premium fuel in their vehicles. But why? 

It all comes down to octane ratings — the thing that sets premium fuel above the rest. Octane is a chemical compound that determines how stable a fuel is. Higher octane levels enable fuel to withstand more heat and pressure before self-combusting. In high-performance, precision-engineered engines like the one found in your INFINITI, those two elements are abundant. As such, INFINITI recommends fuels with an octane rating of 91 or higher for their modern vehicles to help maintain engine health, performance, and efficiency.

What Happens If You Put Regular Gas in an INFINITI?

Whereas premium typically has an octane rating of 91–94, regular gasoline generally falls within the 85-87 range. Ultimately, this lower octane rating translates to an increased likelihood of spontaneous combustion — a phenomenon where the heat and pressure generated by an engine are enough to auto-ignite fuel, with no spark needed. 

When auto-ignition occurs, it can attempt to rapidly reverse the direction of your engine’s pistons, causing pressure to spike within their cylinders. This excess pressure places extreme stress on crucial engine components, which can lead to severe engine damage. 

So, how do you know whether low-octane fuel is causing problems for your INFINITI? Auto-ignition from low-octane fuels can present itself in several ways, so watch out for these symptoms: 

• Engine Knocking or Pinging: When spontaneous combustion occurs, the controlled ignition created by your engine’s spark plugs and the uncontrolled ignition from the fuel’s premature combustion overlap. During this overlap, the pressure waves from the two explosions collide, producing an audible knocking or pinging sound within the affected cylinders. 
• Decreased Engine Performance: To help prevent severe engine damage, most modern vehicles utilize a knock sensor to identify spontaneous combustion. When the sensor detects knocking, the engine control unit (ECU) will dial back ignition timing so that spark plugs fire before the low-octane fuel self-combusts. Unfortunately, this means that fuel isn’t being compressed to its fullest extent, reducing the power of the explosion, and leaving performance on the table. 
• Reduced Fuel Efficiency: If your ECU is adjusting timing to prevent damage, it doesn’t just reduce performance, it also decreases fuel efficiency, since unburnt fuel is being allowed to exit through your vehicle’s exhaust system. Additionally, lower performance means that your engine has to work harder to go the same distance — burning more fuel in the process. 

I Used the Wrong Fuel Type in My INFINITI; What Now? 

Using the right fuel is crucial to keeping your vehicle operating as intended — by using premium unleaded gasoline in your INFINITI, you can help maintain its engine health, fuel efficiency, and performance. 

If you’re still unsure of which fuel to choose or are experiencing concerning symptoms after using regular gas in your vehicle, visit Ed Hicks INFINITI for expert advice and diagnostics. The trained technicians at our service center can help you choose the best fuel for your car and address any mechanical concerns so that your INFINITI continues performing at its peak. Schedule an appointment online today!