Talking with some friends, and each of us have had this happen to us at different stations around my tri-city area.

I’ve paid at the pump before getting gas and picked the bronze fuel but noticed that the pump authorized for premium. (Usually I just hit $100 to fill the tank.) Before pumping I cancel the transaction and try again. It always works fine on the second go. Is this the pump, or station attendant that authorizes the pump to flow?

It’s happened to me twice, my one buddy 5 times, and a third friend said it’s also happened to him before. Sounds like a well established scam, but I could be wrong and it’s just a computer glitch.

Has this ever happens to you?

Do you have a car with a turbo, or high compression? If your car doesn’t need premium, you probably shouldn’t use it

Premium is not more powerful gas, octane is a resistance to ignition and a higher octane fuel won’t give you more horsepower it is recommended only for engines with turbos, superchargers or high compression ratios. If you use 91 in an engine designed for 87 it can cause knocking and engine noise. Most fuel has detergents blended in, so higher octane won’t clean out your engine either. Running 91 in a motor designed for 87 will do little except cost you more money.

Also hand tools like chainsaws, weed whackers and some mowers use 91 because they have high compression, you should never run 87 in them

I would assume that your fuel filter would catch most of that, but I could be wrong

I’m pretty sure that the new ecoboost F150s with a V6 call for 87 most of the time, but should have 91 when towing because the turbos need it.

Every motor is different and you should use the right gas for the right application

Here a bit of the science