A man is going viral on TikTok after pointing out what he calls a gas station "hack" he stumbled across while filling up in Texas. User @malibu197960 filmed himself at an H-E-B on Goliad Road in San Antonio, where he noticed something unusual at the pumps. According to him, both unleaded and mid-grade options were unavailable. "UNLEADED & MID-GRADE OUT-OF-ORDER," a sign on the pump read. That left premium as the only option. But instead of charging more for it, the content creator says the station dropped the price to match regular gas, listing it at $3.83 per gallon. He framed it as a lucky break, especially for drivers who normally wouldn’t pay for premium. The clip quickly gained traction, with some viewers saying they’d head to the station to take advantage, while others warned against using higher-octane fuel in cars that don’t require it. As of this writing, the video has pulled in more than 114,200 views. What’s The Difference Between Fuel Grades? According to Toyota, the difference mostly comes down to octane, which measures how well fuel resists engine knock. Regular gas is usually 87 octane, while premium runs around 91 or higher. That higher rating matters for engines built to run under more pressure, like those in sports cars or some high-end SUVs. Premium helps prevent early combustion, which can affect performance and keep those engines running as designed. For most drivers, though, it doesn’t do much. If your car is built for regular gas, filling up with premium won’t make it faster, cleaner, or more efficient. You’re just paying more, often 20 to 40 cents extra per gallon, sometimes more depending on the market. Tell us what you think! View Comments Where it actually matters is what your car requires—and it’s not clear from the video what @malibu197960’s engine needs. That said, if the owner’s manual says premium is required, using regular can lead to reduced power as the engine compensates to prevent knock. It’s usually not going to cause immediate damage, but it’s not what the engine was designed for. If the manual says premium is recommended, regular will still work, though you might lose a bit of performance. In other words, use what your car is designed to take. For most vehicles, that’s regular. Viewers In Awe At H-E-B Gas Prices People in the comments section of @malibu197960’s clip had mixed reactions, with some excited about the find and others wishing they had caught it before their last fill-up. "My BMW only takes premium," one viewer shared, adding, "Wish I would have seen this sooner." Another chimed in with some frustration, writing, "Damnnn I just filled up at Circle K." Some commenters pointed to H-E-B’s pricing as a reason they keep coming back to the grocery chain. "That’s why HEB is the best," one person said. "Got to love our H-E-B’s," another added. "And this is why HEB loves us, and we love them," a third commenter wrote. Others weren’t so convinced the so-called hack actually made sense, noting that using premium gas won’t necessarily benefit a car that doesn’t require it. "Lol, not doing your car any favor," one viewer said. Another offered a more technical take, writing, "Just remember that higher octane means higher compression and higher temperatures. Good way to damage your engine." "If I’m not mistaken, premium will raise your mpgs very little when driven NORMALLY," a third commenter said. Motor1 has reached out to @malibu197960 via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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