010 | What Gas Should You Really Use? A Fuel Tanker Driver Breaks Down Premium, Regular, E85 & More
About this episode
A gasoline tanker driver shares insider knowledge about fuel types, delivery, and what really goes into your gas tank. From crude oil origins to refinery processes, the episode explains differences between regular, mid-grade, premium, racing fuel, and E85 ethanol blends. It debunks myths about fuel grades, highlights the importance of top tier additives, and warns about shady practices at independent stations. Practical advice is given on choosing the right fuel based on your vehicle’s manual and fuel cap, plus tips on handling accidental wrong fuel use. The episode offers a clear, behind-the-scenes look at fueling your car smarter.
Confused about what gas to put in your car? Wondering if premium is worth it—or what E85 even is? This episode has all the answers.
In this power-packed episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I break down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about fuel—from how it’s made to which type your car actually needs. And yes, I know what I’m talking about... because I literally drive the fuel to your gas station. 😎
We’ll explore:
⛽️ What really makes premium, mid-grade, and regular different
🚗 Should you run E85 in your car? (It depends!)
🛢️ Where gasoline comes from and how it gets to your local pump
⚠️ What “Top Tier” fuel means—and why it might save your engine
💸 Are you wasting money by using the wrong gas?
🏁 What racing fuel is—and who actually needs it
🧼 Additives, ethanol, octane ratings, and myths—all decoded
Whether you're a car enthusiast, weekend tuner, or just tired of guessing at the pump, this episode will help you fuel smarter and protect your engine (and your wallet).
🙌 Support the Show:
💬 Liked this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more people find the show!
📲 Follow to get new episodes every week on cars, culture, and horsepower.
00:00 – ⛽️ Ever Wonder What Fuel You *Should* Be Using?
00:31 – 🎧 Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
01:08 – 🧪 What *Is* Gasoline? Petro vs. Fuel vs. Gas
02:00 – 🦕 From Dinosaurs to Your Tank: Where Gas Comes From
04:09 – 🔥 How Crude Oil Becomes the Fuel You Use
05:11 – 📊 Fuel Grades Explained: Regular, Mid, Premium
06:02 – 🚛 My Life as a Gasoline Tanker Driver
07:17 – 🛢️ How Gas Gets Delivered: Pipelines, Transmix & Storage
08:13 – 🏁 Inside the Delivery Process: What Really Happens at the Station
10:18 – 🧪 What Makes Each Brand’s Gas Different? Additives Explained
12:09 – 🎯 Octane Demystified: What Those Numbers Really Mean
14:14 – 🧪 Mid-Grade Magic? How It’s *Really* Made at the Pump
16:12 – 👑 Premium Fuel: Who Needs It (and Who Doesn’t)
18:00 – 😱 What Happens If You Use the Wrong Gas?
19:23 – 🏎️ Race Fuel 101: Who Should Use 100+ Octane?
21:06 – 🌽 E85 Ethanol: High Power, Low Cost, But Worth It?
24:52 – 📉 Real Talk: MPG Loss with E85 (Chris’s Data)
26:44 – 📘 How to Know What Fuel *Your* Car Needs
27:18 – ✅ What Is “Top Tier” Gas and Why It Matters
29:03 – 🧼 Fuel Additives & Engine Cleanliness
31:22 – 🚫 The Risk of Shady Gas Stations (and Filter Horror Stories)
33:32 – 🧃 Salvaged Fuel? Wild Stories from Small Stations
35:43 – ✔️ How to Choose a Reliable Gas Station
36:10 – 📖 Don’t Guess—Check Your Manual or Gas Cap
37:18 – 💸 Will Premium Improve a Car That Only Needs Regular?
38:24 – 💛 Can *Your* Car Run on E85? Here’s How to Tell
40:13 – 🚀 Tuning for Power: Why Performance Cars Run E85
41:53 – 🙌 Outro + Leave a Review (Thanks for Listening!)
fuel types explained, premium vs regular gas, E85 fuel, top tier gas, octane rating, gas station secrets, mid-grade fuel, race fuel, ethanol vs gas, best gas for your car, gasoline 101, fuel tips from a pro, tanker driver podcast, how gas gets delivered, automotive podcast
#AutomotivePodcast #FuelTips #E85 #PremiumGas #CoolCarsWithChris #OctaneExplained #Gasoline101 #TopTierGas #CarCareTips
Nissan 370Z
"... full potential. I know that when I had my Nissan 370Z, it said right on the fuel cap and on the fuel do..."
Chevrolet Corvette
"... of performance car, probably a Porsche, I'm sure Corvettes, I'm sure definitely Lamborghinis and Ferraris, I..."
Volkswagen Jetta
"regular like, I don't know, Jetta, it's going to run great if I run premium in ther..."
Nissan Gtr
"with the 85. I saw a Nissan GTR getting 85 at a gas station."
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.