Texas Gas Station Halts Regular and Mid-Grade Fuel, Sells Only Discounted Premium

A man refueling at an H-E-B gas station on Goliad Road in San Antonio, Texas, discovered that both regular unleaded and mid-grade gasoline pumps were marked "Out of Order," leaving only premium gasoline available. Although premium fuel is typically more expensive, the station was pricing it at $3.83 per gallon—matching the local price for regular gasoline at the time. The man recorded the situation and posted it on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, amassing over 114,000 views. Some commenters said they would drive to the station to take advantage of the deal, while others cautioned that unless a vehicle specifically requires premium fuel, there’s no benefit to using it—since higher-octane gasoline offers no noticeable advantages for standard engines. According to automakers, a fuel’s octane rating determines its resistance to engine knocking. Regular gasoline is typically rated at 87 octane, while premium is usually 91 or higher. High-performance engines with higher compression ratios require premium fuel to prevent abnormal combustion; however, most standard vehicles are designed to run on 87-octane gasoline, and using premium won’t improve performance, cleanliness, or fuel efficiency. If a vehicle’s owner manual states “premium fuel required,” switching to regular may result in reduced power. If it merely says “premium fuel recommended,” regular gasoline can still be used safely, though performance might be slightly affected. The video did not specify what type of vehicle the man was driving or its fuel requirements. Reactions in the comments were mixed: one BMW owner lamented missing the opportunity, while another user expressed frustration after having just filled up elsewhere. Some praised H-E-B’s pricing strategy, while others questioned its practical value for vehicles that don’t need premium fuel—and even raised concerns about potential risks due to mismatched combustion characteristics.