010 | What Gas Should You Really Use? A Fuel Tanker Driver Breaks Down Premium, Regular, E85 & More

010 | What Gas Should You Really Use? A Fuel Tanker Driver Breaks Down Premium, Regular, E85 & More

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).


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    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!)

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