Does Jeep 2.0 Turbo Require Premium Fuel? [Answered]

If you’ve recently purchased a Jeep 2.0 Turbo, or you’re thinking about it, there are always various aspects to consider before you take it out for that first long drive. One common question surrounding the Jeep 2.0 Turbo is whether or not it requires premium fuel.

If you want to ensure the longevity of your Jeep 2.0 Turbo, then it’s strongly advised to use premium fuel such as 91 octane or higher. This will ensure the engine is working at its optimal level of performance; however, the Jeep manual says you can use 87-octane gas and it will work just fine.

This article will discuss whether or not you should use premium fuel in your Jeep 2.0 Turbo. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know about the best fuel for your Jeep Turbo.

Why Use Premium Fuel in a Jeep 2.0 Turbo

Jeeps have some of the best vehicles on the market, and their large cars are known for their performance; the Jeep brand is basically synonymous with off-road driving. The Wrangler is one of their popular models, and it comes in various forms such as a 3.6 liter, six-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder. 

The major difference between these models is that while you can use regular gasoline with your 3.6-liter Jeep Wrangler if you opt for the 2.0 Turbo model, it’s recommended that you use premium gas to acheive optimal performance from your engine. 

So, when it’s time to fill up your Jeep Turbo, you’ll want to ensure that you fill it with 93 or 91 Octane fuel; however, in some of the Jeep manuals, such as that for the Jeep Turbo, Jeep manufacturers suggest that you can use 87 octane if you want to. But, most Turbo enthusiasts would agree that it runs much better on 91 or 93-octane fuel. 

The manual especially says that the Jeep Wrangler Turbo 2.0 liter vehicle is designed to meet the various emission requirements, levels of performance, and fuel economy when using regular unleaded gasoline, i.e., 87 Octane. 

However, it does mention that if you decide to use premium gasoline such as 91 or 93 octane, this will allow the engine to operate to its highest degree, ensuring optimal performance. The various benefits in performance are noticeable in hotter weather and when the vehicle is towing heavy loads.

What Is A Turbocharged Vehicle?

The Jeep Wrangler 2.0 is known as a turbocharged vehicle, so it’s recommended that you use premium fuel if you can, but what exactly is a turbocharged vehicle?

A turbocharged vehicle is an engine that utilizes turbine driven induction methods when powering the vehicle. This results in a method that recycles the output of the car’s exhaust back into the engine’s combustion chamber, resulting in an engine that has up to 40-50% more air running through it when compared to a traditional one.

The turbocharger is connected to the engine’s exhaust manifold. The exhaust gas enters into the turbocharger and begins to spin the turbines contained within it. Then it is sucked into a compressor, which pushes the air into the Jeeps engine cylinders. 

The more air passing through the engine’s cylinders, the more power the vehicle can produce. Thus, vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler 2.0 Turbo are known for their power and performance. 

The Benefits Of Using Premium Fuel

So, as the Jeep manual states, for its 2.0-liter vehicles, including the Wrangler Turbo, you can get away with using 87-octane fuel, so why would you opt to use the more expensive 91 or 93-octane? Are there any benefits to using premium fuel?

Any kind of premium gas, whether it be 91, 93, or higher, is defined by its higher octane level. Higher octane means that the fuel is essentially better stabilized and balanced against spontaneous combustion, which could cause damage to your vehicle or result in engine knocking.

Premium gas tends to add in high-quality additives when compared to traditional gas; however, various cars may not even benefit from the use of premium fuel and will work just as well if solely using regular gas. 

In general, turbocharged vehicles tend to benefit a lot more from the use of premium gas. If we were to compare two Jeeps Wrangler models, the Jeep 2.0 Turbo and the Jeep 3.76, Jeep specifically state in their manuals that the Jeep 2.0 Turbo will benefit from the use of premium gas. In contrast, there will be no noticeable difference with the 3.76-liter model. 

The most important factor to consider is keeping the engine running at an optimal level of performance. Premium gas is known for ensuring that your turbocharged Jeep runs effectively and at its oprtimal level of power; premium fuel can even help you hit the horsepower smoothly. 

On top of this, it’s widely recommended by mechanics and car professionals that if you want to ensure the longevity of your 2.0 Turbo vehicle, you use premium fuel. Vehicle engines that run better on premium gas tend to break down over the years much quicker if you opt to use regularly over a premium 91 or 93-octane fuel. 

Various drivers of the Jeep Turbo 2.0 notice that the mileage is much better when using 91 octanes over the regular 87. While the turbocharged Jeep 2.0 is generally bought for its power, the better mileage is also a bonus. 

What’s The Difference Between 87 and 91 Octane

Premium gas is known as such because of its much higher levels of octane gas, and typically anything over 91 is considered high quality, whereas regular gas will typically have an octane level of 87. 

Various people have suggested that if you were to use premium gas in your Jeep Wrangler 2.0 Turbo, you’d see an increase in fuel efficiency; however, this is generally not the case. 

Any gain in fuel efficiency would originate from engine performance and not the actual gas. But, if you do opt for premium octane in your vehicle, you may see a slight increase in fuel efficiency.

Can Premium Gas Clean The Engine?

Most people generally assume that premium gas will help keep the inside of your engine clean and tidy; however, this is not the case either. One of the main problems that arise in combustion engines is the build-up of carbon, which can happen over time no matter what fuel you opt for.

However, all fuels have detergents that can help reduce the build-up of carbon within your vehicle; and if you opt for premium gas, these detergents may be slightly stronger, thus reducing the carbon build-up even more. But, the best way to ensure overall engine cleanliness is to have it serviced once in a while. 

What Will Happen If I Don’t Use Premium Fuel?

If you opt to use regular gas or 87 octane as the primary source of fuel for your turbocharged Jeep, you likely won’t see any problems in the short term. As we mentioned before, Jeep have previously stated that 87 will work just fine when used as your primary source of fuel.

However, if you’re planning on keeping the car for the foreseeable future and it will be the car you drive every day, you may want to use premium gas to ensure that you avoid various problems in the long run, such as engine knocking, which could damage the engine. 

Engine knocking can occur when your fuel burns unevenly within the engine’s cylinders and is more common when a turbocharged vehicle runs on regular gas. When the engine cylinders receive the perfect balance of fuel and air, the gas burns in smaller pockets instead of all at once. 

Engine knocking can lead to various engine damage to the cylinder walls, the piston’s surface, and even the crank bearings, all of which are difficult and expensive to repair. So to avoid these various problems in the long run, if you’re advised to use premium fuel, it’s probably a good idea to do so.

Also, if you’ve bought the Jeep 2.0 Turbo for its increased level of power, then premium fuel will ensure that you reach the optimal level of performance that the engine is capable of. Performance, power, and engine health will all drop slightly when opting to use regular gas over premium octane on your turbocharged vehicle

 

So Then, 87 Octane Or 91 For Jeep 2.0 Turbo?

So, with all things considered, it’s clear that Jeep had constructed the engine of its Turbocharged vehicles to run on regular gas and stated in its various manuals that this is sufficient enough to run the vehicle. 

However, Jeep also recommends that if you do decide to use premium fuel in your turbo-charged vehicle, such as the Jeep Wrangler 2.0, then you’ll likely see an increase in the quality of power and performance of the vehicle’s engine. 

Various owners of turbocharged Jeeps all recommend the use of premium gas in the vehicles as it ensures the longevity of the car, helps with power and performance, and even in some cases, may slightly increase fuel efficiency and engine health, meaning that it has numerous benefits and very few to none disadvantages.

 

Up Next:

Most Common Jeep 2.0 Turbo Problems

How To Open Fuel Door/Gas Tank on Jeep Grand Cherokee?

How to Fix Capless Gas Tank Problems (Jeep Grand Cherokee)

How To Reset the Gas Cap on a Jeep Patriot