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You might think that filling up a car at a gas station is a straightforward process. While this may be the case for those who know about cars and the needs of their own vehicle, for laypeople the variety of options can be confusing.

For example, one user reported that he tried to save gas by choosing a lower octane fuel, but that ultimately led him to the auto repair shop. One mechanic discovered that a car was having problems after the driver filled the tank with E85 fuel, and another internet user advised against buying 89 gasoline in general.

Now a TikTok user has sparked a debate by claiming he accidentally filled his car with “racing fuel.”

What is “racing fuel”?

In a video with over 1.8 million views as of Sunday, TikTok user Bryant Gavello (@bryantgavello) shows himself standing in front of a gas pump.

“I think I just used racing fuel, which is $14 a gallon,” he says in the video with a confused look on his face. “What the hell is racing fuel?”

He then shows the meter, which shows that Gavello was billed $144.90 for 10.35 gallons of race fuel.

Dale Gas and Oil explains, “Race fuels are quite similar to the street fuel we use in our regular vehicles, but have a higher octane rating due to the higher additives. Street fuels typically have an Anti-Knock Index (AKI) between 87 and 94, while race fuels start at 95 AKI and go up to 118 AKI.”

Although it may seem that racing fuel is better for a vehicle, this is not always the case, especially if the car is not designed to use that fuel.

“Using race fuel in a street vehicle can result in a loss of power because a hotter spark is required,” says a blog post from fuel distributor Reeder Distributors, Inc. “Racing fuel can also damage the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors in street vehicles.”

According to the article, racing fuel is “specifically designed for use with high-performance engines.”

@bryantgavello Accidentally used racing fuel. Worth every penny. #petrolprices #speed #racer #F1 #FY ♬ Original sound – Bryant Gavello

The opinion of the audience

In the comments section, few took the mistake seriously, many made humorous remarks about the accident.

“Your car is almost in X-Games mode,” wrote one user.

“‘Why is it sharp’ – your engine,” added another.

However, many also pointed out that his actions could have negative consequences.

“It’s a higher octane gasoline and needs more compression to burn properly. The only bad thing is that your car might not start,” said one user.

“Goodbye, catalyst,” said a second.

The Daily Dot contacted Gavello via direct message on Instagram.

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