Feeding a Dodge Charger Hellcat Cheap Gas Leads to Disaster

By Brett Foote - May 6, 2026

Feeding something like a Dodge Charger Hellcat cheap, low-octane fuel is not a good idea, as this owner found out the hard way.

These days, consumers are feeling the financial pinch in more ways than one – along with stubbornly high used and new vehicle prices, the cost of fuel has soared as of late, a direct impact of the ongoing Iran War. As such, folks are paying anywhere from $4 all the way up to $6 or more for a gallon of gas, which is its highest level in years. Thus, it’s not surprising that some are trying to find relief in that regard, but as one Dodge Charger Hellcat owner recently discovered, going with low octane gas isn’t a great way to do that.

In this video recently posted on TikTok, we see the Dodge Charger Hellcat owner pull into a gas station while admitting that they’re frustrated about the high cost of fuel these days, which is obviously amplified by the fact that their supercharged, V8-powered ride isn’t exactly an efficient one. Thus, in a simple effort to save a few bucks, they opt to fill their tank with cheap 87-octane fuel, which is a choice a lot of folks have made over the years – oftentimes, with no repercussions, other than perhaps a bit less power.

At first, everything seems to be going well – after filling their tank with cheap gas, the Hellcat owner starts it up, and the V8 runs just fine, at least, for a minute. It isn’t long before we hear a knocking noise coming from under the hood, however, along with some sputtering, at which point the clip ends, leaving us in a bit of suspense. Regardless, the early prognosis certainly isn’t good for a car that Dodge recommends premium fuel for – and for a good reason.

In many cases, using a lower grade fuel in a car that requires higher octane merely leads to poor performance, worse fuel economy, and deposits inside the engine, causing the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to retard ignition timing. Trouble is, the Dodge Charger Hellcat is supercharged, which means that feeding it lower octane fuel can cause more serious issues – such as the knocking and rattling exhibited here, caused by pre-ignition of the fuel that can potentially cause internal damage.

@srtatoyye Putting 87 in my hellcat gone wrong😳💔 #srt #atoyye #hellcat #hemi #mopar ♬ Last Breath in Forest – Izmi Maruf

Low-octane fuel burns too quickly for applications such as this, causing premature detonation that can destroy pistons, connecting rods, and crankshafts. Thus, going that route in something like a Dodge Charger Hellcat isn’t just a temporarily bad decision that may save one a few bucks, but rather, a potentially disastrous one that could result in the need for a complete engine replacement in some cases.