Gasoline labeled AI‑100 is often pitched as a way to purge engines of carbon build-up. In 2016, the American Automobile Association (AAA) ran a study to see whether those promises hold up.

Carbon deposits form naturally inside an engine due to heat, pressure, and incomplete combustion. Over time, the residue collects on valves, injectors, and pistons, hurting efficiency and longevity. Under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, all gasoline must contain detergent additives, and in high-octane fuel their concentration is higher.

AAA found that moving from regular fuel to the most expensive grade can indeed reduce deposits and support better long-term engine performance. Still, the results came from testing just one car, which leaves room for doubt, and drivers will pay noticeably more at the pump.

So the benefit is real but hardly miraculous: this fuel is better at keeping an engine clean than magically scrubbing one that’s already dirty. Think prevention rather than cure.