Types Of Fuel A Hyundai Tucson Uses (All Generations)

On this blog, we’ve written extensively about the American-made Hyundai Tuscon and its various features. Today we’re going to talk about Hyundai Tucson and we’re here to answer the question:

What type of fuel a Hyundai Tucson needs to run correctly?

2004-2020 Tucson use regular unleaded gasoline, 87 AKI octane (USA and others) or 91 RON (Europe). 2021-Present-day Tucson use premium unleaded gasoline, 91 AKI octane (USA and others) or 95 RON (Europe). Tucson with diesel engines use No.2 Ultra Low Sulfur (climatized) diesel above 23°F (-5°C), or No.1 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel below 23°F (-5°C).

However, that doesn’t fully cover the topic. Below we’ll talk about the various kinds of fuels available on the market and whether or not they are compatible with the Hyundai Tucson.

Furthermore, we’ll talk about the mileage of the Tucson, its tank size, and how much it costs to fill up the Tucson. Read on!

Infographic explaining the different fuel types for a Hyundai Tucson.

What's Inside show

Gasoline Containing Alcohol Or Methanol

Hyundai Tucson’s manufactured between 2004 – 2018 can use 90% regular unleaded gasoline with a maximum of 10% ethanol. This means the use of E-15 gasoline is forbidden in these vehicles.

Tucson’s manufactured from 2019 onwards can use fuel that has 15% ethanol, and E-15 is possible. No generations of the Tucson can use E-85 (85% ethanol) gasoline.

If you use fuel with an ethanol percentage higher than the guidelines we’ve given above, then it’s very likely that you will damage the fuel system and the engine of your Tucson. It’s good to know that this damage is not covered under the warranty of the car.

Furthermore, the use of gasoline that has methanol mixed into it is strictly forbidden in all Hyundai Tucson’s. Doing so will cause damage to the fuel system and engine that’s not covered under warranty.

Using Fuel Additives

Using fuel additives for the Hyundai Tucson (that are not detergents) is strictly advised against. These additives include, but are not limited to:

Fuel additives with silicone
Iron-based additives such as Ferrocene.
Other metallic based additives. These will result in misfiring, stalling, damage to the catalyst and engine and poor acceleration which will severely decrease the lifespan of the fuel system.

All of these additives can result in the Malfunction Indicator Lamp illuminating on your dashboard.

Detergent Fuel Additives

The only exception in the ‘fuel additives’ category is the fact that some detergents are indeed allowed. Hyundai advises you to use TOP TIER gasoline in the Tucson, same as in the Palisade. TOP TIER gasoline has added detergents that help prevent deposits in the fuel system. Information on where to find this fuel can be found on toptiergas.com.

If TOP TIER fuel is not available, customers are allowed to add one bottle of additive to the fuel tank according to the maintenance schedule. Looking at the maintenance schedule , we found that additives can therefore be added every 8.000 miles (13.000 kilometers) or every 12 months, whatever comes first.

Additives for the Hyundai Tucson can be bought at your Hyundai dealer, and Hyundai does not give any recommendations about this in the owner’s manual.

Gasoline Containing MTBE

Hyundai recommends avoiding fuels containing MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) in your vehicle. Fuel containing MTBE over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) may reduce vehicle performance and produce vapor lock or hard starting.

Gasoline Containing MMT

Some gasoline contains additives based on MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). Hyundai strongly advises against the use of MMT in the Tucson. This fuel can reduce performance and damage the emission control system. Furthermore, the malfunction indicator lamp will turn on.

Biodiesel

Diesel that contains no more than 7% biodiesel (also referred to as B7 diesel) can be used in the vehicle if it meets EN14214 specifications (Europe) or ASTM D6751 (USA) specifications.

Using biofuels exceeding 7% made from rapeseed methyl ester (RME), fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), vegetable oil methyl ester (VME), etc., or mixing diesel exceeding 7% with biodiesel will cause increased wear or damage to the engine and fuel system. This damage is not covered under warranty.

Fuel Mileage Of A Tucson

Let’s talk about the gas mileage of the Tucson. It will surprise a few people that most generations of the Tucson do not have that good of fuel mileage. The large SUV didn’t have any hybrid options for a long time and therefore solely relied on its gasoline in the tank.

However, these days there are also hybrid options available that offer a good mileage. Have a look!

Year	Engine	Combined MPG	City MPG	Highway MPG
2004 – 2009	2.0 2WD	22	20	25
	2.0 4WD	21	19	24
	2.7 2WD	20	18	24
	2.7 4WD	19	17	23
2009 – 2013	2.0 2WD	25	22	29
	2.4 2WD	25	21	30
	2.4 4WD	23	20	27
2013 – 2015	2.0 2WD	25	23	28
	2.0 4WD	22	20	25
	2.4 2WD	23	21	28
	2.4 4WD	22	20	25
2016 – 2018	1.6 Eco FWD	28	26	32
	1.6 FWD	27	25	30
	1.6 Eco AWD	27	25	30
	1.6 AWD	25	24	28
	2.0 FWD	26	23	30
	2.0 AWD	23	21	26
2018 – 2021	2.0 FWD	26	23	30
	2.0 AWD	23	22	25
	2.4 FWD	25	22	28
	2.4 AWD	23	21	26
2022 – Present-day	1.6 Hybrid	37	37	36
	1.6 Hybrid Blue	38	38	38
	2.5 FWD	29	26	33
	2.5 AWD	26	24	29
	1.6 PHEV	80 (elec+gas) / 35 (gas)	–	–

Tank Size And Cost Of A Full Tank

The 2009 – 2015 Tucson has a tank size of 15.3 gallons (58 liters). The 2016 – 2018 Tucson has a tank size of 14.53 gallons (55 liters) or 16.38 gallons (62 liters). The 2018 – 2020 Tucson has a tank size of 16.38 gallons (62 liters), and the 2021 – Present-day Tucson has a tank size of 14.27 gallons (54 liters).

Using these numbers, we come to the following conclusion:

The 2009 – 2015 Tucson costs $51.68 for a full tank of gas. The 2016 – 2018 Tucson costs $49.08 or $55.33 for a full tank of gas. The 2018 – 2020 Tucson costs $55.33 for a full gas tank, and the 2021 – Present-day Tucson costs $48.20 to fill up the tank.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the right fuel for your Hyundai Tucson is not a task to be taken lightly; it’s the lifeblood of your vehicle’s performance and longevity.

Of course, understanding your Tucson’s fuel requirements is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to vehicle maintenance. For those looking to delve deeper into the specifics of your Tucson, check out “The Exact Bolt Pattern Of A Hyundai Tucson“, which guides you through wheel compatibility and fitment.

Or, if you’re considering another Hyundai SUV, explore “The Types Of Gas A Hyundai Santa Fe Takes“, where we outline the fuel specifications for Hyundai’s flagship SUV.

Remember, using the correct fuel isn’t just about performance; it’s about safeguarding your investment in your vehicle. Drive smart, drive safe!

Sources

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!

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