BYD Song: Should I Use 92 or 95 Octane Gasoline?
2 Answers
According to the official vehicle manual recommendation, the BYD Song should use 92 octane gasoline. In addition to checking the appropriate gasoline grade in the vehicle manual, you can also find this information on the fuel tank cap, which is usually labeled. Typically, the gasoline grade can also be determined based on the engine's compression ratio. Vehicles with a compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92 octane gasoline, while those with a compression ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95 octane gasoline. However, with the application of new technologies, the compression ratio alone cannot determine the gasoline grade, as high-compression engines can also be tuned to use lower-octane gasoline. This is because, besides the compression ratio, other factors such as ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology also play a role. Generally, the higher the gasoline grade, the higher the octane number and the better the anti-knock performance. 92 octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95 octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. If you occasionally use the wrong gasoline grade in your BYD Song, simply switch back to the correct grade after the current tank is used up. However, long-term use of the wrong gasoline grade can have the following effects: For vehicles recommended to use lower-octane gasoline, using higher-octane gasoline will not cause damage, but the increased octane number can alter the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion in the engine. This reduces the engine's power output and thermal efficiency, resulting in poorer performance. For vehicles recommended to use higher-octane gasoline, using lower-octane gasoline can cause engine knocking. Due to the significantly lower octane number, the gasoline's ignition point decreases, causing premature ignition during the compression stroke. If combustion occurs before the spark plug fires during the compression stroke, resistance will arise during the upward stroke. This resistance makes the engine run very unstably. If the knocking is mild, it may only increase noise without obvious engine damage. However, noticeable knocking indicates severe engine conditions, affecting not only driving stability but also causing abnormal wear on pistons and cylinders, and in severe cases, cylinder scoring.
I've been driving a BYD Song for two years, using 92-octane gasoline. BYD's manual clearly recommends 92-octane as the engine is designed to match this octane standard. While 95-octane has a higher octane rating and theoretically reduces knocking, there's not much noticeable difference in daily driving, and it's significantly more expensive. Based on my own tests, the average fuel consumption is between 6-7 liters per 100 kilometers. Using 92-octane saves 0.5-1 yuan per liter, adding up to tens of yuan per month—quite cost-effective. Occasionally using 95-octane isn't a big issue, but avoid long-term mixing as it may cause engine carbon buildup or unstable power output. During maintenance, the technician mentioned that as long as you follow the manual's fuel recommendation, the engine's durability is excellent. In short, 92-octane is recommended for economy and peace of mind—don't waste money on unnecessary upgrades.
