Can I switch from 98-octane gasoline to 95-octane gasoline?

[DiElliana]

You can switch from 98-octane gasoline to 95-octane gasoline, but first, you need to use up all the 98-octane gasoline before refilling with 95-octane. It's important to note that you should never mix different octane grades of gasoline. If a car owner who usually uses 98-octane gasoline occasionally adds 95-octane gasoline once or twice, the impact on the car is minimal, but long-term switching is not recommended. Both 95-octane and 98-octane gasoline are high-octane fuels. Compared to 95-octane, 98-octane gasoline has a higher octane rating by three units, and increasing the octane rating of unleaded gasoline by even one unit requires significant technical effort. High-end cars are characterized by high power, high compression ratios, and large displacement, making 98-octane gasoline a better choice than 95-octane gasoline for such vehicles.

[LeKendra]

I used to fill up with 98 octane fuel, but later switched to 95 octane to try it out, and it worked perfectly fine. The key is to check what your car's manual says. If it states that 95 octane or above is acceptable, then switching to 95 is nothing to worry about. The manual for my regular sedan says 92 octane or above is sufficient, and after switching to 95, I drove for over a year with no changes in power or fuel consumption. However, turbocharged cars are more particular about fuel, so if you downgrade the octane rating, be sure to listen for any engine knocking sounds. Before switching fuels, use up the 98 octane until only a quarter remains, then fill up with the new fuel for a smoother transition. In the long run, 95 octane is significantly cheaper than 98, saving a few hundred bucks a month.

[VonMelanie]

I've researched gasoline octane ratings. Switching from 98 to 95 is generally fine, as the main difference between 98 and 95 is just 2-3 units in anti-knock performance. For normal driving without aggressive acceleration, 95 is sufficient. Once during a long trip when no 98 station was available, I directly filled up with 95 and drove 300 kilometers without any issues. However, fuel switching depends on the vehicle condition: new cars with knock sensors will automatically adjust ignition timing; for cars over 10 years old, if the fuel cap specifies a minimum of 95, use 95 - dropping to 92 might be risky. When switching fuels, avoid mixing them - wait until the 98 is nearly empty before switching to prevent fuel compatibility issues.

[FranciscoAnn]

I've driven three cars and tried switching from 98 to 95 in all of them. The actual experience is that for family cars, there's basically no impact, but it's better to switch to the new octane rating when there's less fuel left in the tank. Don't worry too much about knocking issues; nowadays, the car's computer automatically adjusts the ignition timing. The small sticker near the fuel filler is actually the most practical—if it says 95, you can confidently use 95. However, once when I drove a friend's modified sports car, there was a slight rattling sound when stepping on the gas after switching to 95. For such performance cars, it's safer to stick with 98. For regular cars, you can save about a hundred bucks on fuel each month, which feels quite worthwhile.