The Dodge Ram can use 92 octane gasoline. This octane rating is recommended in the vehicle's official owner's manual. In addition to checking the suitable gasoline octane rating in the owner's manual, the Dodge Ram also indicates it on the fuel tank cap. You can usually determine the appropriate gasoline grade based on the engine's compression ratio. Vehicles with an engine compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92 octane gasoline, while those with a ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95 octane. If the compression ratio is even higher, 98 octane gasoline is recommended. However, with the application of new technologies, the compression ratio alone cannot determine the required gasoline grade. High-compression engines can also be tuned to use lower-octane gasoline, as factors like ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology also play a role. Generally, the higher the gasoline octane rating, the higher the octane value 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 octane rating in the Dodge Ram, simply switch back to the correct one after refueling. However, long-term use of the wrong octane rating 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 value 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. The significantly lower octane value reduces the fuel's ignition point, causing premature ignition during the compression stroke. If combustion occurs before the spark plug fires, resistance is generated during the upward stroke, making the engine run very unstable. Mild knocking only increases noise without significant engine damage, but noticeable knocking indicates severe engine conditions, affecting driving stability and causing abnormal wear on pistons and cylinders, potentially leading to cylinder scoring.
