Can the Sagitar use 92-octane gasoline?
2 Answers
No. According to the official vehicle manual recommendation, the Sagitar should use 95-octane gasoline. In addition to checking the suitable gasoline grade in the vehicle manual, you can also find it on the fuel tank cap, which will be clearly marked. Generally, the gasoline grade can also be determined 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 compression ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95-octane gasoline. However, with the application of some new technologies, the gasoline grade cannot be solely determined by the compression ratio. A high compression ratio can also be adjusted to use lower-octane gasoline 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 accidentally use the wrong gasoline grade for the Sagitar, simply switch back to the correct grade after using it 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 increase in octane number will change the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion in the engine. This means both the engine's power output and thermal efficiency will decrease, resulting in poorer performance in practice. For vehicles recommended to use higher-octane gasoline, using lower-octane gasoline can cause engine knocking. Because the octane number is too low, the gasoline's ignition point decreases and may ignite prematurely during the compression stroke. If the fuel ignites before the spark plug fires during the compression stroke, resistance will occur during the upward stroke. This resistance makes the engine run very unstably. If the knocking is imperceptible, it only increases noise and does not significantly damage the engine. However, if the knocking is noticeable, it indicates severe engine conditions. The vibration not only affects driving stability but can also cause abnormal wear on the pistons and cylinders, and in severe cases, cylinder scoring.
I've been driving a Volkswagen Sagitar for five years, and the manual clearly recommends using 95-octane gasoline. While 92-octane is cheaper, the engine tends to make a pinging noise, which is called knocking. Over time, this can damage engine components like pistons and cylinder walls. Once I tried saving money by using 92-octane, and the car accelerated sluggishly. During maintenance, the technician pointed out significantly increased carbon deposits. I suggest everyone carefully read the manual and don’t cut corners. Long-term protection of your car is more cost-effective, as the savings on repair costs far outweigh the difference in fuel prices.
