Can the Tharu use 92 octane gasoline?

[VonRosalie]

The Tharu cannot use 92 octane gasoline. The 2021 Tharu requires 95 octane gasoline. Using 92 octane may cause engine knocking. Main gasoline grades: 92 and 95 are the two most common gasoline grades in China. The gasoline grade indicates the octane number of the gasoline. Higher octane gasoline has better anti-knock properties. Generally, better cars have higher engine compression ratios, which require gasoline with better anti-knock properties. Otherwise, a rapid rise in engine temperature may cause knocking and other issues. Diesel grades: The diesel grade indicates the freezing point. If the selected diesel grade is not suitable for the temperature range, wax crystals will form in the fuel. These wax crystals can scratch the fuel injector plunger, causing fuel injector leakage. In severe cases, it may even prevent the engine from starting. Since climate conditions vary greatly by region, diesel should be selected according to the usage environment.

[Prim]

I've been driving the Tharu for over two years and always use 95-octane gasoline. I've seen cases where friends used 92-octane and ended up with the check engine light on. Volkswagen's turbocharged engines have a high compression ratio, and 92-octane gasoline doesn't have enough octane rating, which can easily cause knocking. You might not notice it in the short term, but over time, it can lead to premature engine wear, and the spark plugs can get severely carbon-fouled. Gas station attendants often try to persuade me to use 92-octane to save money, but if the piston rings get damaged, the repair costs would be enough to cover three years' worth of 95-octane fuel. For city driving, the fuel consumption is around 9L/100km, so the monthly difference in fuel costs is actually just a few dozen yuan—don't risk major damage for minor savings.

[LeKathryn]

As an auto mechanic, I've disassembled many Tharu engines. The manufacturer's requirement for 95-octane fuel makes perfect sense – the EA211 engine's high-pressure direct injection system needs fuel with better anti-knock properties. Using 92-octane fuel may cause premature ignition of the air-fuel mixture under high temperature and pressure in the cylinders. The ECU will continuously retard ignition timing to suppress knocking, resulting in reduced power and increased fuel consumption. Last week, our shop handled a Tharu that had been running on 92-octane fuel long-term. Upon disassembly, we found the piston crowns were pitted from detonation damage. I strongly recommend sticking with 95-octane – it's also better for the catalytic converter and particulate filter.

[MarianaFitz]

My 1.4T Tharu has covered 50,000 km in three years, and the mechanics always praise the excellent condition of the engine. The key is using 95-octane fuel as indicated on the fuel cap – 92 really doesn't cut it. Last week, a rental company gave me an identical Tharu that ran on 92, and I could hear knocking sounds during acceleration. Turbocharged engines generally have a compression ratio above 10:1, and lower-octane fuel may cause abnormal combustion under high load. Currently, with promotions at gas stations, 95-octane is only about 0.5 RMB more expensive than 92 per liter, working out to just over 3 RMB extra per 100 km – much cheaper than engine repairs.

[MacTimothy]

Remember when buying the car, the salesperson repeatedly emphasized that it must use 95-octane fuel. The in-cylinder temperature of turbocharged engines is much higher than naturally aspirated ones, and the anti-knock performance of 92-octane gasoline may be insufficient, potentially causing ignition knock. Last time during a road trip to a remote area where only 92-octane was available, I mixed it with half a tank of 98-octane to drive back, and clearly felt slight steering wheel vibrations during uphill climbs. The gas station attendant mentioned this car has a knock sensor that would alert, but frequent vibrations ultimately harm the engine. It's advisable to keep an octane booster in the trunk for emergencies, but daily use still requires 95-octane.

[ChristopherAnn]

After studying the Tharu's manual, it clearly requires the use of 95-octane or higher fuel. 92-octane gasoline is prone to spontaneous combustion at the end of the compression stroke, generating destructive shock waves. Short commutes might not reveal any abnormalities, but it becomes particularly dangerous during high-speed driving or when using the air conditioning. Some car owners in group chats have shared actual test data: using 92-octane fuel results in 0.8L/100km higher fuel consumption compared to 95-octane. Over three years, this actually leads to higher fuel costs. The critical point is that faults caused by using 92-octane fuel are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Our local 4S dealership has already rejected warranty claims for two Tharus with cylinder scoring due to this issue.