can you put 97 octane in a 95 octane car

[EmilianoRose]

Yes, you can safely put 97 octane fuel in a car designed for 95 octane. The octane rating measures a fuel's resistance to engine knock—a rattling or pinging sound caused by premature combustion. Using a higher octane fuel than recommended will not harm your engine. In fact, the engine's computer will simply adapt to the higher-quality fuel. However, you are unlikely to see any tangible benefits in performance, fuel economy, or cleanliness, making it an unnecessary expense.

The key factor is your car's engine design. High-performance engines with high compression ratios or turbochargers often require higher octane fuel to prevent knock. If your owner's manual specifies 95 RON (Research Octane Number), the engine is tuned to run optimally on that grade. Putting in 97 octane doesn't change the engine's fundamental mechanical compression; it just provides a greater knock resistance buffer that your engine doesn't need.

You should never use a fuel with an octane rating lower than what is recommended, as that can cause damaging knock. But going higher is safe, if financially inefficient. The only scenario where you might notice a difference is if your engine is experiencing knock due to carbon buildup or a faulty sensor, and the higher octane fuel masks that underlying issue.

Fuel Octane Scenario	Engine Impact	Performance/Fuel Economy	Cost Efficiency
Using recommended 95 Octane	Optimal operation as designed.	As expected by manufacturer.	Most cost-effective.
Using higher 97 Octane	No harm; engine computer adapts.	Negligible to zero real-world gain.	Paying a premium for no benefit.
Using lower 93 Octane	Risk of engine knock and potential damage.	Reduced power and efficiency.	False economy; risk of costly repairs.

Stick with the manufacturer's recommendation. The engineers who designed your engine have specified the 95 octane rating for a reason—it provides the best balance of performance and value for your specific vehicle.

[DeDamian]

As a mechanic, I see this all the time. It's a waste of money, but it won't hurt a thing. Your car's computer is smart enough to handle it. Think of it like putting premium coffee beans in a basic drip machine—you won't get a barista-quality drink. The machine can only do so much. Save your cash and use what the manual says. The only time I'd suggest a higher octane is if you hear pinging, which could signal another problem anyway.

[Clarisse]

I tried it once, thinking my sedan would feel sportier. Honestly, I couldn't tell any difference in power or gas mileage. My wallet definitely felt the difference at the pump, though. I checked online forums for my car model, and everyone said the same thing: it's pointless unless your car specifically requires it. I went right back to the regular stuff and haven't thought about it since.