Does the 95-octane gasoline from small gas stations meet the standards?
1 Answers
It's hard to say. Various octane ratings of gasoline are actually formulated to meet the needs of engines with different compression ratios. In principle, engines with a compression ratio greater than 9:1 require gasoline with an octane rating of 90 or above, those greater than 9.5:1 are best suited for 92 or above, and those greater than 10:1 are ideal for 95 or above. Why do many high-compression-ratio cars have fuel tank labels recommending 92 or above? Although lower-octane gasoline can be used, it is only the minimum standard, barely acceptable. If the gasoline quality deviates slightly, it will immediately reveal the engine's inability to function properly, resulting in shaking, lack of power, and the emission light turning on. Therefore, when your car's manual recommends 92 or above, although higher-octane gasoline doesn't necessarily mean better quality than lower-octane, I suggest opting for the higher octane to ensure stable engine operation, better combustion, reduced carbon buildup, and minimized collisions between moving parts, thereby protecting the car's oxygen sensor. In practice, higher-octane gasoline is noticeably more fuel-efficient during steady-speed driving in high-compression-ratio engines, allowing the car to travel farther. No matter how advanced the car is, it cannot change the engine's compression ratio or cylinder stroke. While lower-octane gasoline can be used in high-compression-ratio engines, it is not optimal. To prevent knocking, some loss of power and performance is inevitable.
