How many types of gasoline are available on the market?
2 Answers
There are a total of 4 types of gasoline, namely 90#, 93#, 97#, and 98#. Introduction to gasoline: The English name for gasoline is Gasoline (US)/Petrol (UK). It appears as a transparent liquid, is flammable, with a distillation range of 30°C to 220°C. Its main components are C5~C12 aliphatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes, along with a certain amount of aromatic hydrocarbons. Gasoline has a high octane number (anti-knock combustion performance) and is classified into grades such as 90#, 93#, 95#, and 97# based on the octane number. History of gasoline transition: Starting from January 2012, the gasoline grades 90#, 93#, and 97# were planned to be revised to 89#, 92#, and 95#. Gasoline is produced by refining different gasoline components obtained from petroleum refining, such as straight-run gasoline components, catalytic cracking gasoline components, and catalytic reforming gasoline components, and then blending them with high-octane components. It is mainly used as fuel for spark-ignition internal combustion engines in automobiles.
Actually, gas stations typically offer just three or four grades of gasoline. I remember 92-octane being the cheapest, suitable for most regular private cars—like my old Corolla which runs on it. 95-octane is slightly more expensive and commonly used for mid-to-high-end vehicles; my friend’s Magotan always fills up with 95. The 98-octane is premium fuel, found at upscale downtown stations—last time I accompanied a buddy to refuel his Porsche, it took 98. Many provinces now also have ethanol-blended gasoline, marked with an 'E' prefix like E92, especially common at highway stations in Northeast China. Gasoline varieties can differ by region—for instance, Hainan even offers 101-octane racing fuel, though regular drivers rarely need it. The key to choosing fuel is checking the recommended octane rating on your fuel cap; mixing grades can damage the engine.
