Is Higher Octane Gasoline Always Better?
2 Answers
Higher octane gasoline is not always better. The appropriate octane rating should be selected based on the engine's compression ratio. Here is relevant information about gasoline octane ratings: 1. Regulations: In December 2011, Beijing proposed changing gasoline grades from "90#, 93#, 97#" to "89#, 92#, 95#", while stipulating sulfur content must not exceed 0.001%. 2. Differences in octane ratings: Higher-grade fuel burns slower with lower combustion knock, requiring engines with higher compression ratios. Conversely, lower-grade fuel burns faster with greater combustion knock, suitable for engines with lower compression ratios.
I've been driving for decades and have seen many drivers mistakenly believe that higher octane fuel is always better, only to waste money without understanding why. The octane rating is an indicator of anti-knock performance—the higher the number, the greater the resistance to engine knocking. But that doesn't mean it's better for all engines! For ordinary family cars like my old Toyota, which has a low compression ratio, the manufacturer recommends using 92-octane fuel—that's perfectly sufficient. If you blindly use 98-octane fuel, you'll spend more without any improvement in engine power, and it might just be a waste of money. What really matters is the car's manual—following that is the safest bet. I remember when I was younger, I once filled up with high-octane fuel for a long trip, and the engine didn't become 'stronger' at all—later, I realized it was just a marketing gimmick. Remember, high octane isn't a performance guarantee; it's designed for high-compression engines, like sports cars or turbocharged models. Using the wrong octane can increase the risk of knocking, but for ordinary cars, saving money on proper engine maintenance is far more practical.
