Is it better to use 92 or 95 octane gasoline for the Camry?
3 Answers
According to the official vehicle manual recommendation, the Camry should use 95 octane gasoline. In addition to checking the appropriate gasoline grade in the vehicle manual, the Camry's fuel cap also indicates the recommended grade. Generally, the gasoline grade can also be determined based on the engine's compression ratio. Vehicles with an engine compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92 octane gasoline, while those with a compression ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95 octane gasoline. However, with the application of new technologies, the gasoline grade cannot be solely determined by the compression ratio. High compression ratio engines can also be tuned to use lower octane gasoline because, besides the compression ratio, other factors such as ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology also play a role. Generally, the higher the gasoline octane number, the higher the octane value and the better the anti-knock performance. 92 octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95 octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. If the Camry occasionally uses the wrong gasoline grade, simply switch back to the correct grade after consumption. However, long-term use of the wrong gasoline grade can have the following effects: For vehicles recommended to use low octane gasoline, using a higher octane grade will not cause damage, but the increase in octane value will alter the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion in the engine. This means both the engine's power output and thermal efficiency will decrease, resulting in poorer performance. For vehicles recommended to use high octane gasoline, using a lower octane grade can cause engine knocking. Because the octane value is significantly lower, the gasoline's ignition point decreases, causing premature ignition during the compression stroke. If the fuel ignites before the spark plug fires during the compression stroke, resistance will occur during the upward stroke. This resistance makes the engine run very unstably. If the knocking is mild, it only increases noise without significant damage to the engine. However, if the knocking is severe, it indicates serious engine conditions, affecting not only driving stability but also causing abnormal wear on pistons and cylinders, and in severe cases, cylinder scoring.
Having run a car dealership for ten years, I recommend filling the Camry with 92-octane fuel as indicated on the fuel cap—it's perfectly sufficient. The naturally aspirated engine has a compression ratio around 10:1, so 92-octane provides more than enough anti-knock performance. Last time, a customer insisted on using 95-octane but saw no improvement in power or fuel efficiency—just wasted money. Toyota's tuning is relatively conservative, and 92-octane fully matches the ECU's ignition parameters. The only noticeable difference might be slightly less idle vibration with 95-octane, but the minor benefit isn't worth the extra cost—better to save the money for a bottle of fuel additive. The key is to avoid small gas stations with poor-quality fuel; no octane rating will help if the fuel itself is subpar.
I remember my dad's seventh-gen Camry has been running on 92 octane for 250,000 km and still responds briskly to the throttle. The main difference between 92 and 95 is the octane rating, not like motor oil viscosity grades. Though if you frequently drive on highways, you might notice slightly firmer power delivery above 4,000 rpm with 95 octane. For hybrid versions, maintaining battery health is far more crucial - they're less sensitive to gasoline grades. Gas stations pushing 95 claiming it's cleaner? The additive content is virtually identical; you're better off using OEM fuel injector cleaner monthly.
