Is it better to use 92 or 95 octane gasoline for the Lingpai?
5 Answers
It is better to use 92 octane gasoline for the Lingpai. 92 octane gasoline contains approximately 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane. Since isooctane has better anti-knock properties while n-heptane has poorer anti-knock properties, a higher octane rating indicates better gasoline anti-knock performance. Below are specific details about the Lingpai: 1. Dimensions: The predecessor of the Lingpai is the Conpect C concept car released by GAC Honda at the 2012 Guangzhou Auto Show. It is the first compact car launched by GAC Honda and the second compact car under the Honda brand following the Civic. The car measures 4650mm in length, 1750mm in width, and 1505mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2650mm. Except for the width, the overall dimensions of the Lingpai are slightly larger than those of the Civic. 2. Exterior: The Lingpai's exterior adopts the design concept named "Cool Dragon China Dragon" by the manufacturer, incorporating more stable and elegant elements while retaining youthful and sporty features. The car's headlights are equipped with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and feature a dual-lens design. The brake lights in the rear light cluster also use C-shaped LEDs, which are aesthetically pleasing and echo the design of the headlights.
I've been driving a Honda Crider for five years, always using 92-octane gasoline. The 4S店 technician clearly told me that this car's engine compression ratio is designed for 92-octane fuel, and there's even a label inside the fuel filler cap. Although 95-octane gasoline has a higher octane rating, our car doesn't need that level of anti-knock performance. Using it might actually lead to incomplete combustion. The most important point is that 95-octane fuel is significantly more expensive! I've done the math - driving 20,000 kilometers a year, using 92-octane instead of 95 saves me over 1,000 yuan. If you do a lot of driving in congested urban areas, occasionally adding a can of fuel system cleaner is sufficient. Why waste money on 95-octane?
Last time I accompanied my friend to service his Lingpai, I chatted with the workshop technical supervisor about this. The current 1.0T engines are all ECU-tuned for 92-octane fuel, and the manual clearly states that 92 is recommended. If you insist on using 95, the engine isn't that delicate—it won't cause immediate problems in the short term, but long-term mixed usage might lead to carbon buildup due to changes in combustion temperature. Honestly, having the mechanic clean the throttle body during maintenance is much more practical than using higher-octane fuel. In my opinion, 92 is completely sufficient and, more importantly, saves money.
I work in an auto repair shop and have disassembled many Honda Lingpai engines. With a compression ratio of 9.8, this car absolutely doesn't require 95-octane fuel—using it can actually lead to incomplete combustion and carbon buildup. I've seen too many cases where owners using 95-octane fuel ended up with severely fouled spark plugs. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendation and use 92-octane—it works perfectly fine as long as you change the fuel filter regularly. Remember, higher octane doesn't always mean better; what's suitable is best. Don't fall for gas station attendants' upsell pitches—stick with 92-octane, no doubt about it.
As a seasoned driver, I've owned three Lingpais. The new car manual clearly states on page 32: Fuel type 92 or above unleaded gasoline. Of course 95 can be used, but in actual driving you can't feel any difference at all. 92-octane fuel now has high availability at gas stations, so you don't need to worry about finding fuel even during suburban road trips. The key is maintenance costs - I've compared: using 95-octane costs 3 cents more per kilometer, which over five years amounts to the price of a new set of tires. If you really want to treat your engine better, regular full synthetic oil changes would be more practical.
