Is it better to use 92 or 95 octane gasoline for the Malibu XL?

[Sophia]

The Malibu XL 1.3T model uses 92 octane gasoline, while the 2.0T model requires 95 octane gasoline. Owners must adhere to the manufacturer's specified fuel grade to avoid adverse effects. More details are as follows: 1. Meaning of the octane rating: The gasoline octane rating essentially indicates the amount of octane added. The chemical name for octane is methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Adding MTBE to gasoline improves its anti-knock properties, reducing engine knocking. Higher octane fuels burn more slowly and produce less knocking, while lower octane fuels burn faster and increase knocking. Higher octane does not necessarily mean better performance; the appropriate fuel grade should be chosen based on the engine's compression ratio. 2. Reasons for high-octane design: The high-octane characteristic of premium gasoline is intended to prevent "pre-ignition." However, in "low-compression ratio engines" with lower "cylinder pressure and temperature," this anti-knock property can lead to "delayed combustion," meaning the fuel burns more slowly than the engine was designed for. This can result in unburned or partially burned fuel being expelled, potentially increasing carbon deposits and reducing engine performance instead of enhancing it.