Should a new car use 92 or 95 octane gasoline?
2 Answers
New cars require different octane levels depending on the model. Here are the specific guidelines: 1. There will be a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank cap indicating whether the model requires 92 or 95 octane. 2. If it says "recommended to use 92 octane or above," then both 92 and 95 octane can be used. However, it is important to stick to one octane level consistently and not switch between 92 and 95 over time. 3. If it says "recommended to use 95 octane or above," then 92 octane cannot be used, as using a lower octane than recommended may cause engine knocking and, over time, increase carbon buildup in the engine. 4. Some people believe that higher octane gasoline is better, providing stronger engine power and better cleaning effects. In reality, the octane rating only represents the proportion of octane in the gasoline. For example, 95 octane gasoline contains about 95% isooctane and 5% heptane. Since isooctane has better anti-knock properties and heptane has poorer anti-knock properties, a higher octane rating means better anti-knock performance.
I've been driving my new car for three or four years now, using it as a regular family vehicle. When it comes to refueling, you really need to check the manual. My car's manual recommends using 92 octane fuel, though 95 octane is also an option but a bit more expensive. I've actually compared the two: 92 octane is a few cents cheaper per liter, and there's no noticeable difference in driving performance—fuel consumption is about the same. With 95 octane, the acceleration response is slightly quicker, especially on the highway. I asked a buddy at the repair shop, and he said most ordinary sedans have engines with low compression ratios, so 92 octane is perfectly adequate—no need to waste money blindly chasing higher octane ratings. New car engines are delicate, so you should follow the fuel grade specified in the manual, which is usually marked on the fuel cap or in the manual itself. Using the wrong fuel—say, filling up with 92 octane when 95 is required—could cause knocking and damage the engine. In short, if you're looking to save money and stay practical, 92 octane is plenty. If money's no object, go for 95. Just remember to regularly check the fuel system during routine maintenance to prevent issues.
