Should Maserati Use 95 or 98 Octane Gasoline?

[SanKhloe]

Maserati vehicles require gasoline with an octane rating of 95 or higher, so both 95 and 98 octane gasoline can be used for Maserati cars. Different octane ratings indicate varying levels of octane values—the higher the rating, the higher the octane value. In addition to checking the recommended gasoline grade in the vehicle's manual, Maserati owners can also find this information on the fuel tank cap, which typically specifies the suitable octane rating. Generally, the appropriate gasoline grade can also be determined based on the engine's compression ratio. Cars with a compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92 octane gasoline, those between 10.0-11.5 should use 95 octane, and higher compression ratios require 98 octane. However, with the advent of new technologies, compression ratio alone is no longer the sole determinant of gasoline grade, as high-compression engines can now be tuned to use lower-octane fuel. Other factors, such as ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology, also influence the choice. Generally, higher-octane gasoline has a higher octane value and better anti-knock properties. For example, 92 octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95 octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. Occasionally using the wrong octane rating in a Maserati is not a major issue—simply switch back to the correct grade after the tank is empty. However, prolonged use of the wrong gasoline can have the following effects: Using higher-octane fuel in a vehicle designed for lower octane will not cause damage, but the increased octane value alters the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion. This reduces the engine's power output and thermal efficiency, resulting in poorer performance. Using lower-octane fuel in a high-octane vehicle can cause engine knocking. Since the octane value is significantly lower, the fuel may ignite prematurely during the compression stroke before the spark plug fires. This premature combustion creates resistance during the upward stroke, causing unstable engine operation. Mild knocking may only increase noise without noticeable engine damage, but severe knocking indicates serious engine issues, affecting driving stability and causing abnormal wear on pistons and cylinders. In extreme cases, it can even lead to cylinder scoring.