Should Private Cars Generally Use 92 or 95 Octane Gasoline?
2 Answers
Whether a private car should use 92 or 95 octane gasoline depends on the vehicle model. Compact private cars generally use 92 octane gasoline, while most mid-size joint-venture brand cars use 95 octane gasoline. The difference between 92 and 95 octane gasoline is not significant; they merely have different octane ratings, which affects their anti-knock properties. The choice should be based on the engine's compression ratio. You can refer to the vehicle's manual, which specifies the engine's compression ratio and the recommended gasoline grade. Compact cars' engines are not highly demanding, with compression ratios typically between 8.6 and 9.9. Mid-size cars have compression ratios between 10 and 11.5. If the compression ratio exceeds 11.5, higher octane gasoline may be considered—these engines are usually found in luxury brand vehicles with strong performance. Engines with compression ratios between 8.6 and 9.8 are suitable for 92 octane gasoline, while those between 10 and 11.5 are suitable for 95 octane gasoline.
I see many friends debating whether to use 92 or 95 octane fuel for their private cars. This matter should be checked in the owner's manual. Most private cars are designed to run on 92 octane, unless the engine has a high compression ratio, such as some turbocharged models, which may require 95 octane to avoid knocking. I've always used 92 octane in my regular family sedan, and it's run fine for 100,000 kilometers without any issues, saving me a lot of money. Additionally, 95 octane is more expensive, costing several yuan more per liter, and doesn't offer noticeable performance improvements in daily driving—using it excessively is just a waste. Get into the habit of checking the recommended octane rating on the fuel filler cap, don't be swayed by gas station promotions, and always prioritize safety.