Should Turbocharged Engines Use 92 or 95 Octane Gasoline?
2 Answers
Turbocharged engines should use 95 octane gasoline. The number 95 represents that the gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. The higher the octane rating, the more isooctane it contains, and the stronger the gasoline's anti-knock performance. Gasoline is a volatile and flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid obtained from petroleum through fractionation, cracking, or pyrolysis, and can be used as fuel. The characteristics of gasoline are: 1. Volatility: It quickly vaporizes in the engine cylinder and forms a uniform combustible mixture with air; 2. Stability: The ability to resist oxidation under normal temperature and liquid phase conditions is called stability; 3. Anti-knock performance: Refers to the ability of gasoline to resist detonation combustion under various usage conditions; 4. Corrosiveness: Sulfur compounds in gasoline can cause corrosion to objects.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, let me share some insights about refueling turbocharged engines. I remember when I got my first turbocharged car, I was also torn between using 92 or 95 octane fuel and specifically checked the maintenance manual. The key factors are your car's compression ratio and ECU tuning - the manufacturer's recommendation is most important. Most turbocharged cars have a compression ratio above 9.5:1, where using 95 octane can reduce knocking and protect engine longevity. If you frequently drive on highways or engage in aggressive driving, 95 octane is definitely the safer choice. However, for daily commuting, 92 octane is also acceptable. I've seen people who consistently use lower-grade fuel to save a few bucks, only to end up with severe carbon buildup on piston rings - the repair costs ultimately outweigh the savings.
