
The Corolla is recommended to use 92-octane gasoline, and gasoline with an octane rating lower than 92 should not be used. The Corolla is a compact sedan under Toyota, with a body length, width, and height of 4540mm, 1760mm, and 1490mm respectively. It has a top speed of 206 km/h, a minimum ground clearance of 160mm, and aluminum alloy wheels. It complies with the China IV emission standard. In terms of power, the Corolla offers two powertrain versions: a 1.2T and a 1.8L hybrid. The 1.2T engine has a maximum power output of 85kw, while the 1.8L engine has a maximum power output of 90kw.

My Corolla is the 1.2T version, and the sticker inside the fuel tank cap clearly states 'recommended 92 octane or above.' However, the mechanic at the repair shop suggested that turbocharged models are better off using 95 octane, as the higher octane rating can reduce knocking. Once, I tried saving money by using 92 octane, and I clearly noticed the engine sound becoming muffled during acceleration. Later, after checking some information, I learned that although the Corolla's compression ratio of 10:1 isn't particularly high, its direct fuel injection technology places higher demands on fuel anti-knock properties. Now, I consistently use 95 octane, and the cost per kilometer works out to be about the same. By the way, it's worth noting that overseas versions of the Corolla generally require 91 octane (equivalent to domestic 95), so differences in fuel quality shouldn't be overlooked.

A friend who bought a Corolla Hybrid last year was specifically advised by the salesperson to use 95-octane gasoline when picking up the car. The principle is quite interesting: the Atkinson cycle engine in the hybrid system has a high compression ratio of 13:4, and lower-octane fuel may cause pre-ignition. In actual use, it was found that while using 92-octane doesn't cause the car to stall, the EV mode switches noticeably more frequently, indicating the engine is working hard to avoid inefficient operating conditions. At the gas station, I encountered an owner of an older naturally aspirated Corolla who said he had been using 92-octane for ten years without issues. So it depends on the specific model—turbocharged or hybrid models are recommended to use 95-octane, while older naturally aspirated models can get by with 92-octane, but 95-octane runs smoother.

Remember during the dealership maintenance, the technician showed me an endoscope inspection of a long-term 92-octane fueled 1.5L three-cylinder Corolla: the valve carbon deposits were twice as thick as those from 95-octane users. The new M15A engine has an ultra-high compression ratio of 13:1. While using 92-octane, the ECU will retard ignition timing for protection, but power drops by about 10%. I've tested both fuels: with 92-octane, overtaking on the highway is noticeably harder, while 95-octane makes the RPM climb more briskly. Refueling recommendations should follow the manual rather than the fuel cap sticker, as many older stickers haven't been updated. Using 92-octane in emergencies is fine, but don't exceed half a tank.

While working at a car rental company, I managed over twenty Corollas. For the 1.8L hybrid models, if 92-octane gasoline was mistakenly used, the engine warning light would inevitably illuminate within three days. The trouble code P0171 indicated a lean fuel mixture, caused by premature ignition due to low-octane fuel, leading the oxygen sensor to misjudge the air-fuel ratio. The solution was surprisingly to rev the engine to 4000 RPM and drive for ten minutes, allowing high temperatures to clean the carbon deposits. Nowadays, the newer TNGA architecture engines are even more delicate. In the workshop, we encountered cases where prolonged use of 92-octane gasoline caused piston ring sticking. It's advisable for owners to develop the habit of recording fuel grades and mileage, enabling quick troubleshooting when abnormalities occur.


