What grade of gasoline should a Polo use?
2 Answers
Polo can use either 92 or 95 octane gasoline. The difference between 92 and 95 octane gasoline lies in the ratio of n-heptane and isooctane: 92 octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95 octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. The higher the proportion of isooctane, the better the anti-knock performance. Different grades of gasoline can be mixed, but it is not recommended. Car owners should correctly add gasoline according to the car manual or the label on the fuel tank cap. Cars requiring high-grade gasoline need gasoline with better anti-knock performance. Using low-grade gasoline will cause knocking in the engine cylinder. Cars requiring low-grade gasoline will not experience knocking when using high-grade gasoline, but excessive carbon deposits may occur due to insufficient temperature and pressure in the cylinder.
As a long-time Volkswagen Polo owner, I've always used 95-octane gasoline. The manual recommends 93 or 95 octane depending on the model year. Higher-octane fuel has better anti-knock properties and is particularly suitable for high-compression engines - my car's engine runs smoother with less vibration. However, using 93-octane is also acceptable and more economical, just avoid fuels below 92 octane as they may cause engine-damaging knocking. Regularly check your manual for specified octane requirements as regional naming conventions may differ (e.g., China's 92-octane replaces 93). Driving habits also affect fuel efficiency - smooth acceleration impacts economy more than octane choice, leading to lower long-term maintenance costs. Ultimately, follow your manual's guidance; using 95-octane is the safer choice for engine longevity.
