What grade of gasoline should be used for Audi Q5?
3 Answers
Audi Q5 models are required to use 95-octane gasoline, and it is not recommended to switch to 92-octane gasoline. Using a lower octane fuel may lead to knocking or detonation, resulting in reduced power. Below is relevant information about fueling the Q5: Reasons for using 95-octane gasoline in Audi Q5: The Audi Q5 is equipped with a turbocharged engine, which has higher requirements for gasoline. If a high-compression engine uses low-octane gasoline, it may not withstand the high pressure in the cylinders, leading to knocking. Conversely, if a low-compression engine uses high-octane gasoline, the slower combustion rate may result in incomplete combustion, causing insufficient power and severe carbon buildup. Therefore, the Audi Q5 should use 95-octane gasoline. Gasoline octane rating: The gasoline octane rating represents the fuel's octane number. For example, 92-octane gasoline consists of approximately 92% isooctane and 8% heptane. Since isooctane has better anti-knock properties while heptane has poorer anti-knock properties, a higher octane rating indicates better anti-knock performance of the gasoline.
I used to drive a 2019 Audi Q5, which generally requires 95 or 98 octane gasoline. To be honest, when I first bought the car, I thought using cheaper 92 octane would save me some money on fuel. However, after filling up twice, I noticed the engine started shaking badly and lacked power. The 4S shop later explained that Audi's high-compression engines must use higher-octane fuel—95 is the minimum, while 98 helps better prevent knocking and protects those precision components. Especially in city traffic jams, lower-octane fuel can worsen carbon buildup, and repairs can be quite costly. Using 92 octane might work in an emergency, but long-term use really damages the car—the maintenance manual clearly states 95+ is required. Now, I always stick to official Sinopec stations and fill up with 95 octane for peace of mind.
Actually, German cars like the Audi Q5 are quite particular about gasoline. I believe the choice of gasoline octane rating mainly depends on the engine compression ratio. The EA888 series engines in the Q5 have a high compression ratio, exceeding 10:1, so they require at least 95 octane to avoid pre-ignition and knocking. Although 98 octane is more expensive, it burns cleaner and can slightly improve power response. Don’t just opt for cheaper 92 octane—my neighbor once made the mistake of using it to save money, and his engine triggered a yellow warning light on the highway, even clogging the fuel injectors. The repair cost ended up being equivalent to half a year’s worth of fuel. The manual specifies it, and there’s even a label inside the fuel filler cap recommending 95 octane unleaded gasoline. Make it a habit to check the octane rating every time before refueling—don’t wait until problems arise to regret it.
