What grade of gasoline should the Chevrolet Malibu use?

[DelLucas]

The Chevrolet Malibu should use 92-octane gasoline, as recommended in the vehicle's official owner's manual. In addition to checking the appropriate gasoline grade in the owner's manual, you can also find it on the fuel tank cap, which will indicate the recommended grade. Typically, the gasoline grade can also be determined based on the engine's compression ratio. Vehicles with a compression ratio between 8.6-9.9 should use 92-octane gasoline, while those with a compression ratio between 10.0-11.5 should use 95-octane gasoline. If the compression ratio is even higher, 98-octane gasoline is recommended. However, with the use of new technologies, the compression ratio alone cannot determine the appropriate gasoline grade, as high-compression engines can also be tuned to use lower-octane gasoline. Factors such as ignition timing, turbocharging technology, and Atkinson cycle technology also play a role. Generally, the higher the gasoline grade, the higher the octane rating and the better the anti-knock performance. 92-octane gasoline contains 92% isooctane and 8% n-heptane, while 95-octane gasoline contains 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. If the Chevrolet Malibu occasionally uses the wrong gasoline grade, simply switch back to the correct grade after refueling. However, prolonged use of the wrong gasoline grade can have the following effects: For vehicles recommended to use lower-octane gasoline, using a higher-octane grade will not cause damage, but the increased octane rating may alter the fuel's ignition point, leading to delayed combustion in the engine. This reduces the engine's power output and thermal efficiency, resulting in poorer performance. For vehicles recommended to use higher-octane gasoline, using a lower-octane grade can cause engine knocking. The significantly lower octane rating lowers the fuel's ignition point, causing premature ignition during the compression stroke. If combustion occurs before the spark plug fires, resistance is created during the upward stroke. This resistance makes the engine run very unstably. Mild knocking may only increase noise without obvious engine damage, but severe knocking indicates serious engine conditions. The vibrations not only affect driving stability but can also cause abnormal wear on the pistons and cylinders, potentially leading to cylinder scoring in severe cases.