What happens if a car designed for 92 gasoline is filled with 95?
2 Answers
Filling a car designed for 92 gasoline with 95 may affect the spark plugs and cylinders to some extent. Here are some precautions for refueling: Do not fill the tank completely: When driving in the city, there is no need to fill the fuel tank completely. Frequent stops in urban driving can increase the engine load if the tank is full. It is best not to exceed two-thirds of the tank capacity. Overfilling can cause gasoline to overflow, which may flow into the intake manifold through the pipes and "drown" the spark plugs, leading to engine stalling after refueling. In severe cases, the car may fail to start normally, and gasoline may even leak from the carbon canister, posing a significant fire hazard if exposed to open flames. Do not wait until the tank is empty to refuel: The fuel pump in the tank relies on gasoline for cooling. If the gasoline level is too low and does not cover the pump, prolonged operation in this state may reduce the fuel pump's lifespan. While this is less of an issue in winter, the risk is higher during the hotter summer months. Additionally, if the fuel level is too low, the pump may draw in sediment from the bottom of the tank, potentially clogging the pump or blocking the fuel line.
I remember chatting with the mechanic at the repair shop about this last time. If you're used to driving a car that takes 92 and suddenly switch to 95, the engine won't actually develop any issues. 95 has better anti-knock properties, and theoretically, it's only needed for high-compression engines. Regular family cars aren't that delicate. However, consistently using the more expensive fuel might be a bit of a waste, especially if your car doesn't have that sophisticated fuel injection system—unburned fuel can lead to carbon buildup. My neighbor's old Jetta ran on 95 for half a year, and when they checked the spark plugs later, they were all black and shiny. If you accidentally use the wrong fuel once or twice, don't panic—just remember to run the tank nearly empty before switching back to 92. The engine isn't that fragile. What you should really worry about are those cars that require 95 but get filled with 92 by mistake—knocking can actually damage the engine.
