What is the difference between 92, 95, and 98 gasoline?
2 Answers
92, 95, and 98 gasoline differ in their octane ratings: 92 gasoline has an octane rating of 92%; 95 gasoline has an octane rating of 95%; and 98 gasoline has an octane rating of 98%. The higher the octane rating, the better the combustion efficiency of the gasoline, resulting in significantly lower fuel consumption. Additionally, a higher octane rating improves the gasoline's anti-knock properties. When the air-fuel mixture is injected into the cylinder, the piston moves upward to compress the mixture, increasing pressure and temperature. If the gasoline's anti-knock properties are too low, combustion may start before the spark plug ignites, leading to knocking or detonation. Knocking not only affects engine performance but can also cause damage. Therefore, car owners should choose the gasoline grade recommended by the manufacturer. There is no need to deliberately use higher-octane gasoline, as it can be both costly and harmful to the engine.
The key difference between gasoline grades like 92, 95, and 98 lies in their anti-knock capability, which is determined by their octane ratings. Higher numbers indicate higher octane values and better anti-knock performance. It's like equipping the engine with protective gear of varying thickness - high-compression performance cars require premium protection like 98 octane, otherwise, the engine is prone to knocking and damage. On the other hand, regular family cars with lower compression ratios are perfectly fine with 92 octane, which also saves money. However, it's important to note that blindly assuming higher-grade gasoline is cleaner or boosts performance is a complete misconception. The additive compositions are actually quite similar, and power output mainly depends on engine compatibility. I've seen many owners insist on using 98 octane for their economy cars, only to end up with increased fuel consumption and no noticeable benefits.
