What is the impact of switching from 92 to 95 octane gasoline in a car?
2 Answers
Occasionally switching once is fine, you can refill with 92 octane gasoline after using it up. Relevant explanations are as follows: 1. The type of gasoline for the vehicle should follow the manufacturer's recommended specification. 2. If the recommended specification is 93 octane, using 93 octane is sufficient. In emergency situations, 97 octane can be used. It is not recommended to use 97 octane long-term, as prolonged use of higher-grade gasoline can also damage the engine. However, for emergency use, the impact is generally negligible. 3. If the recommended specification is 97 octane, then 97 octane must be used. Using 93 octane is not allowed, as it can shorten the engine's lifespan and even damage the ignition system.
A few days ago, my car ran out of gas. I usually use 92-octane fuel, but the gas station only had 95-octane, so I tried it. After driving for a few days, I noticed the engine noise was quieter, and acceleration felt smoother without as much buzzing. I asked an old mechanic friend, and he said this is because 95-octane fuel has better anti-knock properties, reducing premature combustion in the cylinders and preventing knocking. However, my car has an older engine with a lower compression ratio, so occasionally using 95-octane won’t harm it—it might even reduce carbon buildup and protect the spark plugs. But using it long-term isn’t cost-effective; 95-octane is significantly more expensive, adding tens of yuan per tank, and that money could be better spent on tire maintenance. Overall, if the engine doesn’t specifically require it, 92-octane is sufficient. Using 95-octane is just a small bonus and doesn’t affect safety.
