
Land Rovers require a minimum of 95 octane gasoline. If you are unsure about the appropriate gasoline grade for your vehicle, it is recommended to check the fuel cap for the required octane rating or refer to the owner's manual for guidance. Currently, gasoline available in the market comes in various octane ratings such as 90, 95, and 98. These numbers represent the gasoline's octane rating, which indicates its anti-knock properties and is unrelated to the fuel's cleanliness. Filling up according to the engine's compression ratio or the specifications in the vehicle's manual is more scientific and economical, allowing the engine to perform at its optimal efficiency. Using a lower octane gasoline than required in high-performance vehicles can severely affect the engine's normal operation, leading to knocking. In severe cases, it may reduce the engine's lifespan and increase maintenance costs. Blindly using higher octane gasoline than necessary not only results in sluggish acceleration but also fails to utilize the fuel's high anti-knock properties, leading to unnecessary waste.

I've been driving my Discovery Sport for five years and always stick to 95-octane fuel. I remember the salesperson repeatedly emphasized this when I first got the car - Land Rover engines are precision-built with high compression ratios, and using lower-grade fuel can cause knocking. Once in a remote area when I couldn't find 95-octane, I reluctantly filled up with 92-octane, and the engine warning light came on immediately. It cost me over 2,000 yuan to clean the fuel system afterwards. Now for any car that specifies 95-octane on the fuel cap, I strictly follow that requirement. The fuel requirements may vary slightly across different model years, but basically the entire range starts from 95-octane. For performance models like the Range Rover Sport SVR, you'll need 98-octane to really unleash its power.

Don't cheap out on fuel - my Land Rover technician always reminds me during maintenance. The label in the engine bay clearly states: unleaded petrol 95 RON. Last time I met a guy who insisted 92 octane would work, but three months later his piston rings were severely carbon-fouled. Truth is, the price difference between 95 and 92 is just about 1 yuan per liter, but 95 octane has higher anti-knock properties which turbocharged engines particularly need. Also beware - diesel Land Rovers must never get the wrong fuel. The filler neck has clear markings, as misfueling could destroy the high-pressure fuel pump outright.

The Land Rover fuel cap has the answer written inside – it recommends unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 95 or above. When I drove my Range Rover on long-distance trips, I observed that using 98-octane fuel could increase the mileage by 5%, and the engine response was more crisp. A friend who works at a 4S dealership once shared internal test data: using 92-octane fuel long-term can lead to premature engine wear, and the repair costs would be enough to cover three years' worth of 95-octane fuel. Nowadays, gas stations often run promotions; on Tuesdays and Fridays (member days), 95-octane fuel can be 0.5 to 0.6 yuan cheaper per liter, making it not much more expensive than 92-octane. A special reminder: in high-altitude areas, it’s even more important to use higher-octane fuel. In oxygen-thin environments, insufficient fuel octane can easily cause engine knocking.


