What to Do If a Car Designed for 95 Octane Gasoline is Filled with 92 Octane?
2 Answers
If a car designed for 95 octane gasoline is filled with 92 octane, you can purchase some additives that increase the octane rating and add them to the fuel tank. This will help raise the octane level of the gasoline and prevent engine knocking. Different grades of gasoline have different octane ratings, with higher-grade gasoline having higher octane values. Generally, turbocharged engines and high-compression naturally aspirated engines require high-octane fuel; otherwise, knocking may occur in the engine. Knocking is an abnormal combustion phenomenon in the engine. When the piston is in the compression stroke and moving upward, the temperature and pressure of the combustible mixture increase. If the gasoline's stability is poor, the combustible mixture may ignite before the spark plug fires, pushing the piston downward while it is still moving upward, resulting in knocking.
That time I accidentally filled my 95-octane car with 92-octane gasoline, and the engine roared like crazy when driving, with acceleration also stuttering. A friend said that low-octane gasoline is prone to knocking in high-pressure environments, meaning it burns too quickly and shocks the engine, which over time can damage valves or cause carbon buildup. I immediately drove to a repair shop, where the mechanic used a pump to remove half the fuel and then mixed in new high-octane gasoline, costing me just a few dozen bucks to fix. He said it's fine occasionally in the short term, but avoid high-speed driving or sudden acceleration to prevent greater damage. Now, every time I refuel, I bend down to check the octane rating label on the fuel nozzle—developing this habit has made things worry-free and effortless, and the car runs much smoother. Remember, safety first; treat your car well, just like you would a person.
