What to do if you accidentally fill up with 92 octane instead of 95?
2 Answers
Occasionally filling up with 92 octane instead of 95 is not a big deal, but consistently using lower octane fuel in a high-performance vehicle can severely affect the engine's normal operation, leading to knocking. In serious cases, it may reduce the engine's lifespan and increase maintenance costs. The fundamental difference between 95 and 92 octane gasoline lies in their octane ratings, or more simply, the amount of anti-knock additives. 95 octane gasoline contains a slightly higher proportion of anti-knock additives compared to 92 octane. Gasoline is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid derived from the fractional distillation, cracking, or pyrolysis of petroleum, used as fuel. Key characteristics of gasoline include volatility, stability, knock resistance, corrosiveness, and cleanliness.
Every time I accidentally fill up with the wrong fuel, I feel a bit nervous because the engine is designed to run on higher-octane fuel. Using 92-octane gasoline may lead to knocking issues, but don’t panic. First, if you’ve only added a small amount of 92-octane fuel, immediately top it up with 95-octane to dilute it and minimize potential damage. If you’ve filled the tank entirely with 92-octane fuel, avoid high-speed driving or sudden acceleration to prevent engine knocking; drive smoothly and accelerate gently. You can also purchase a bottle of fuel additive to pour into the tank, which helps clean the system and boost the octane level. Try to use up this tank of fuel as soon as possible and refill with 95-octane to stay safe. If you’re still concerned, visit a repair shop for a check-up to prevent long-term damage. To avoid such hassles in the future, make it a habit to double-check the fuel grade before filling up.