What type of gasoline does the BMW X3 use?
2 Answers
The BMW X3 has a fuel tank capacity of 65 liters, and the manufacturer recommends using 95-octane gasoline. The octane number represents the gasoline's anti-knock properties, with higher numbers indicating better anti-knock performance. It is not related to the quality of the gasoline itself, nor does it mean that higher-octane gasoline has fewer impurities. Here is an introduction to gasoline with different octane numbers: 1. The octane number of gasoline depends on the number of octane values. For example, 92-octane gasoline means its octane value is not less than 92%. The engine's choice of different octane numbers mainly depends on whether the compression ratio matches the gasoline's octane value. 2. The so-called 92-octane, 95-octane, and 98-octane unleaded gasoline refer to their respective contents of 92%, 95%, and 98% of 'iso-octane,' which has strong anti-knock properties, meaning they contain 8%, 5%, and 2% of 'n-heptane,' which has poor anti-knock properties. Among them, 98-octane gasoline corresponds to engines with higher compression ratios.
I've been driving a BMW X3 for a while now, and I must emphasize the importance of using high-octane gasoline, specifically 95 or 98 octane. Why? Because this car is equipped with a turbocharged system, and the engine is designed to operate at a high compression ratio. Using lower-octane fuel like 92 can easily cause knocking. Knocking sounds scary—it causes irregular combustion inside the engine, accelerates component wear, and may even damage spark plugs or cylinders. Using 95 octane or higher ensures smoother combustion, improves acceleration response and fuel efficiency, and protects the engine's lifespan. I recommend always opting for higher-octane fuel when refueling. After all, a BMW is a premium car—don't compromise performance and safety to save a few bucks. The manual will clearly specify the requirement, usually starting from 95 octane, so remember to check the details for your specific model.
