What type of gasoline should a Passat use?
2 Answers
Passat requires gasoline with an octane rating of 95 or higher. The gasoline type refers to its octane rating, which includes grades such as 93, 97, and 98. The Passat is a mid-size sedan designed by Volkswagen in Germany, classified as a B-segment car in the Volkswagen lineup. Taking the 2020 Passat 380TSI Premium Edition (China VI) as an example: it comes equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree surround-view camera, a 9.2-inch touchscreen LCD, and full-speed adaptive cruise control. The Passat is powered by a 2.0T 220-horsepower L4 turbocharged engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
I've been driving this Passat for many years and usually fill it with 95-octane gasoline because its engine has a high compression ratio, which was designed with premium fuel in mind. The compression ratio refers to how much the gas in the cylinder is compressed. Using lower-octane fuel when the ratio is too high can cause knocking, which sounds like the engine is drumming and can damage the pistons or valves. Since switching to 95-octane, the car starts much more smoothly, accelerates with more power, and no longer feels jerky like it sometimes did before. It also reduces carbon buildup issues, saving me unnecessary expenses during each maintenance check. I recommend regularly reading the owner's manual, as recommendations may vary slightly between different model years—for example, some newer models can temporarily use 92-octane in emergencies but shouldn't rely on it long-term. Consistently using the right gasoline prolongs engine life and reduces repairs.
