Why do Volkswagen cars require 95-octane gasoline?
2 Answers
Volkswagen cars require 95-octane gasoline because most Volkswagen models are equipped with turbocharged engines. During high-speed driving, the turbocharger operates more powerfully, which demands higher fuel quality. 95-octane gasoline has better anti-knock performance compared to 92-octane gasoline. The difference in gasoline grades mainly lies in the octane value of additives (which affects anti-knock performance). The higher the gasoline grade, the higher the octane value, and consequently, the better the anti-knock performance. Volkswagen is an automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, with brands such as Audi and Volkswagen under its umbrella. Taking the Volkswagen Golf as an example, its body dimensions are 4578mm in length, 1799mm in width, and 1515mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2630mm.
Last time I studied Volkswagen engines, especially their turbocharged models like the EA888, which are designed with relatively high compression ratios, typically 9.6 and above. 95-octane gasoline has a high octane rating and strong anti-knock properties, making it a perfect match for such high-compression designs. If you use 92-octane fuel, the engine will frequently retard the ignition timing upon detecting knock, immediately resulting in sluggish performance and a noticeable increase in fuel consumption. I've seen cases where people consistently used 92-octane fuel, and after 20,000 kilometers, the piston crowns were pitted from combustion. Volkswagen's manual clearly states a minimum requirement of 95-octane fuel. The precise fuel injection systems in German engines are highly sensitive to knocking—don’t try to save money on this.