Will it have any impact if I suddenly switch from Sinopec to PetroChina?
2 Answers
This will not have any impact. Compared to PetroChina, Sinopec's fuel uses higher-priced additives during the refining process, resulting in a purer final product. For vehicles, this is better because higher purity means the fuel burns more efficiently. However, since both companies adhere to the same final gasoline standards, mixing them poses no issues. Compared to GB17930—2011, the main changes can be summarized as 'three reductions, two adjustments, and one addition.' Details are as follows: 1. 'Three reductions': The sulfur content limit was reduced from 50μg/g in Phase IV to 10μg/g, an 80% decrease; the manganese concentration limit was reduced from 8mg/L in Phase IV to 2mg/L, prohibiting the artificial addition of manganese-containing additives; and the olefin content was reduced from 28% in Phase IV to 24%. 2. 'Two adjustments': Adjustments were made to vapor pressure and fuel grades. The lower limit of winter vapor pressure was increased from 42kPa in Phase IV to 45kPa, while the upper limit of summer vapor pressure was reduced from 68kPa in Phase IV to 65kPa, with Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan required to follow summer vapor pressure year-round. Additionally, considering the reduction in octane levels due to lower sulfur and banned manganese content, as well as the shortage of high-octane resources domestically, the standard adjusted gasoline grades from 90, 93, and 97 to 89, 92, and 95, respectively, based on the realities of the refining industry. 3. 'One addition': The standard's appendix now includes technical requirements and testing methods for 98-octane gasoline (V). It is estimated that implementing 'Automotive Gasoline' (GB17930—2013) will significantly reduce vehicle pollutant emissions, with an annual reduction of approximately 300,000 tons of nitrogen oxides for in-use vehicles and a cumulative reduction of about 90,000 tons over five years for new vehicles.
I'm an average car owner who drives regularly and often pays attention to fuel choices. I used to fill up exclusively at Sinopec, but later tried PetroChina once, and overall, there wasn't much noticeable difference. Both Sinopec and PetroChina are major domestic brands, and their gasoline meets national standards with similar base compositions. However, due to slight differences in additive formulations—such as detergents or octane boosters—you might feel minor fluctuations in power output or a slight increase in fuel consumption with the first tank. In my case, the throttle response wasn't as smooth during acceleration initially, but after a day or two when the tank was empty and refilled, everything returned to normal. The key lies in the adaptability of the car's engine—modern models are quite tolerant unless the vehicle is very old or extremely fuel-sensitive. If you suddenly switch brands, I recommend trying half a tank first to test the engine's reaction before committing to a full tank. Regularly cleaning the fuel injectors can also help minimize such disruptions.
