High octane gasoline and what car owners need to understand correctly
Many car owners have a habit of choosing gasoline with a high octane index (which is the number measuring the anti-detonation ability of gasoline in the engine) with the thought that this is a better fuel and helps the engine operate more smoothly.
However, according to a car repair technician at Ninety Eight Auto (Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City), a higher octane index does not mean that fuel is always suitable or brings better efficiency to every engine.
The octane index reflects the explosion resistance of gasoline. Engines with high compression ratios often have higher requirements for the explosion resistance of fuel.
However, octane requirements depend not only on compression ratio but also on engine design, control system, ignition timing and many other technical factors. Therefore, the specifications announced by the manufacturer are an important basis for choosing fuel.
For engines that are regulated by manufacturers to use gasoline with a certain octane index, switching to gasoline with a higher octane does not necessarily mean that the car will definitely increase power, save fuel or operate more smoothly.
Some modern engines have the ability to adjust ignition times and can exploit the benefits of fuel with higher anti-detonation capabilities under certain conditions. But this depends on the design and requirements of each engine.
It should also not be understood that gasoline with higher octanes will harm all engines. In many cases, engines can still operate normally when using fuel with an octane index higher than the recommended minimum level.
However, if the engine is not designed to exploit the benefits from a higher octane level, users may not receive the corresponding efficiency for the cost incurred.
Therefore, the appropriate choice is to check the car's user manual and comply with the type of fuel with an octane index recommended by the manufacturer. Users should not assume that the higher the octane index of gasoline, the more suitable it is for all engines.
Misconceptions about refueling in the early morning or late at night
Another quite common misunderstanding is related to the timing of refueling. According to Ninety Eight Auto, many people believe that refueling should be done early in the morning or at night when the temperature is low, because the fuel will shrink when cold and expand when hot. From there, they believe that refueling when it is cold will get more fuel for the same amount of money.
In terms of physical principle, temperature affects the volume of fuel. However, in actual retail conditions, gasoline is often stored in underground tanks, so fuel temperature does not fluctuate rapidly with air temperature.
Therefore, choosing the time to refuel is only to take advantage of the elasticity because heat often does not create significant savings for users.
Instead of focusing too much on the timing of refueling or chasing fuel with a higher octane index, car owners should prioritize using the right type of gasoline as recommended by the manufacturer. This is a suitable way to ensure the engine works according to design requirements and avoid unnecessary costs.
