Engine performance and mileage are largely determined by the right fuel. Automakers themselves set the appropriate fuel allowance for a particular vehicle. In this blog, we will talk about the octane number of fuel and the importance of choosing the right fuel for a car.
What is the octane number?
The octane number determines the resistance of the fuel to detonation. As a rule, there is only one feedstock, subsequently, due to specific additives, fuel with a certain octane number is obtained. For example, fuel with an octane rating of 95 is a high-quality, fuel with an octane rating of 92 - ordinary.
What is detonation?
Detonation is an uneven combustion that occurs in the combustion chamber during engine operation.
With properly selected gasoline, the mixture of air and fuel forms a single large wave during ignition, but with incorrectly selected fuel, this single wave is no longer formed. Instead, several small foci form, and the place where this focus is most often found is damaged and, in the worst case, punctured.
What happens if we use fuel with a lower octane number than recommended?
It is important to keep in mind that if your car requires premium fuel, that is, high-octane fuel, it is not recommended to use regular, that is, low-octane fuel. To better understand what happens if we use fuel with a lower octane rating than recommended, it is necessary to explain how the car engine works. The engine runs in 4 cycles:
- Intake;
- Compression;
- Power;
- exhaust;
During the intake cycle, a mixture of air and fuel is supplied from the valve and the cylinder is filled. When compressed, the fuel is under full pressure, after which the spark plug explodes. The piston then returns to its original position, at which point the air exits the exhaust system through the exhaust valve.
Secondly, the ignition temperature is very important during compression. The lower the octane number, the higher the self-explosion coefficient. That is, when using fuel with an octane rating below the recommended one, uneven detonation occurs and in the long term damage to the valve occurs.
How to choose the best fuel?
- Check the octane number indicated on the engine - the recommended octane number of fuel is indicated on the engine of each car, which is important for long-term and trouble-free operation of the car.
- Take a test drive - if your car uses regular fuel, you can check how it reacts to premium fuel.
- Pay attention to how you use your car - if you often drive on uneven terrain, premium fuel may be useful to you, as it is more resistant to combustion.
