Expert from Za Rulem, the oldest and most authoritative automotive publication in Russia, Mikhail Kolodochkin recommends that you do not rush to fill up your car with the so-called “improved” higher octane gasoline, in anticipation of an increase in engine power. Think what:
“What is the ‘performance’ of an engine? A hint of his power? But power does not depend on the octane number. Pour at least the 200th gasoline into the Grant – it won’t go any faster,” the expert warns.
Octane is not synonymous with calories, as if we were comparing fuel to food. But there is still an advantage of such gasoline – a high octane rating allows you to avoid detonation in the engine in the heat, which even in such weather will help to preserve the power of the engine on the nameplate.
It will not work to increase power due to an octane number above the passport number, nor will it work to reduce fuel consumption if the engine is not specifically designed to run on such gasoline.
As for harmful emissions, they are reduced by the environmental class of gasoline (K2, K3, K4, K5) and not by the octane number.