An expert from Za Rulem, Russia’s longest-running and most respected automotive publication, cautions against jumping to conclusions about fuel grades. Before rushing to fill a vehicle with what some call “improved” higher-octane gasoline, it’s wise to pause and consider what truly defines engine performance. The expert’s point is simple: chasing octane alone does not create horsepower. Even if a car is advertised with a power boost from premium fuel, it won’t suddenly become faster simply because the octane rating is higher.
Detonation resistance matters, especially in hot weather. A higher octane fuel can help prevent premature ignition that robs an engine of power and efficiency when temperatures climb. This protection can preserve the engine’s rated output and avoid power loss under demanding conditions. However, that protection doesn’t translate into extra horsepower unless the engine and its settings are designed to exploit it. Using a fuel with a higher octane than the manufacturer recommends or requires does not automatically increase the car’s power output or acceleration potential.
In practical terms, octane should not be viewed as a calorie-like measure of energy. It’s a property related to combustion stability under heat and pressure. The key benefit of a higher-octane fuel is the reduction of knocking and pinging in high-stress or hot environments, which helps maintain consistent engine performance and protect long-term reliability. This is especially relevant for engines with higher compression ratios or those tuned for performance, where detonation resistance can matter more. Yet the octane rating alone cannot make a correctly tuned engine perform better if other design and calibration factors are not aligned with that fuel grade.
Regarding fuel efficiency and emissions, higher octane does not inherently lower consumption unless the engine was specifically engineered to take advantage of it. Efficiency improvements come from the overall engine design, fuel delivery, ignition timing, and electronic control strategies. Emissions are more closely tied to the fuel’s environmental class and chemical formulation than to octane alone. Lowering harmful emissions depends on choosing fuels that comply with environmental standards and are matched to the vehicle’s emission control systems rather than simply selecting a higher octane rating.