What is octane rating?
The Research Octane Number, commonly known as RON or octane rating, indicates the stability of a fuel. While octane rating is determined using complex methodologies, in simpler terms, it indicates the stability of the fuel under preignition pressure, or the level of pressure generated by the fuel after combustion in an internal combustion engine.
Generally, the regular or normal petrol has a lower octane rating between 87 and 91 RON. However, there are premium fuels, having higher octane ratings as compared to normal petrol. While not all engines are made to handle high octane rating petrol, the reverse is also true, meaning that not all engines can handle low octane rating petrol. This is because different types of engines have different compression ratios. The easiest way to know the suitable octane rating for a vehicle’s engine is by checking the user/owner’s manual of a vehicle provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
Effects of using incorrect octane rating:
Although using petrol having an octane rating not suitable for a particular engine is not of high concern in the short term, some of the effects of using petrol with an incorrect octane rating for a prolonged period are as follows:
- Engine knocking
- Damage to the engine
- Decrease in performance
- Decrease in fuel efficiency
Premium petrol and octane rating
Normal or regular petrol is easily available in almost every fuel station; however, the availability of premium petrol can be an issue, an issue that can cause headaches, especially to the owners of high-performance motorcycles and cars. Therefore, identifying the fuel stations and the fuel with a high-octane rating can come in handy. Below is a list of a few premium petrol brands having high octane ratings and their respective brands:
