If we think back to years ago, when we went to refuel, we could only choose between two types of fuel: gasoline and diesel. In recent years, things have changed considerably, as we can now find several types of diesel and also several types of gasoline , including 95 octane and 98 octane.
The main objective of fuel diversification is to achieve greater engine performance, as well as lower consumption and a reduction in the pollution produced by our car's engine.
We all know the main difference between 95 and 98 octane gasoline: the price . However, aside from the price, there are other differences between these two types of gasoline, with octane rating being the most important.
The octane rating, 95 or 98, indicates the fuel's ability to prevent pre-ignition (or auto-ignition ) inside the cylinder. In practice, the higher the octane rating of the gasoline, the more the fuel-air mixture can be compressed inside the cylinders without spontaneous combustion.
Taking this into account, we can say that 98-octane gasoline performs better than 95-octane gasoline. Furthermore, in theory, fuel consumption with this type of gasoline should be lower than with 95-octane gasoline. However, without using a calculator, we won't actually see the fuel savings that 98-octane gasoline offers.
98 octane gasoline is commonly used in sports cars , as the main objective of these engines is to make the most of the power they offer.
It should also be said that, although the manufacturer recommends a fuel with a higher or lower octane rating, in practice we can use either type of fuel.
In Europe, the lowest permitted octane rating is 95. The advantages of this gasoline are its lower price and improved cold-start performance . Overall, 95-octane gasoline is the most widely used in cars, far surpassing 98-octane gasoline.
More information - Getting confused when putting fuel