Choose the Fuel that Matches Your Car Engine
Without fuel, your beloved car won't be able to run. Cars, just like humans, need food, drink, and vitamins to function at their best. So, to keep your car healthy, you need to be smart in choosing the right type of fuel.
Each type of fuel has its own specifications. The content in each fuel must match the needs of your car's engine. What should we pay attention to when choosing fuel to suit your beloved car? Let's check it out together!
Gasoline or Diesel Fuel?
The first thing to check is the specifications of your car's engine. There are two types of fuel, namely gasoline and diesel. Gasoline and diesel have several differences, one of which is the evaporation process. Gasoline evaporates more easily and has a low flash point of -43 degrees Celsius, while diesel is harder to evaporate and has a high flash point of 52-96 degrees Celsius. Then, in the intake process, in a diesel engine, the intake valve allows clean air into the combustion chamber. Meanwhile, in a gasoline engine, the valve allows a mixture of air and gasoline.
Next, the compression stage applied in diesel and gasoline engines is also different. Diesel engines only compress air, while gasoline engines compress a mixture of air and fuel. The compression ratio of diesel engines is generally higher than that of gasoline engines. The last difference lies in the power stroke. In diesel engines, the combustion process does not use a spark plug, while gasoline engines do use a spark plug.
So, do you already know the type of fuel for your car?
What is Meant by Octane?
Octane is the Research Octane Number. The octane number indicates the fuel's resistance to engine compression without exploding on its own. Octane has an important influence on engine compression. For example, fuel with an octane rating of 90-92 is suitable for vehicles with a compression ratio of 9.1-10.1, and fuel with an octane rating of 95-98 is suitable for cars with a compression ratio of 10.1-11.1.
Using an octane rating lower than the car's engine compression ratio can damage the engine's condition. The engine can experience engine knocking and the fuel will run out faster when the car is moving at high speeds. On the other hand, using fuel with a high octane rating does not necessarily maximize engine condition. In fact, excessive octane can damage the car's engine. Therefore, fuel selection should consider the suitability of octane with the car's engine compression.
Can Mixing Fuels Maximize Octane?
Mixing fuels will not yield anything beneficial. Mixing fuels will not change the octane of each type. In fact, if the mixed fuel still has an octane that does not match the compression, your car's engine could be damaged. So, it's best to use only one type of octane!
Well, there’s something else you can do to ensure the fuel is suitable for your beloved car. Check the car's manual or visit your car's official website. There, you can find out the recommended octane number from the manufacturer. Additionally, the fuel should also be supported by good engine oil. By paying attention to the above points, your car can operate at its best!
