Ron 95 or Ron 97 – which is better for your car?

Ever felt confused at the pump, unsure which type of petrol is better? Do you look at the price and assume that the more expensive option is better for your car? In this article, we will find out which is better between Ron 95 or Ron 97. We will first break down it’s performance, in terms of power and mileage, and then discuss how it impacts both your car’s engine and the environment.

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Performance

Power

Although Ron 97 is believed to be better than Ron 95 this is not always the case. Unless you have a high-performance engine that has a high compression ratio, Ron 95 will give you the same performance. The reverse however is not true. If you use Ron 95 in a high-performance engine, it will explode too quickly under the pressure and power will be wasted.

Mileage

The same beliefs regarding the superiority of Ron 97 in terms of power also applies to mileage. This is true if you have a high-performance engine and use Ron 97 as less energy would be wasted when the fuel burns. Claims of better mileage could be attributed to driving habits and their vehicles engines than to the fuel itself. Therefore, there is likely no real advantage to use either fuel.

Impact

Engine

Knock occurs when the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-stroke cycle. The shock wave creates a metallic “pinging” sound, and cylinder pressure increases dramatically. Effects of engine knocking range from inconsequential to completely destructive. So be sure to pay attention to your engine. If you consistently hear knocking, it could spell trouble for your engine and can cause severe damage.

So how does knocking relate to our fuels? The main difference between Ron 97 and Ron 95 is resistance to knocking. Ron 97 can withstand the higher pressures in a high-performance engine and therefore produce no knocking. Even so, Ron 95 is still a good fuel but it will produce knocking if your engine is powerful.

Environment

Although some people believe that using the premium fuel would be doing the environment a favour, it ultimately comes down to your engine. If you have a high-performance engine, Ron 97 will burn more completely but if you use if on a normal-performance engine, you will have inefficiencies as not all the fuel is burnt. Therefore it is better to check with your manufacturer on which fuel type is better for your engine.

Ron 95 vs Ron 97

All in all, it does not come down to the fuel, but rather the engine as both grades are more or less equal. To get the most bang for your buck, the appropriate fuel should be used for the right type of engine. Normal-performance engines should use Ron 95 while high-performance engines should use Ron 97. This is to eliminate inefficiencies and to protect both the engine and the environment. 

So, which petrol do you use? Do let us know below!

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