
While octane rating may be same, premium fuels may have additives that could ensure enhanced engine protection and improved fuel efficiency
Many high-end cars and bikes are designed to be used with high octane fuel. The minimum RON (Research Octane Number) requirement in most cases is 91. The higher the RON, the better it is considered for fossil fuel powered vehicles. However, a new report indicates that such premium fuels may no longer be needed in the era of ethanol blending.
E15, E20 Octane rating revealed
In a surprising revelation, lab test report shared on reddit have shown that the regular ethanol blended petrol available at most petrol pumps has a high-octane rating of 98. The E15 and E20 petrol samples were taken from Bharat Petroleum (BPC) fuel stations. Lab testing was done by BPC’s own quality assurance laboratory.
For comparison, IOC’s premium petrol, the XP95, was also tested in a laboratory. The XP95 premium branded petrol was launched in 2021. It has an octane rating of 95. In tests, the octane rating was found to be 98. This is the same as that of E15 and E20 ethanol blended petrol.
Since the octane ratings are the same for both the premium petrol and standard ethanol-blended petrol, it pops-up the question why people are paying more money for premium petrol. It may have been relevant in the pre-ethanol era, when standard petrol used to have octane ratings of around 87.
Such lower octane petrol was not suitable for high-end cars and bikes, which had a minimum requirement of around 91 octane. But with ethanol-blended petrol offering a high octane of 98, it appears that people are unnecessarily paying more money to buy branded petrol.
Are costly branded petrol a marketing gimmick?
While E15 and E20 fuels match the octane rating of premium fuels, there can still be valid reasons why one may choose the latter. High octane fuel is designed to work with engines that have a high compression ratio. Fuel with a high octane rating can withstand greater pressures without auto igniting. This reduces engine knocking and improves the life of the engine. With the lab reports, it is clear that both premium fuels and standard ethanol-blended fuels are suitable for use in high-end cars and bikes.
However, costly premium fuels may have other advantages as well. For example, most branded fuels claim that they have special additives that clean and protect the engine. This in turn offers multiple benefits such as longer engine life, smoother drives and improved fuel efficiency.
Such benefits may not be available with standard ethanol-blended fuel even when it may have a high-octane rating. One also has to consider the age of the vehicle, as older vehicles may not be designed to run on ethanol-blended fuel. Premium fuels do not have such limitations. While the lab tests are a revelation, premium fuels are unlikely to lose their relevance.