2. National features

If we only could live in civilized world, the further discussion was not required. But alas... In local realities to the 'octane' scale with the second axis 'octane' added, then with axis 'geography' added - so the primitive linear problem becomes three-dimensional and dialectically complex.


In 2000s it was possible to say - "always and everywhere, wherever possible, use RON 91". Throughout the Mordor, it was really 'cleaner' and 'more pure', with a more consistent quality from region to region, it provided a more steady starting, it left behind less deposits of soot and metal oxides. And it is clear - while the sales of '95' were several times more than its official production (and without any import), it did not make sense to talk about quality.
Today, partly complicated - the quality of different gasoline types from large refineries are aligned so their differences seem a random fluctuations (from the plant to the plant and even from batch to batch), that make to avoid global generalizations. In turn, small producers and traders can even make 91 of indecent quality.
And must understand that in relation to local '92 or 95' - it is not a question of savings (a couple of dollars for a full tank), but the question of fuel quality, suitability for specific local conditions and of human prejudice.
But the obsessive and even aggressive propaganda of high-octane gasolines (98-100+) in a certain part of the information community, rightly provokes a wary reaction and the traditional 'cui prodest?'


Myths and legends

"How can you fill 91 in modern cars?"
It is noticeable that in the topics about fuels and lubricants the main information flow is generated by car owners of several European brands. The modern and high-tech, often with thermally loaded downsized turbo engines - that is the complete opposite of even new Toyota engines. So do not project their daunting experience to Japanese and Korean brands, as well as do not impose them own tips.

"There is not 92 in Europe"
It would be nice to understand - how 'Europe' correlates with a local reality as a whole and with Japanese cars in particular. But noticed right - the last European country with a relatively wide '91' distribution Deutschland remained, but due to the demand for 'Normalbenzin' declined, gas stations withdrawn it from the market at 2007-2010. So not surprisingly the absence of RON below 95 in the owner manuals for European market (not because it is forbidden, but because there is no such thing).

"USA uses octane index or rating, so their 91 is our 95"
Do the authors of such 'discoveries' believe that somebody can find and read 'american' manuals but does not know about the difference between AKI and RON? And by the way, in US manuals Toyota indicates literally "Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or higher)".

"There is only high-octane gasoline in Japan"
According to JIS K 2202 standard, since 1986 term 'Regular' means gasoline with RON above 89, and term 'Premium' means RON above 96.
In the table below the numbers are 'unified' with worldwide RON values.

"All high-octane gasoline in our country is fabricated from low-octane by additives supplement"
Another outdated stereotype - "local refineries can only produce RON 92, which then blended with additives to 95-98".
In fact, all the major refineries were modernized several times, so today any type of gasoline can be mass produced by "compounding of the products of catalytic reforming and cracking with various high-octane components". Under high-octane components means methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME). It is obvious that the final product is inferior to European or American gasolines (where more proper technology used), but in comparison with earlier times it is different level.
But it would be naive to believe that all commercial gasoline in the country is normal quality. That the ban on organometallic additives (ferrocene, cymantrene) can stop noname 'manufacturers'. That ban on so popular earlier monomethylaniline (MMA) has made it less effective. The factories still produce and sell enough of straight-run technical gasoline, rather illegal small refineries still work, the proposal is huge of literally 'nuclear' additives to increase octane number of any slops by 20-30 units... But either way, the probability of find poor-quality gasoline at the top-branded gas stations really diminished.

Cold start

Ease of cold start depends on the fuel evaporability, which is characterized by vapor pressure. Previously the universal rule existed: best volatility - 92, medium - 98, worse - 95.
Today, especially if trust the data sheets at the gas station, all mixed up - value could fluctuate even between batches of the same type from the same plant, so it remains only to state - 'good' or 'bad' gasoline caught in a particular moment at a particular gas station. It is understood that the paper can endure all - but even if the manufacturer's data sheet indicates low vapor pressure, there is no chance of normal cold start with this fuel.

Local features

Wherever the human factor possible and even seemingly impossible - peoples will find a way to 'optimize' and 'rationalize'. If personal profit, business interests and feudal social relations are applied here, the effect is synergistic and unpredictable.
Gasoline is not an exception - so quite normal fuel on the way from the refinery to the tank farm, from the farm to the gas station, from gas station to the car tank - it can undergo the most amazing collisions. Top companies use real hi-tech against own tanker drivers to prevent banal dilution of the fuel on the road during delivery. But alas, nothing can be done with the dirt product pipeline. With the transportation in the same tanks alternately different fuels (or even other fluids). With gas stations that clean the tanks first and last time when established...

Remind the long-all-known precautions:
• Refuel at the top-brand gas stations only (not franchise or jobber).
• If in a particular region types of gasoline differ greatly in quality, use the best of them, regardless of the technical requirements of car.
• Teach all the drivers in the family to avoid the cheap gasoline and noname stations.
• If enforced refueling - fill a small amount to drive to a more decent station.
• At unfamiliar territories choose the gas stations, where expensive cars with local license plates are refuel.
• Select the station networks that use its own fleet of road tankers.
• Do not refuel some time after heavy rains.
• Do not refuel during or immediately after receiving the fuel from tanker to the gas station.
• In cold weather check at least the declared values of volatility and the amount of light ends in fuel.

To call for the use of specific gas station brands does not make sense for us, the worst of top network everyone knows. In any case, the ideal brand does not exist, the more - universal ideal for the whole country.
Locally, we can say - the four major oil refineries of the central region have their own strengths and weaknesses, and overall - make products at acceptable to good level. Although do not try to find the best gasoline in the country at the capital.
Whether an ordinary car owner to deep further? Real, high-quality gasoline fanatic at the day or night can describe from which refinery every gas stations network is supplied, production status at each plant, and in what direction its pendulum of quality has swung. They always request copy of data sheets at the gas station, check its validity, evaluates and compares the declared octane number, content of sulfur, gum, benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, induction period, the end of the boiling point, vapor pressure... By the fractional composition and type of additives they determine the origin refinery. By smell they differ the main components and additives. They connected to the computer and monitors the fuel trim after each refueling. But it turns out - in multa sapientia multa sit indignatio.