What is the difference between normal petrol and speed petrol
As the petrol price in India reaches dizzying heights, you would think twice before buying costlier types of petrol like Speed or Power. Before you take this decision, it would be better to learn exactly what you are gaining when you purchase speed petrol instead of normal petrol. On the surface level, you might only see the cost aspects, but now you can get a clearer picture. This article will tell you everything about normal petrol and speed petrol, as well as the differences between them.
Normal petrol or unleaded petrol is the most common petrol type that most of us use. It is called unleaded because the lead contents have been removed from the petrol, to preserve the environment. It is available in every petrol bunk in the country. When the TV news talks about petrol prices, they are talking about the price of unleaded petrol.
Speed petrol is a branded petrol type that claims to give high performance. Here is what Bharat Petroleum claims about it:
Speed petrol comes in a few variants like Speed and Speed 97. Speed is costlier than unleaded petrol and Speed 97 is the costliest.
Power petrol is Hindustan Petroleum is brand of high performance petrol. Their claims are pretty much the same as the claims about speed petrol.
1.Power petrol removes deposit of intake valves, fuel injectors
2.Controls the octane requirement increase (ORI)
3.Ensures optimum combustion of fuel in the engine, increasing fuel economy
4.Improves your driving comfort
5.Gives you increased power and acceleration
6.Reduces emissions from the exhaust
7.Prevents the sticking of intake valves
8.Reduces engine knocking.
Power petrol is also costlier than unleaded petrol. The costliest petrol is Power 99.
These points provide a good overview about high performance petrol, but they are focused on marketing the product. Furthermore, these high performances fuels are always costlier than unleaded petrol. You need to check the current petrol price in India to see exactly how much costlier they are. To get a better idea about what high performance petrol does, you need to know about Octane ratings.
Octane is an expensive fuel added to the petrol to avoid pre-ignition. Since raw petrol is explosive, it lights off instantly causing knocking or pinging which can be annoying during acceleration. Octane rating is defined by how much the petrol resists compression inside the engine. Furthermore, it is how capable the petrol is at burning without knocking during combustion.
Higher octane numbers mean smoother fuel and less knocking. However, as the octane rating increases, so does the cost of the fuel.
It may seem like Speed or Power petrol is the best option for your vehicle. However, it is not that simple!
Most cars in India are built to run on 87 Octane fuel. Using 90 Octane fuel in an 87 Octane car engine does not increase performance or mileage. In fact, many car manufacturers actively advise against using high octane fuels in their cars. The reason being it may be damaging in the long run. Make sure to read your car manual to check the recommended Octane level fuel for your car. Considering the petrol price in India, you would be better off using unleaded petrol if that is what your car requires.
Pre-ignition and engine knocking happens mostly in high-performance engines. However, only powerful cars would have such engines. If you own a car like a BMW or Audi, you can think about using high-performance fuel.
Ultimately your choice of fuel comes down to what your car needs. Ideally it is not dictated by the petrol price in India today. Furthermore, if you use a cheaper fuel for a high performance engine, you may end up spending more to fix it. Every car knows what it wants, so all you need to do is listen to it. Importantly, when you buy a new car you might want to read through that manual during your trip to the RTO. Make sure you don't read while driving, or you may expect an unwanted eChallan. While your RC Book and mParivahan app might show the right fuel type, only the manual will show the preferred Octane rating.
Considering fuel prices in India, hopefully, your car is compatible with unleaded petrol. The fuel price changes every day, so make sure you keep track.
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