1. What It Is:
Gasoline is a refined petroleum fuel used mainly in spark-ignition internal combustion engines (cars, motorcycles, small engines). It’s graded by octane rating, which measures resistance to engine knocking.
2. Main Octane Grades:
- Regular (RON 87–91 / MON 82–85): Standard fuel in many countries
- Mid-grade (RON 91–93): Slightly higher performance
- Premium (RON 95–100+): For high-compression or performance engines
- Aviation Gasoline (Avgas 100LL): For piston-engine aircraft
3. Rating Methods:
- RON (Research Octane Number): Tested under light engine load
- MON (Motor Octane Number): Tested under heavy load
- AKI (Anti-Knock Index): U.S. standard, average of RON and MON
5. Additives & Blends:
- Contains detergents to clean engine parts
- Often blended with ethanol (E5–E85) to reduce emissions
- Some markets use lead-free (unleaded) only, due to health/environmental rules
6. Environmental Notes:
- Modern gasoline must meet emission standards (e.g., Euro 4, 5, 6)
- Low-sulfur and oxygenated fuels reduce CO and NOx emissions
- High-octane fuels can improve efficiency in certain engines
