Petronas Akan Melancarkan RON 100. Adakah Kita Benar-benar Memerlukannya?

Kami baru sahaja menerima berita bahawa Petronas akan melancarkan bahan bakar RON 100 untuk bersaing dengan Petron yang melancarkan bahan bakar RON 100 pada Januari 2016 yang dipasarkan sebagai Blaze 100 Euro 4M.

Adakah permintaan cukup tinggi untuk Petronas masuk ke segmen ini atau ini adalah hanya kerana maruah? Petron Blaze 100 nampaknya bukan penjual terbaik bagi syarikat dengan kenaikan harga bahan bakar dan ekonomi kita menghadapi KDNK terburuk sejak 1997 ketika krisis kewangan teruk melanda Malaysia.

Apa maksud oktan yang lebih tinggi, seperti RON 100? Well, ia adalah ukuran daya tahan letupan campuran bahan bakar dengan udara di dalam enjin.

Enjin kereta moden direka untuk tekanan campuran bahan bakar udara yang agak tinggi, jika campuran menyala sebelum tekanan itu dicapai enjin tidak akan berjalan dengan baik kerana pencucuhan akan berlaku pada saat yang salah dalam kitaran enjin.

Inilah sebabnya mengapa hanya bahan bakar dengan “angka oktan” yang betul harus digunakan untuk mana-mana enjin, bergantung pada bagaimana enjin itu ditala, jika tidak, enjin anda tidak akan berjalan dengan lancar. “Nombor Oktan” mana yang sesuai untuk jenis enjin kereta anda biasanya akan tercatat di dalam manual servis kereta anda atau di pintu lubang isi minyak.

Sekiranya anda memasukkan bahan bakar RON 100 ke dalam enjin ‘normal’ yang hanya memerlukan RON 95, ia mungkin akan memberi kesan buruk dalam jangka masa panjang, kerana enjin akan bermasalah membakar bahan bakar oktana RON 100 yang lebih tinggi.

Oleh itu, tidak ada sebabnya sama sekali untuk anda menggunakan bahan bakar oktan lebih tinggi melainkan manual servis kereta anda MEWAJIB anda menggunakannya untuk kereta anda berjalan dengan cekap.

KENYATAAN MEDIA

Even if your car requests a higher octane fuel, it may be possible to use a lower octane fuel because of variable timing. Your car service manual will state the details. However, it will not have as much performance, since the timing is being retarded to prevent knocking.

Premium grade fuels simply optimize an engine’s ability to make power through increased fuel density that offer a more controlled burn, reducing engine ping (detonation) and resulting in a smoother delivery of power. 

These fuels also contain detergents and boosters which keep components such as valves, pistons and combustion components free of surface varnishes and carbon build-up, which may assist in promoting a longer service life.

Older pre-1990 engines will run quite happily on standard 95 octane fuels, with the exception of certain models requiring super leaded equivalent of 97.

These high-performance engines have compression levels exceeding 10.1:1 that once called exclusively for premium fuels, yet today’s manufacturers are specifying a minimum RON of just 95 for power plants with the same high ratings. 

The reason they can do this is Variable Valve Timing (VVT). 

VVT combined with sophisticated engine management systems physically adjusts internal compression pressures through advancing or delaying the opening of the engines intake and exhaust valves and spark control. 

Under acceleration, an engine’s valve events are delayed while under low throttle cruise they are advanced or held open for longer. 

It’s through this type of technology that vehicle manufacturers are able to harness higher performance and fuel economy out of today’s engines while using lower-grade fuel.   

So, are premium fuels right for everyone?

With the exception of turbocharged/supercharged models or models specifically recommended by the manufacturer, then the answer is generally no. 

Engines in modern cars today are nothing like they were 20 years ago and they are far better today.

Today’s engines are designed with high levels of efficiency and performance in mind and as a result of VVT technology, today’s highly stressed units are able to thrive on lower grades of fuel as a result.  

Vehicle manufacturers design their engines with specific performance characteristics in mind so if you’re unsure which fuel grade your car’s engine requires, simply refer to your owner’s manual or consult your trusted mechanic for further advice.