RON95 vs RON97: Which is more beneficial?

In Malaysia, we as road users travel often from one place to another. We do so almost every day of our lives and it has been a common activity. With every countless times we travel, we have to think of the longevity of the fuel range right? Not only that, there are different variations of fuel that can be used. In Malaysia at least, we have two types of petrol that are commonly found in almost every station, RON95 and RON97. But which is the most beneficial among the two? That’s what this article is all about.

Before we go in detail, let’s get the elephant out of the room. What is RON? And what is the difference between 95 and 97? For starters, RON stands for Research Octane Number. A what? Basically, it describes the behaviour of fuel in the engine. Particularly during lower running temperatures. Also to note, having it is an attempt to simulate acceleration behavior for both low and high speeds. As for the differences between RON95 and RON97, the results are rather interesting.

RON95

SAYS

Probably the most commonly used variation of petrol, RON95 serves as the cheaper and value for money offering in the market. Known to many as the “yellow” pump, RON95 provides generally better fuel consumption for most car owners, which also means longer range for car owners. However, RON95 isn’t perfect as it does suppress the power output of the engine. Depending on some owners, if there isn’t much power, they’ll end up accelerating harder. Thus, creating a negative impact on the fuel consumption.

RON97

NEW STRAITS TIMES

The other popular fuel choice comes the form of the “green” pump, or RON97. This particular fuel configuration is made more for the power user. When it comes to actual day to day usage, RON97 soldiers on as the fuel of choice. Why? Because it provides the best blend of performance and fuel consumption for most users. By most, I’m referring to users with cars that have an engine size larger than 2.5 liters. For those with engines smaller than that, it would be more of a waste of money. Which brings me on to the downside of using RON97, the price. Currently in Malaysia, there is no fixed pricing for the said petrol configuration as it fluctuates according to the week which means that it can be lower and higher depending on the figures added by the government. But even so, it is still significantly more expensive than RON95 which has its pricing fixed.

Verdict

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In conclusion, both fuel configurations has its own benefits and downsides. Both are equally as capable in our day to day usage, and both will provide commendable amount of range with each refueling session. But, it all comes down to which you’d prefer, and which is more suited for your type of car.