Why Are New Cars Required to Use High-Octane Fuel? Experts from UGM Explain

Modern car engines today can no longer be separated from demands for high efficiency and lower emissions. As compression ratios increase and technologies such as turbo and precision injection are used, the need for high-octane fuel becomes increasingly important to keep the combustion process stable and safe. According to Jayan Sentanuhady, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), the characteristics of modern engines make them more sensitive to the quality of fuel used. He explained that the knocking phenomenon occurs because the combustion process does not take place at the intended time. The air and fuel mixture ignites prematurely or uncontrollably, resulting in vibrations and excessive pressure inside the combustion chamber. This condition, if left unchecked continuously, not only disrupts driving comfort due to reduced engine power and harsh engine noise but also potentially shortens the lifespan of internal engine components. Regarding modern engine technology, Jayan added that electronic systems are indeed capable of automatically adjusting to combustion conditions. “The ECU and knock sensor in modern engines can help reduce the impact of knocking by readjusting ignition timing. However, this capability is still limited, so it cannot fully address the problem if the fuel used is of too low quality,” he said.