My new VW Golf requires 95 RON fuel, which is seldom available and I must generally buy the even more expensive 98. But 94 RON E10 is widely available. Is this a satisfactory substitute for 95 RON, or could I combine it with the occasional 95 or 98? Will a lower than recommended octane rating do any harm to the engine, reduce efficiency, or both?
I would be very cautious with any Golf right now, VW has owned up to problems with the 118TSi engine that result in blown pistons due to pre-ignition. While I’m guessing your car doesn’t have a 118TSi I wouldn’t be experimenting with lower grades of fuel in any VW engine until the full extent of the issue is known. Use a 98 octane fuel.
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