RON97 at RM4.70/litre - can posers driving Porsches pour RON95?

With skyrocketing prices of RON97 grade fuel  – RM 4.70/litre at the time of writing – one must wonder if posers with recond/used Porsche Macans and Cayennes (which are not expensive to buy after a few years) can still afford to refuel their cars with the right stuff today. 

And we have all seen or know of certain "entrepreneur types" who cruise around in their dolled-up Macans and Cayennes, wrapped in either white, gold or luminescent green sporting 20-inch wheels from Taiwan and tyres from China. Yes, those guys.

To be clear, we're not hating on Porsche or the vast majority of their truly affluent owners. 

However, Porsche recommends RON97 for basically all their current models - so, in the current economic climate, can these MLM, forex and cosmetic beauty "magnates" pour RON95 (which is likely what they're doing) in their cars without causing any long term damage?

Take for instance the entry-level Porsche Macan - which requires RON98 fuel for the best power and reliability.

Since we don't have RON98, Porsche Malaysia states, "The global indication for optimum engine performance for the Porsche Macan is utilizing a fuel grade of RON98, as recommended. That being said, in Malaysia, using recommended fuel, like RON97 would be the closest for performance optimisation of the 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder turbo engine of the Porsche Macan."

So what happens if owners decide to ignore the recommendations?

Well, short of saying don't - Porsche Malaysia explains, "It is recommended that every Porsche model uses premium fuel exclusively to ensure that the high-performance engine is optimised at its best. Hence, it is best recommended to use better fuel grade such as RON97 to keep the engine clean, and healthy while optimising the sports car performance."

To expand on Porsche's reply - minimum RON ratings are "recommended" due to the fuel's ability to resist pre-ignition or “knocking” as its commonly referred to. Knocking wreaks havoc on engine internals and can cause premature wear or even failure of the engine. 

Besides engine knocking - RON97 fuel is formulated to be suitable for performance-oriented engines. It also ensures critical engine components such as engine sensors, injectors, catalytic converters and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems operate reliably over their service life.

Thus, besides performance and efficiency, RON97 is also recommended by Porsche Malaysia for all models to keep their engines "clean and healthy" and performing "optimally".

So what happens when a Porsche is constantly refuelled with RON95?

Well, the simple answer is the engine will produce less power, run less efficiently and may or may not be able to eliminate engine knock for safe engine operation.

To be clear, the engine will not blow up with just one or two full tanks of RON95, but with prolonged use, it won't be long before the infamous "Check Engine" light illuminates or mysterious noises start to come from the engine. 

At which point our MLM friends would be wishing they had instead bought a Proton Saga, since engine rebuilds on a Porsche will cost just as much.

Also read: Can fuel additives improve fuel economy and increase horsepower?

Also read: Did you know that driving on an almost empty fuel tank could damage your fuel pump?