16/5/2019

Filling Up Your Skoda Fabia? What Do the Numbers on the Pumps Mean?

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Whether you’re cruising your Skoda Fabia wagon on the highway or milling around town, at some point you’re going to need to fill up with fuel. However, when you pull your Skoda Fabia to the pumps, you may wonder what those numbers mean and if it has significance for your new car. So, here we’ll explore this topic in more detail.

The Forecourt

Petrol in Australia are marketed according to a RON rating, but many of us don’t know what that exactly means. Remember that TV milk ad? The one with the woman serving behind a shop counter with every variation of milk? Petrol is a little like this. Every service station forecourt offers a rainbow of different colours for pumps, but each will offer a variation on the same basic fluid; the highly flammable liquid that can combust in the engine of your Skoda Fabia.

In addition to the different colours, you may find yourself overwhelmed with different names; Ultimates, Vortex, V-Powers. So, you need to know about the RON system to make an informed choice for your vehicle.

The RON Basics

RON or Research Octane Number is a graduated scale that indicates the resistance of the fuel to pre ignition within an internal combustion engine. In practical terms, conventional passenger cars, SUVs or petrol light commercial vehicles are most likely to use a 91 RON petrol. 91 RON is the cheapest form of petrol that is readily available at service stations around the country. However, like many European brands, Skoda doesn’t recommend running models including the Skoda Fabia on 91 RON.

An alternative to 91 RON, is E10. This is 91 RON fuel containing an added 10 percent ethanol blend. This creates an effective rating that is approximately 94 RON. Unfortunately, although ethanol can raise the fuel octane rating, it can also corrode fuel delivery systems in older vehicles, not designed to run on this fuel. E10 is typically not more expensive than 91 RON, and it should not be used unless specifically mentioned in your vehicle owner’s manual.

As a step up from the above fuels, 95 RON is marketed as premium unleaded here in Australia. However, this is the only type of petrol available in Europe, so it is recommended by European brands like Skoda and prestige brands including Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.

This is a better fuel for your vehicle and can provide superior fuel economy and performance. However, 95 RON is currently approximately 20 cents per litre more than 91 RON, so it may not translate to a lower running cost.

The most expensive fuel for sale in Australia is 98 RON. This is classified as a premium fuel for more high performance engines. Fortunately, this more costly fuel is not necessary for the Fabia.If you’re considering a new Skoda Fabia, Perth drivers should call in and see us. The Perth City Skoda sales team is available to answer any of your queries about the Skoda Fabia wagon, 2019 price deals, and current offers.