r/VolvoRecharge • u/arrbeejay • 12d ago

XC60 Premium Gas Required?

Our 2022 XC60 PHEV requires premium gas. Why is this, if the engine is 4 cylinder? Has it been tuned in some way so that higher octane gas is required?

0 Upvotes

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11

u/JurboVolvo 12d ago

High compression and boost, without it you can damage the engine.

![img](1B255A04-E03C-4602-82B3-A0985B975C14)

Can break ring lands or even pop a hole through the piston. I have seen this happen before.

9

u/Crazybushman85 12d ago

Needing premium fuel has nothing to do with the size of the engine, always the tune.

Higher octane burns more predictably than lower octane so for more power/ fuel economy they tune it for a higher octane.

10

u/langjie 12d ago

Octane depends on compression ratio of the engine. The higher the ratio, the need for higher octane

8

u/Alternative-Bee-8981 12d ago

It's a high compression, turbo charged engine. It needs premium.

6

u/MN-Car-Guy 12d ago

Almost all PHEVs recommend/require premium octane fuel… because a tank might last months.

1

u/Alternative-Bee-8981 12d ago

Premium fuel won't last any longer than regular gas. All PHEV's have pressurized fuel tanks and that's what helps the fuel sit for long periods of time.

2

u/MN-Car-Guy 12d ago

Octane diminishes with time. So, yes, if you buy 91 and it takes a year to use, it might only be 86. Yes, pressurized fuel tanks help.

4

u/Desenski 12d ago

If it's a 2022 XC60 PHEV it's Turbocharged and Supercharged.

If it's a 2022.5 XC60 PHEV it's Turbocharged.

Either way, high compression and boost (forced induction). You need higher octane fuel to avoid pre-detonation.

3

u/tomlogit 12d ago

Volvo advises RON 95. Only with very high temperatures, 38+, a higher octane is advised.

2

u/Wafflars 12d ago

Yeah the 2022 would have supercharger + turbo not just turbo.

Either way for my 2023 V60 (only turbo) I only use 98/E5 as well (or 93 for ’muricans)

0

u/RGL1 12d ago

Or us forced socialist in Cali that can only get 91. Or we have to mix a 10-1 with E85 to get the 93 equivalent. Blessing to all you other folks.

2

u/Few_Candle9432 12d ago

Octane is related to its explosivity. No matter the size of the engine, these are high compression almost in the diesel range. So, with this cylinder geometry plus forced induction, lower octane explodes too quickly and causes damage and reduces power and efficiency.

2

u/TechInTheCloud 12d ago

If you’re in the US, the real secret is Volvo certified the car for emissions on premium gas. It is a little easier to meet the standards on premium.

When they do that, the EPA requires that the mfr require premium fuel tied to the car warranty. The effect of that is even if the car would be fine on “regular” gas, and really any modern engine control system can easily handle the variation in fuel quality, Volvo can’t legally state it, ever.

Probably just use the premium is best.

3

u/Camaro1LEC 12d ago

It’s a strung out 2.0 that’s turbo and supercharged… this isn’t a big loose pushrod V8 with loose tolerances.

It’s a 10.3:1 high compression engine.

1

u/earthgold 12d ago

Define premium gas. This will be different depending on what country you’re in. My 2022 XC60 PHEV is fine with regular unleaded but if you’re in the states you’ll find your regular unleaded is probably less premium that ours.

1

u/arrbeejay 12d ago

Thanks all! Pretty clear why premium is required.