XP100 Petrol: Can It Increase Mileage?

Discussions about petrol have been heating up online. In particular, there are claims that expensive XP100 or Power 100 petrol offers better mileage than regular E20 petrol and does not cause any damage to the engine. But what exactly is XP100 petrol, does it really provide higher mileage, and is it actually better for your vehicle? Let’s take a detailed look.

XP100 Petrol: What Exactly Is It?

XP100 petrol is not 100% pure petrol, nor is it 100% ethanol-blended petrol. Many people misunderstand it as “pure petrol” or “100% petrol.” In reality, XP100 can be referred to as E0 petrol, because no ethanol is added to it. However, it is not completely pure petrol. It contains around 12.38% MTBE (Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether), which is added as an oxygenate. This means that XP100 petrol contains approximately 88% petrol. Companies such as Indian Oil or IOC do not refer to it as “pure petrol” anywhere.

XP100 and Octane Rating

The “100” in the name XP100 or Power 100 refers to the octane rating. Octane rating indicates the resistance of the fuel to auto-ignition. In other words, fuel with a higher octane rating helps prevent the fuel from igniting prematurely inside the engine, which is known as engine knocking.

In a four-stroke engine, the fuel-air mixture is compressed during the compression stroke and should be ignited by the spark plug. However, sometimes the fuel can ignite on its own due to high temperatures. This is known as “engine knocking.”

Engine knocking is particularly common in engines with a high compression ratio (10:1 or 12:1) and turbocharged engines. A higher compression ratio means that the fuel-air mixture is compressed more tightly, increasing its temperature. In turbocharged engines, outside air is compressed before entering the engine, which also increases the temperature. This knocking can cause problems such as reduced performance, lower acceleration, and reduced mileage. High-octane petrol such as XP100 helps prevent this knocking problem and can improve engine performance.

Does It Increase Mileage?

The primary purpose of XP100 petrol is to improve the engine’s performance, power, and boost. Increased mileage is only a secondary benefit. When XP100 was introduced, it was stated that it could provide 3-5% higher mileage compared to regular petrol. When compared with E20 petrol, it could provide around 8-12% higher mileage.

Due to the oxygenate (MTBE) and high octane rating in XP100 petrol, the fuel burns more efficiently. This helps reduce engine knocking and prevents fuel from being wasted. This can directly contribute to improved mileage. However, the increase in mileage varies depending on the vehicle’s engine and its compression ratio.

Who Is It Best For?

XP100 petrol was developed for premium vehicles. When used in cars such as the BMW 5 Series, Aston Martin DB11, Jaguar XF, and Ferrari 812 GTS, which have high-compression-ratio engines, there is a possibility of a 30% to 50% increase in mileage. This is because the engines in these vehicles can perform better with XP100 petrol.

However, using XP100 petrol in regular budget-segment bikes and cars may not be economically beneficial. This petrol is expensive, and normal engines may not be able to take full advantage of its benefits. Furthermore, XP100 petrol should not be considered a direct replacement for E20 petrol. Alternatives such as E10 or E0 petrol are required to address problems associated with ethanol blending in E20 petrol.

XP95 Petrol is an alternative Option?

Where XP100 is not available, XP95 petrol can be an alternative option. XP95 petrol has an octane rating of 95. It can also provide better performance than regular petrol. In one test, using XP95 petrol resulted in around 4 km/litre higher mileage compared to regular E20 petrol. However, since XP95 petrol is more expensive, the savings achieved through increased mileage may not be significant when compared with the higher price of the petrol.

Conclusion

XP100 petrol can be a good choice for premium vehicle owners. It can improve engine performance and help increase mileage. However, if your vehicle belongs to the budget segment, using XP100 petrol may not be economically beneficial. It is important to choose the right petrol according to your vehicle’s requirements and your budget.

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