Piston Slap: When RON Met PON…Mon!!!

by Sajeev Mehta

Updated: May 16th, 2014 Published: February 25th, 2013

Brian writes:

Hola! First off, love the site, long time listener, first time caller. I recently had the amazing opportunity to act as chauffeur for my good Chilean friend Diego’s road trip through Patagonia. He had access to a little four banger 1998 Daihatsu Feroza (Rocky in the US) but did not know how to drive. So I gladly I wrestled this thing around Southern South America in a circuit of just over 3000 Kilometers that took us south on Chile’s famous Carretera Austral (dirt roads cutting through the Andes) and back north through Argentina’s Route 40 (very similar to route 66 in the US).

Ten days, two ferry rides, a flat tire and a dead battery along the way, but totally worth it for the amazing landscapes we traversed and experienced.

I was surprised to see that at almost every gas station we stopped at in both countries, the lowest grade octane available was 93, which being from the US I assumed was for fickle sports car engines and old ladies who don’t know any better. My question is, is this true of most countries outside the US and what are the benefits of putting high grade gasoline in an econobox?

Gracias!

PS: Included are two photos of the little green devil, I feel in love with her but unfortunately couldn’t fit her in my suit case on the flight back. So maybe a question for another day is, what is the financial feasibility of purchasing a car in another country instead of renting and then shipping it back to the US after your trip? Auto-tourism?

Sajeev answers:

Well, if I fell in love with my decal-less “16 Valve EFI” Ford Ranger, I can totally relate. Financial feasibility of shipping cars like that? None, but importing them as an antique (over 25 years old) is somewhat feasible but still challenging. Perhaps an update on my imported Ford Sierra is in order. And while a Merkur XR4ti is no substitute for a proper Ford Sierra Ghia 5-door, I’m guessing that isn’t true about the Feroza-Rocky: just get a US-Spec Rocky.

To your other question, a simple answer: regional octane ratings fit under the RON, PON, or MON systems. You didn’t see “our” 93 octane gas, most countries in South America use a different octane rating system. I mentioned this once before to an intrepid Piston Slapper in Pakistan, and the same is true here. Per Wikipedia:

“Chile: 93, 95 and 97 RON are standard at almost all gas stations thorough Chile. The three types are unleaded.”

So odds are the gas you saw/smelled was closer to “our” 87 octane, not 93 octane. But don’t take my word for it, listen to your fellow TTAC readers:

TTAC Commentator John R writes:

Visiting the parents in Panama and I had to grab a photo of this. Gasoline a bit dearer, but you have choice between 91 and 95(!!!) octane. Diesel is also relatively cheaper…depending where you are Stateside.

Also, as a side note:

Just from driving around US metal is sucking major wind down here. Korea and Japan (in that order for good reason $20k for a Civic basic!) are run it with Peugeot, Fiat and Skoda picking up the scraps…Skoda! The typical luxury suspects are here also but with Cadillac being nonexistent. One wonders if they are even being sold down here. What is a bit more interesting to me is that I see a lot more of the Infiniti EX than the G. The Qashqai is in well represented for good reason – its a real looker. Seriously, I want a Qashqai. If the Rogue didn’t already look homely enough…

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.

#AKI #Chile #International #MON #NorthAmerica #OctaneRatings #Panama #PON #RON #SouthAmerica

Sajeev Mehta

More by Sajeev Mehta

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 8 comments

Corntrollio on Feb 25, 2013

Europe and many other locations use RON, which is about 8-10 points higher than MON. US is (RON + MON)/2, so generally it's about 4-5 points lower than the RON rating. MON is a simulation under load conditions that may induce knock, so obviously the rating would be lower than RON which is under more ideal conditions. That 93 octane in Chile is probably either 88 or 89 here. However, if you were actually in the Andes, you would be able to get away with lower octane, like in Denver. Denver's standard "regular" is 85 instead of 87 for regular because the elevation makes your car knock less.

Like Reply
- Boxer2500 on Feb 26, 2013
  
  I live at 4400 ft. My inner math nerd knows that 85.5 is perfectly suited to my 87-required car at this elevation, but I feel a little dirty every time I pump that swill into my tank.
  
  Like
Corey Lewis on Jun 05, 2013

Oh come on OP, there are cars other than picky sports cars and other customers than old ladies, who need 93.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

MaintenanceCosts I already set out total costs, so this time I'll list what's had to be done on my cars (not counting oil changes, recall, or free services):2019 Bolt (25k mi): new 12v battery, pending tires & battery cooling service2016 Highlander (from 43k to 69k mi): new front rotors, new pads all around, new PCV valve, 2x 12v batteries, light bulbs, pending tires2011 335i (from 89k to 91k): new valve cover gasket, new spark plugs, light bulbs, pending rear main seal1995 Legend (from 185k to 203k): timing belt/water pump, new EGR valve + pipe, struts, strut bushings, drive axles, tie rods, rear control arms, other suspension bushings, coolant hose & brake lines throughout, belts, radiator, valve cover gaskets, new power antenna, 12v battery, coils, spark plugs, tires, rear pads... it's an old car!
VoGhost Consistent with CR's data. I've spent about $150 total on the Model 3 in six years of ownership, outside of tires.
VoGhost It's just plain sad that Posky doesn't know that EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years / 100K miles.
Jkross22 It used to be depreciation was the most expensive part of car ownership. Seems like those days are over (New EVs and lux cars excluded). Maintenance + insurance have taken over. Dealerships offering 2 years of maintenance means nothing. That's $200 tops. It's the unexpected repairs - a wiring harness, computer module, heater core, AWD problems - that will cost dearly. Brakes can be expensive since many cars now can't have rotors resurfaced. Even independents are charging a lot for this work.
FreedMike VW tossed in two years' maintenance on my car, and the next one's due after the lease is up. But all the car's needed has been oil changes and tire rotations. Unfortunately, the OEM tires (Hankook Kinergy) were unrepentant trash and needed to be replaced at around 23,000 miles. So...my maintenance cost over over a little under three years has been t $800 for the new tires. That sucks, but the new tires (Goodyear Eagle Sport) are a massive upgrade over the Hankooks. Ah well.