Ask an expert


samuel.loho

Hi,
I own a 2006 Mazda 3 1500cc done 85000km. I was told to use 95 on this car but I am thinking of changing it to 91 considering the price these days. I cannot find reliable source that can explain if this type of car can run on 91 thus this question.

I was also told that if you change to 91 your fuel efficiency will drop as a result. At the moment i am getting about 100km/7.07lt with 95, so should I expect this to drop (assuming same driving behaviour, etc)

Regards

ABayliss

Information available to us would suggest that the 1.5 litre Mazda3 (this will be a Japanese import) is designed to run on 91, so there's no advantage in usung 95.
However, in testing we have done, there is very little difference in the overall cost of running. The engine will run very marginally more efficiently on 95 (not that you'll notice any difference), therefore it will travel a little further on a tankful of fuel. However, as 95 costs more, the extra mileage travelled is negated by the added cost of the fuel.
So, overall, in our testing, we found the cost to be roughly the same on either fuel. But as your car is designed to run on 91, we'd suggest you use 91.