Maruti Grand Vitara And Toyota Hyryder Hybrid Cars: Use Premium Petrol Only, Else Face Catalytic Converter Failure
Maruti Suzuki is one of the largest car manufacturers in India. They have a variety of cars and SUVs in their lineup, including petrol, CNG, and hybrid options. While Maruti cars are generally known to be reliable and fuss-free, we have now come across a post on social media that suggests the Maruti Grand Vitara - both mild and strong hybrid models - needs to use a specific grade of fuel to avoid catalytic converter failure issues in the future.
The image was posted by a user on Team-BHP. In this post, he mentions that he got this information from one of his friends who recently took delivery of the Maruti hybrid car. As per the post, Maruti recommends using 91 Octane or higher fuel for the K15C engine, while the strong hybrid engine (M15D) should be used with 95 Octane fuel.
Why does the manufacturer recommend this?
The K15C series engine is the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine used in many modern Maruti cars, including the Grand Vitara. Maruti also offers the same engine in the Toyota Hyryder. The 91 Octane grade is the regular unleaded petrol that is widely used in cars.
The M15D series engine is the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, strong hybrid engine offered in the Hyryder and Grand Vitara. The manufacturer recommends using 95 Octane fuel for this engine, as using this grade helps avoid damage to the catalytic converter in your car.
For those who are not aware of what 95 Octane is, it is a premium grade of petrol with a higher octane rating, offering improved performance and engine protection compared to standard petrol. It's designed for high-performance engines, turbocharged engines, and luxury vehicles that recommend or require a higher octane.
Most petrol pumps in India offer this grade of petrol. As expected, it is slightly more expensive than regular petrol. The 95 Octane petrol contributes to cleaner combustion and lower emissions.
If your car has started stalling regularly or is losing power and experiencing increased fuel consumption, it is always a good idea to get your vehicle inspected at an authorised service centre. It could be due to a faulty catalytic converter.
Catalytic converters are an important component in most modern cars. If your catalytic converter goes bad, replacing it can be an expensive affair. It can easily cost you over Rs 50,000 just to get it replaced. So if you have not been paying attention to the fuel you're putting in your hybrid Grand Vitara or Toyota Hyryder, it is high time to get your vehicle inspected and switch to 95 Octane fuel.
Catalytic Converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to control exhaust emissions in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. This device helps convert toxic gases and pollutants in the exhaust gas from the engine into less-toxic substances before they are released through the exhaust or tailpipe of your vehicle.