Types of Gasoline in the Philippines: Which One Does Your Rental Need
Filipino gas stations sell several fuel grades side by side, and the pump labels don't always match what you're used to back home. Here's what each grade actually means, and which one your DriveLink rental needs.
The Three Gasoline Grades You'll See
Every major station (Petron, Shell, Caltex, Phoenix, Seaoil, Unioil) sells three gasoline grades, ranked by octane rating (RON — Research Octane Number). Higher octane doesn't mean "better fuel" in general — it means the fuel resists engine knock at higher compression, which only matters if your engine is built to use it.
| Grade | Octane (RON) | Common Names | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular / Unleaded | RON 91 | Petron Xtra Advance, Shell FuelSave 91, Caltex Regular | Cheapest |
| Premium / Silver | RON 95 | Petron Blaze 95, Shell V-Power 95, Caltex Silver | ~₱2–4/L more |
| Super / Racing | RON 97–100 | Petron Blaze 100, Shell V-Power Racing | ~₱5–8/L more |
What DriveLink's Fleet Actually Needs
All three DriveLink vehicles run on gasoline, not diesel — there's no diesel option in our fleet, so you can rule that whole pump category out entirely.
- Toyota Vios 1.3ERegular unleaded (RON 91) is fine. Premium (RON 95) can give marginally smoother running, but it's not required by the manufacturer.
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLXSame as the Vios — RON 91 regular unleaded is what the manufacturer specifies. No need to pay extra for premium.
- Yamaha NMAX V3 TurboRegular unleaded (RON 91) is fine for daily use. Some riders prefer RON 95 for a slightly smoother throttle response, but it's optional, not required.
Bottom line: regular unleaded (RON 91, the cheapest grade) is genuinely fine for every vehicle in our fleet. Don't let a gas station attendant upsell you into premium or racing fuel — it won't hurt the car, but it won't do anything for it either.
Reading the Pump: Colors & Labels
Pump colors vary by brand, which trips up a lot of visitors. Petron uses green for regular and red for its Blaze premium lines. Shell uses yellow/red branding across grades but labels the octane number clearly on the nozzle. When in doubt, the octane number (91, 95, or 97+) is always printed on the pump — read that, not the color.
Every DriveLink vehicle takes gasoline, never diesel. Diesel pumps are usually physically separated and labeled clearly (often green nozzles at Shell, black at Petron), but always double-check the label before you start pumping — a diesel fill-up in a gasoline engine is a serious, expensive mistake that isn't covered by our insurance.
Fuel Costs on a Typical Trip
Cebu pump prices fluctuate weekly with global oil prices, but as a rough guide: the Vios and Mirage (42L tanks) cost roughly ₱2,500–3,000 for a full tank of regular unleaded, and the NMAX (7.1L tank) costs around ₱400–500. A full tank on the sedans comfortably covers a day trip like Lapu-Lapu to Moalboal and back (see our routes guide) with fuel to spare.
Where to Fill Up
- Before mountain routesFuel up in Cebu City or Carcar before heading to Busay, Mantalongon, or Osmeña Peak — mountain roads have no stations.
- Before Kawasan FallsCarcar City (~50km mark) is the last reliable station before Badian.
- In the cityStations are frequent along the SRP, N. Bacalso, and most main roads — rarely more than a few minutes apart.
