Holiday Ayo - Fuel and combustion experts responded to a photo that went viral on social media of Pertalite's octane rating (RON) of only 86, calling the test kit invalid.

As cited from Kompas.com, fuel and combustion expert at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Tri Yuswidjajanto, information regarding the use of portable devices has gone viral before.

"The test equipment is not valid. It was once crowded and an educational video was made by Pertamina," he said.

Tri also explained about the different results that emerged from the portable octane tester.

The video shows how to test fuel using a portable device and CFR (Coordinating Fuel Research), which is commonly used to measure fuel octane. Testing using this tool, he said, not just anyone can do it, because only certified operators can do it.

Tests using this tool show different results, namely the fuel tested has an octane of 87, while the fuel tested with CFR has a result of 98.29.

"The results are different because the CFR engine is an internationally accepted octane tester and the way it works is to duplicate the internal combustion engine," said Tri.

"If the octane device on the market works by measuring the physical and chemical properties of the fuel, the results cannot be used as a reference," he said.

He explained that the standard RON test that must be used is ASTM B2699. In addition, different methods and test equipment also affect the results achieved. The simple thing that can be exemplified in the measurement of temperature or temperature.

"If you use a thermometer, Celsius will get the number 100, but if you measure it with a Fahrenheit thermometer, the result will be 212," he said.

Meanwhile, PT Pertamina claims that the tool used to test Pertalite's octane rating, which is only 86, cannot be used as a benchmark.

Pertamina Patra Niaga Corporate Secretary Irto Ginting revealed that an accurate RON testing tool must refer to standard methods such as the ASTM RON method.