Domestic fuel prices will increase at 0:00 on April 8. Car owners can refuel in advance.

On April 7, 2026 at 24:00—i.e., 0:00 on April 8—domestic finished gasoline and diesel prices in China will undergo the seventh round of adjustments this year; it will still be an increase. The next pricing adjustment window opens at 24:00 on April 21.

The current crude oil change rate is about 2.6%, and the amount of this fuel price increase is about 350 yuan per ton.

The specific increase for different fuel grades is approximately:

• For 92 octane gasoline: +0.28 yuan per liter
• For 95 octane gasoline: +0.30 yuan per liter
• For 0# diesel: +0.2 yuan per liter

Most household vehicle fuel tanks hold about 60 liters (L). If you drive until the fuel gauge indicator light comes on, the remaining fuel is roughly 12.5% of the total capacity—about 7.5 liters. Assuming you add 52.5 liters at once, after the price increase you will need to spend about 15.5 yuan more. Compared with the sixth round of price adjustments, the increase this time is objectively much lower. International oil price fluctuations are within expectations; observing over a long cycle, it is possible that they will gradually trend downward. Fuel costs for gasoline-powered vehicles will only rise intermittently.

Even if international oil prices surge again over the short term, there’s no need to worry.

Because although China’s domestic finished fuel price adjustment mechanism is based on international crude oil prices, the regulated range includes a floor price and a ceiling price. When international crude oil prices fall below $40 per barrel, domestic finished fuel prices will no longer be decreased—this is the floor price. When international crude oil prices rise above $130 per barrel, domestic finished fuel prices will in principle not be increased, or will only be increased slightly.

The rationale for setting a floor price and a ceiling price is to prevent overly low international oil prices from causing domestic crude oil production capacity to shrink and harming self-sufficiency. At the same time, it can also avoid sharp international oil price swings from impacting consumers and downstream industries. Large stage-by-stage fluctuations in international oil prices are not uncommon, and they have clear periodic characteristics, so there’s no need to worry excessively about recent domestic oil price changes.

The time points shown in the fuel price adjustment calendar are all at 24:00 of a given day; 24:00 is 0:00 on the next day.

For example, at 24:00 on April 7, if you pay attention, you’ll find that 24:00 isn’t displayed; so after the fuel price adjustment announcement for that day is issued, there will still be plenty of time to get gas. Drivers are advised to plan their refueling time reasonably, use gas stations on routes with lower traffic flow, and avoid causing unnecessary congestion.

There’s no need to overthink the choice of gasoline grade either.

If the vehicle’s recommended gasoline grades have two options—for example, “92/95#”或“95/92#”—then the engine can use gasoline of either grade. Also, using the lower-grade 92# gasoline will not cause any damage to the engine. The performance differences between higher- and lower-octane gasoline in the same engine mainly come down to very slight differences in power and noise.

But if the recommended grade is “≥95#”或“95/98#”, then the engine must not use lower 92# gasoline. If you use the lowest grade within the recommended range, that is the engine’s limit for usable octane; further reducing the grade can cause engine problems such as engine seizure. Of course, increasing the octane grade isn’t a problem, but there’s also not much need to do it.

Gasoline grade differences are about the octane value; there is no difference in purity or energy density.

Vehicles using gasoline do not need to blindly chase higher-octane grades.