Quote:
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Originally Posted by Peer
Nola Mike wrote:
> you most likely won't be as fast
Actually, it's rather the opposite -- lower octane (with no pinging) will give you more power, and hence, better MPG.
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That doesn't seem to be quite accurate.
"It is important to note that the theoretical energy content of gasoline
when burned in air is only related to the hydrogen and carbon contents.
The energy is released when the hydrogen and carbon are oxidised (burnt),
to form water and carbon dioxide. Octane rating is not fundamentally
related to the energy content, and the actual hydrocarbon and oxygenate
components used in the gasoline will determine both the energy release and
the antiknock rating."
In short, octane rating defines how fast the gas burns, and how resistant it is to pre-ignition. It does not define how much energy content the gas has, so lower octane gas can't make more power. It doesn't have any more energy to offer than higher octane gas, it can just be burned in a less-demanding environment. Running a turbo or a high compression ratio? Then you need a better-behaved fuel (a higher octane rating). Same energy content, but better manners.