<VV>OCTANE / performance explained

[Matt Nall]

You will have to explain this response!?!                Ken Pepke
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"Octane"  is a rating given to gasoline.....rating it's resistance to  "pre-ignition" / ping.

A low compression engine like our 145 ci 80hp  and 164  95 hp engines with 8 to 1 compression ratios will run on 80 octane!  

So using higher octane gasoline is foolish / wastefull.......since to gain Octane points...you must ADD something that makes the gasoline harder to ignite!

LEAD was used for decades......now they use chemicals.......

I can raise the octane of  gasoline by adding ATF!!   Mothballs!   Phosphorous!

BUT  this stuff is really dirty..fouls plugs quickly!

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SO.....  when you put 93 octane in your 80 hp...you will not get any increase in performance.....or better mileage, etc.....

Many swear they do..but it's pychological!   Physics...sad but true!!  it doesn't help anything!


Conversly... when you put the 280 in your tank...and your friend noticed the difference.....it said 2 things:

1  Your engine NEEDED  the 280 ...or close to it..to perform

2  Your engine WAS PINGING BADLY.......otherwise you would not feel the increase!

Every time a cylinder "pre-ignites"..the spark has occured too soon.....this slows the piston down...robbing power...

Normally the spart STARTS  just before TDC...and by the time it fully ignites the fuel...the piston is on the way down.....making power!

Matt Nall
All Vairs!
http://members.aol.com/patiomatt
Lots of Corvair Technical info!