something i read about octane and perfomance
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something i read about octane and perfomance
i was bored waiting for my dermatologist to call me in so i was reading an issue of Car and Driver. in the article, there was a test to see if higher octane gas put out better performance (ie, torque and hp). i don't have the magazine with me, so this is what i remember. they tested an Audi, a Buick (i think), but for sure i know they tested a Mustand and a V6 Honda Accord. All of the cars EXCEPT for the Accord got gains from premium fuel. the Accord did worse with out. since the Accord is a honda and we obiously drive them, will our cars act the same way? i know that our cars were designed for regular gas but to think that premium gas is bad?[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG] i wish i had a dyno to compare
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Rep Power: 0 so what you are saying is that its actually nothing more than wasting 20 cents more for premium???
thats f*cked up...but wouldnt that mess up the engine in a few years???
my dad told me to always use premium....that way you can save the engine by a year or so......
thats juss me but i will still use premium.....dont care....i got the money
thats f*cked up...but wouldnt that mess up the engine in a few years???
my dad told me to always use premium....that way you can save the engine by a year or so......
thats juss me but i will still use premium.....dont care....i got the money
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Rep Power: 0 Ok, forget all the myths you heard...here is the real deal:
Higher octane gas is HARDER to burn. Yup. You read that right. That's why it helps to prevent knocking, since it requires more energy input to get it to ignite.
Knocking is a form of detonation, where the air/gas charge is being ignited by compression alone. An example is the Toyota Celica... the GT can use standard gas, but the GT-S needs premium due to its higher compression ratio.
So, here is what that means in the real world:
Using higher octane gas than you need (to prevent knocking) does 2 things:
1. wastes your money
2. can HURT your engine in the long run due to carbon buildup on the valves, cat, etc. (depends on the car, etc...)
For our Hondas, I think that the anti-knock sensor retards timing as needed in order to prevent knocking. So, really crap gas can hurt performance too by the ecu "keeping it safe".
Higher octane gas is HARDER to burn. Yup. You read that right. That's why it helps to prevent knocking, since it requires more energy input to get it to ignite.
Knocking is a form of detonation, where the air/gas charge is being ignited by compression alone. An example is the Toyota Celica... the GT can use standard gas, but the GT-S needs premium due to its higher compression ratio.
So, here is what that means in the real world:
Using higher octane gas than you need (to prevent knocking) does 2 things:
1. wastes your money
2. can HURT your engine in the long run due to carbon buildup on the valves, cat, etc. (depends on the car, etc...)
For our Hondas, I think that the anti-knock sensor retards timing as needed in order to prevent knocking. So, really crap gas can hurt performance too by the ecu "keeping it safe".
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