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Why do high compression engines need high octane fuel?
High compression engines create more compression heat before ignition, so the temperature rise AFTER ignition is higher, so higher octane fuels are needed to resist self-igniting during the flame front burn process.
Does high compression need high octane?
Engines with higher compression ratios usually require higher octane fuels. Many owners who operate vehicles designed to operate on 87 octane fuel experience ping and knock. They usually “fix” this problem by purchasing the higher priced, higher octane fuels.
What is the purpose of octane in fuel?
An octane rating is simply a measure of how heat resistant a fuel is in order to prevent knocking. In other words, octane doesn’t enhance combustion — it prevents the air-fuel mixture inside an engine from igniting before it’s supposed to. The higher a fuel’s octane, the more resistant it is to knocking.
What is octane compression ratio?
Generally, engines with compression ratios of 9.3 : 1 or less will safely operate with unleaded 87 octane fuel. Engines with higher compression ratios usually require higher octane fuels. Many owners who operate vehicles designed to operate on 87 octane fuel experience ping and knock.
What does octane do for your engine?
What does octane do? It just prevents the air-fuel mixture from igniting before the spark plug does it. Firing the air-fuel mixture at the proper time gives you the maximum power your engine was designed to get. Using higher-octane gasoline than your engine is designed to utilize is only wasting your money.
Are higher octane fuels more efficient?
The octane rating is a measure of a fuel’s ability to avoid knock. The higher the octane number, the more resistant the gasoline mixture is to knock. Use of higher octane fuels enables higher compression ratios, turbocharging, downsizing/downspeeding, all of which enable greater engine efficiencies.