Cool, probably very few people out there who actually need it but I would imagine there is a guy out there with a naturally aspirated Camaro or Honda who thinks that the higher the octane the better it will run and the more power it will make. I bet they make more money off of stuff like that than the actual people who truly need to have the higher octane fuel. Even then it may be cheaper to buy a booster vs paying the ultra premium price.
I know there has been a lot of talk about just running a single octane for everything which should theoretically make the price cheaper overall since refiners won't have a reason to reconfigure as much or something to that effect. When the average vehicle being made needs the higher octane fuel that will probably start to happen but until there starts to be a large shift to high compression and/or forced induction engines being manufactured that probably isn't going to happen.
I know there has been a lot of talk about just running a single octane for everything which should theoretically make the price cheaper overall since refiners won't have a reason to reconfigure as much or something to that effect. When the average vehicle being made needs the higher octane fuel that will probably start to happen but until there starts to be a large shift to high compression and/or forced induction engines being manufactured that probably isn't going to happen.
Lots of people wanting to go quicker. many cars are turbo or supercharged today..most state you can use 87 octane but like the Fiat 500 91 octane is recommended.
There were off the shelf octane boosters years ago that had a lot of MTBE and some hat TEL (lead)
Those would make a difference when added to a tank of fuel.
But do the math and many times the Octane booster will cost as much as just getting the higher octane fuel.
I build my engines with high compression.. Because I like it.
Makes an engine snappy.
My old 78 Nova wanted 41 total timing with 93 Sinclair or 91 octane it would like 39 total timing.
For us that tweak to the last hundredth of a second that 93 may be good.
And not all 91 will run the same.
I tuned both of my V8 cars for the 10% ethanol 91 and then they went to 100% gas 91.
That stuff pinged and ran horrible..Jetting did not fix the issues. Both fuels from 7-11.
I had to change the timing ..pulled it back as the 100% gas could not tolerate the advance curve i had.
I was not the only one.
Yea 80% of the cars out there will get by with 87 or less but the other 20% of us may like the option.
I have mixed up to 50% E85 and 91 octane to get some added umph. I had to rejet on that deal also.
Newer cars can be programed for the stuff and possibly make a bit more power.
Back in 1993 I was mixing Toluene in with the pink 93 octane and MTBE and TEL was added into the mix for fuel that cost me just about 7 bucks a gallon to make.
Man the Nova ran great on that stuff.
It had 11.9 compression 350" and a small 270H comp cam 245 PSI cranking pressure.
That block is in my 57 chevy now with 10.87 compression and a 280H cam.
I can run 87 but keep my foot out of it or pull timing.
High octane it gets it on much better.
There were off the shelf octane boosters years ago that had a lot of MTBE and some hat TEL (lead)
Those would make a difference when added to a tank of fuel.
But do the math and many times the Octane booster will cost as much as just getting the higher octane fuel.
I build my engines with high compression.. Because I like it.
Makes an engine snappy.
My old 78 Nova wanted 41 total timing with 93 Sinclair or 91 octane it would like 39 total timing.
For us that tweak to the last hundredth of a second that 93 may be good.
And not all 91 will run the same.
I tuned both of my V8 cars for the 10% ethanol 91 and then they went to 100% gas 91.
That stuff pinged and ran horrible..Jetting did not fix the issues. Both fuels from 7-11.
I had to change the timing ..pulled it back as the 100% gas could not tolerate the advance curve i had.
I was not the only one.
Yea 80% of the cars out there will get by with 87 or less but the other 20% of us may like the option.
I have mixed up to 50% E85 and 91 octane to get some added umph. I had to rejet on that deal also.
Newer cars can be programed for the stuff and possibly make a bit more power.
Back in 1993 I was mixing Toluene in with the pink 93 octane and MTBE and TEL was added into the mix for fuel that cost me just about 7 bucks a gallon to make.
Man the Nova ran great on that stuff.
It had 11.9 compression 350" and a small 270H comp cam 245 PSI cranking pressure.
That block is in my 57 chevy now with 10.87 compression and a 280H cam.
I can run 87 but keep my foot out of it or pull timing.
High octane it gets it on much better.
Ya'll are talking racing fuel but there are a bunch of luxury vehicles requiring the 91 and 93 octane gasolines. Our 2004 Infinity G35 specifically states use 91 octane or better.
93 is hardly race fuel, but sometimes the higher octane make slight differences. If I don't run at least 91 in my car I risk damage, and my factory ECM can adjust timing for up to 97 octane I believe, so there is a slight benefit to running higher octane for me.
I run 91 exclusively in the V. I'll try the 93 if I ever find any. Is there a way to test the octane on gas from the pump? I curious if what you see is what you get.
The wife's Mercedes has to have the high dollar gas.
Not all 91 or even 87 octane will perform the same ..You have to see for yourself and see if your car responds positively or negatively to the fuel.
Here is a little race reading.
https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33517
and more on specific gravity. But not enough.
https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/specific-gravity-matter
And another tid bit is the one we all probably know is that higher octane burns slower.
If your car absolutely does not need higher octane you can build up carbon deposits on top of the pistons because the fuel is not completely burned away.. some deposits are left behind.
1992 Ford Escort for one that a buddy had .. he always used 91 octane.
135,000 miles he came to my house with a rod knock.
I changed his oil for him as he could not get under it.. he brought 20-50 thinking it would quiet it.
OK I will go along,,, changed it and still knocking.. but did not respond like a rod or main knock.
I told him I bet this is a carbon knock.
Had it at Idle and revved up but high revs in park it went away. put a load on it and KNOCK.
2 cans of sea foam down the pcv hose and no more knock.
Buddy seen it all the time at the Ford dealer.. car comes in knocking .. first thing they do is BG system combustion chamber cleaner.
So in one hand high octane can be good and in another it can be bad.
Enjoy all that.
My 1995 corolla has high compression 210 psi cranking pressure but has been given 87 octane all it's life 332,000 miles.
And E10 on top of that.. yes it likes the E10.
I did replace a fuel pump at 250,000 and inside the tank was spotless.NO rust no varnish no water. 7-11 fuel 95% of the time.
Here is a little race reading.
https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33517
and more on specific gravity. But not enough.
https://www.sunocoracefuels.com/tech-article/specific-gravity-matter
And another tid bit is the one we all probably know is that higher octane burns slower.
If your car absolutely does not need higher octane you can build up carbon deposits on top of the pistons because the fuel is not completely burned away.. some deposits are left behind.
1992 Ford Escort for one that a buddy had .. he always used 91 octane.
135,000 miles he came to my house with a rod knock.
I changed his oil for him as he could not get under it.. he brought 20-50 thinking it would quiet it.
OK I will go along,,, changed it and still knocking.. but did not respond like a rod or main knock.
I told him I bet this is a carbon knock.
Had it at Idle and revved up but high revs in park it went away. put a load on it and KNOCK.
2 cans of sea foam down the pcv hose and no more knock.
Buddy seen it all the time at the Ford dealer.. car comes in knocking .. first thing they do is BG system combustion chamber cleaner.
So in one hand high octane can be good and in another it can be bad.
Enjoy all that.
My 1995 corolla has high compression 210 psi cranking pressure but has been given 87 octane all it's life 332,000 miles.
And E10 on top of that.. yes it likes the E10.
I did replace a fuel pump at 250,000 and inside the tank was spotless.NO rust no varnish no water. 7-11 fuel 95% of the time.
I use moonshine in all my vehicles. You never see me, just a blur passing by, then you hear a supersonic crack 10 seconds later.
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