Ok so i was so proud of this write up i did i decided to post it up as its own topic:

Octane:

The higher octane you have the more it can be compressed without detonation. Detonation is premature combustion due to compression. The if you have advanced your timing then you can take in more air and fuel which takes up more in your cylinder and causes it to ultimately be compressed more. Advancing your motor does just that. It takes in more air/fuel to compress. If you are more resistant to detonation you can advance more. If your car is not that car advanced than you have no benefit to buying premuim fuel but thats why diablo and sct makes you run high octaine. Becuase their tunes advance your car. Not enough to make race fuel worth it unless you tune for it. Which is what i do when i run high octaine fuel. You can only take advantage of the octaine if you tune for it otherwise whats the point. Say (just for understandings sake) your "detonation point" was at 87 octaine. 85 would cause you to knock and ping but 91 would do you no good becuase you only need to resist up to 87. Most stock or bolt on stangs dont need more than midgrade fuel. If your stang is knocking and pinging run high octaine but if it isnt than It is of no benefit whatsoever to run premium fuel. It wont give you more power or make you faster. If you know how to tune and advance your timing then it will benefit but otherwise its just money wasted.

 

So what do you guys think? Did i leave anything out? Any questions?

 

I will spend the extra .10 for the 93 (87,89,93 here) just for peace of mind. When I first bought the car (3 months ago) the car had ran 87 octane through it (Dealer stated). I started immediately with 93 octane and the car has run 100% better. Highway, around town and romping it, my motor is a whole lot smoother than one 87 (not too mention that the 87 octane smells like sh*t when you floor it). I even noticed a knock (I know what knock is....EX TPI L98 man here) when I first test drove it and of course that is a non factor now. You should have seen the Fuel filter when I changed it......Looked like black coffee when I blew it out (27,000 miles did not help either).

I am a FIRM believer in Higher Octane Fuels in 8 cylinder applications......My SVT Contour even takes 93 Octane (States Premium on the Odometer) so I will spend the .10 without hesitation.

Good Write up BTW.......Gives people some insight on a question that is REPEATEDLY ASKED!!!!!!

Later

 

Yea good info man!

But, as blownbayou stated, I rather throw down the extra few cents and hook up some premium fuel everytime I gas up. I just dont think any sports car, especially an American V8 for that matter should be ran on regular crap 87 octane. I mean hell even in my owners manual, Ford states that the car is designed to run on 87 octane and if you hear a slight ping or knock to "ignore it because it is completely normal" Yea OK you show me an engine that is supposed to ping or knock and be normal. No thanks, a few extra cents for better piece of mind and no worries about a "normal pinging or knocking" LOL

 

Generally i would agree here, however, this assumes the engine can breath and has the ability to take on more air/fuel...

 

Tell that to my OLD Stock block in the Lightning....Damn Rod wanted to see daylight!!!!!!


:Waterboy's Momma: "Pinging is the Devil Bobby"

Later

 

That is very true. Altitude, intake, injectors, fuel pump all play a factor in this but for us who arent Forced induction you wont ever see that problem really. I say play it safe and dont get too crazy with your timing. Have it done on a dyno because they can get the most timing out of it safely. If youre just playing around it can get dangerous.

 

Oh lol. I thought you meant like Octane Booster LOL. I think that stuff is over-rated anyways.

 

Yeah that stuff doesnt really do anything. Its said to raise your octane but as we've learned thats pointless. Who needs 104+ unless you have a race car.

 

From what I've read, it doesn't actually raise your octane the said amount. I here the only good stuff is the NOS Octane Booster and Outlaws Octane Booster, but that is quite expensive.