What is the significances of the difference gas octanes?

Question

I have some assumptions but I don't really understand. What is the difference? Is it better to use a higher octane?

Everyone has been really helpful! Thank you all for answering my question, especially those of you who provided a web-site.

Answer 1

Wow, a load of misinformation here.

Octane has nothing to do with oxygen or carbon content, nor does it give more power, nor does it burn better.

The octane value refers to the ability of the gasoline to avoid preignition. In a gasoline engine (as opposed to a diesel), you want to ensure that the gas ignites when the spark fires, and does not preignite due to the pressure in the cylinder. You only need premium in a high compression engine; using it in a car that doesn't need it is simply a waste of money, but not using it in a car that requires premium simply to save money is downright silly.

Answer 2

The octane rating is a measure of how resistant gasoline is to premature detonation which causes knocking. It is measured relative to a mixture of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (an isomer of octane) and n-heptane. For example, 87-octane gasoline has the same knock resistance as a mixture of 87% isooctane and 13% n-heptane. It was developed by the chemist Russell Marker in the 1920s. In a nutshell, a high octane fuel has a lower energy content than lower octane gasoline, resulting in an overall lower power output.

Different countries have some variation in what RON (Research Octane Number) is standard for gasoline, or petrol. In the UK, ordinary regular unleaded petrol is 91 RON (not commonly available), premium unleaded petrol is always 95 RON, and super unleaded is usually 97-98 RON. In the US, octane ratings in fuels can vary between 86-87 AKI (91-92 RON) for regular, through 89-90 (94-95) for mid-grade (European Premium), up to 90-94 (RON 95-99) for premium unleaded or E10 (Super in Europe).

Answer 3

octane is the ability of gas not to burn. the lower the octane the easier the gas burns, this is because the gas needs to be ignited by the spark plug and not from the compression of the cylinder. if your car makes a pinging noise when you accelerate you need a higher octane to prevent the gas from preigniting. if you do not hear a ping during acceleration then 87 octane is fine. remember the higher the octane the harder it is to ignite the gas.

Answer 4

the higher octanes mean that there is that much of carbons in the gas... for example u buy 87 octane there 87% of gas/carbon particles then the remaining is a mixture of ethanol and some other product that is soon to be banned in the states because it is linked to water contamination so now there are new products being used in lue...

Answer 5

Octane is just a rating level of how much oxygen in mixed in the gas. My uncle designes jet engines for GE in Mass and has always claimed that different octaine leves are a scam.

Answer 6

If your car does not require higher actane fuel, you are wasting your money. Less than 10% of the vehicles on the road need the high octane fuel.

Answer 7

Higher octane to prevent detonation.

Answer 8

Absolutely nothing! It's a marketing ploy designed by Madison Avenue at the behest of big oil to bilk you out of even MORE money. But seriously? You'll find tons of reports to support anti- and pro- , but Consumer Reports will tell you all, there's a slight difference in the mechanics of processing the gasoline, but it makes absolutely NO difference to your automobile whatsoever.

Answer 9

Higher octane burns more quickly and generates more power.

I will tell you something that will help.
Regular and the next grade up are normally from the same tank!
SHHHH. Don't tell anyone.

Answer 10

pretty much bovine fecal matter to get you to buy the higher priced fuels thinking you need them.. MOST cars are fine on reg. So unless you have a hot rod or drive a Borg..it dosn't really mean anything