View Single Post
Old 07-22-2011, 07:13 PM   #14 (permalink)
jkv357
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: WI
Posts: 473
Thanks: 157
Thanked 77 Times in 55 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by superchow View Post
(SNIP)I respectfully disagree.

It is true that one is trying to keep the air/fuel mix to self-ignite to avoid knocking. Wikipedia (I know, I know, don't trust anything you read on the internet...) states that Octane rating:

Quote:
is used as a reference standard to describe the tendency of gasoline, petrol, or benzin fuels to self ignite during compression prior to the desired position of the piston in the cylinder as appropriate for valve and ignition timing.


As far as I know it does not affect the actual speed at which the gasoline will burn when it does ignite.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong - THAT would be fascinating!)(SNIP)
No problem. That may be more accurate. My comment may be an oversimplification, and not technically correct.

I'll search around and see if I can find more specific info.

EDIT: a generally accepted description of what octane does is:The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. You're right - my comment about octane slowing combustion speed was not correct.

Jay

Last edited by jkv357; 07-22-2011 at 10:27 PM..
  Reply With Quote