gas question for ken

[montanabob]

I read your articles on refining..they were great.

I have a question though regarding using a higher octane fuel and horsepower. Will a higher than required/recommended octane fuel increase the torque/horsepower output of your engine. Does an engine like the LT1 have to be programmed specifically to run this or do the default computer settings take a high octane fuel into account and adjust for it.

The reason I'm asking, is that I'm wondering if "racing fuel" is really worth it at the drag strip or track.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Vettelt193]

no, it isn't worth it.... you should run only what the engine was intended to run... if you run higher, it won't hurt, but it won't help either, unless you tune the engine to run on the higher octane.

 

[Ken]

Re: Octane & Horsepower...

Will a higher than required/recommended octane fuel increase the torque/horsepower output of your engine.

Increasing octane does not increase power. Higher compression and improved engine breathing will increase power. Some modifications may lead to detonation or combustion knock, which is eliminated by using fuel with a higher octane.

_ken

 

[montanabob]

thanks alot guys.

 

[Mad-Mic]

no, it isn't worth it.... you should run only what the engine was intended to run... if you run higher, it won't hurt, but it won't help either, unless you tune the engine to run on the higher octane.

racing fuel WILL hurt a stock motor! DO NOT use race fuel with out mixing it in a 50/50 mix with some 93 octane or less. what it will do because of low compression ratio's it will burn a hole right thru your piston(s) these fuels are made for high compression motors above 12:1 ratio. alittle won't hurt but a full tank of it will. it's just not worth it. 94 octane from sunoco should do just fine if you can find it if not 93 octane. the difference in HP is very minimal in the seat of the pants feel. but if you had a race car with 13:1 compression and ran say 87 octane you would truly notice the lack of power and a bad knocking from pre detination. some of these strip cars run as high as 14.5:1 compression ratio's higher octane burns hotter in order to turn over these motors. for us if you don't got forged pistons you'd be S.O.L.