Q: What do the different gasoline octane ratings mean?

A: The octane rating measures the performance of a particular fuel blend.

The higher the number, the more compression it can withstand before self-igniting.

How is it measured?

Gasoline is a mixture of various chemicals. A sample of the fuel blend is run in a test engine in a lab. The octane rating is assigned based on the test results.

There are two common octane tests:

  • Research Octane Number (RON)
    • In this test, the engine is run at 600 rpm with variable compression ratio. The results are compared with mixtures of isooctane and heptane. RON is commonly used in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.
  • Motor Octane Number (MON)
    • In this test, the fuel is preheated. Then, the engine is run at 900 rpm. Variable ignition timing further stresses the fuel’s knock resistance.

The results of the tests can also be combined. This is known as the Anti-Knock Index (AKI). AKI is the average of RON and MON. It is typically written as (R+M)/2. It is also known as the Posted Octane Number (PON). AKI is commonly used in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and other countries.

How does it affect performance?

Fuel with a higher octane rating is less prone to self-ignition. It can withstand a greater rise in pressure during the compression stroke. This allows the engine to make more power.

Due to higher cylinder pressure, high octane fuel is required in most race engines. It is also required when using power adders. Low octane fuel can cause the engine to knock.

What octane fuel should I use?

Use the octane recommended by the engine manufacturer. Running gas with a lower octane rating will cause a reduction in power and fuel efficiency and possibly engine damage. This is because the ignition timing will need to be retarded to prevent detonation.

On the other hand, a higher octane rating will not improve the engine’s performance. The compression ratio of the engine is set by the cylinder head and piston design.

Therefore, the only way to increase the pressure inside the cylinder is to change the compression ratio or add boost. If you don’t do either of those things, the high octane fuel is just a waste of money.

This is another in a series of weekly Q&A Mailbag sessions with Summit Racings tech department, in which there are hundreds more. Click here to see them all.

Share this Article