This week on Chemistry of Cars, TFL’s resident chemist, Charlotte Roadcap, gives a detailed explanation on octane ratings, and what it means for your car. This topic was a fan favorite, so be sure to keep the suggestions coming as we love to hear what ideas you have.
Charlotte covers a ton of material in this video, including the phenomenon of pre-ignition and engine knock. She also includes a detailed overview on the different testing methods for octane rating, explaining how the numbers we see at the pump are reached. To find out, you’ll have to watch the full video.
So, is lower octane fuel bad for your car? First, lets remind ourselves what an octane rating is. Octane rating is a standard measure of the behavior of a fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression a fuel can withstand before detonation. Octane rating does not work as a good measurement of fuel quality, that is determined by the additives in the fuel and how it was produced.
When it comes to what fuel you need to put in your vehicle, Charlotte explains that it is completely dependent on your engine. For cars with forced induction, i.e. turbochargers or superchargers, you are dealing with much higher pressures inside your engine, so it is best to follow the recommended fuel quality provided by the manufacturer. However, cars that are naturally aspirated naturally don’t have to deal with engine pressure that is anywhere near as high as those in forced induction engines.
So, lower octane fuel is really only bad for a certain type of car. If your engine is naturally aspirated, it is less likely that you will need to worry about octane rating. That being said, always be sure to check your owner’s manual and follow your manufacturers guidelines. Every engine is different and some premium brands may necessitate a higher octane fuel despite being naturally aspirated.
Be sure to stay tuned to TFLcar for more Chemistry of Cars videos!
