octane rating
Gasoline performance number
Octane rating measures a fuel's resistance to knocking—the premature combustion that causes engine pinging.
Higher numbers indicate greater resistance: regular gasoline is typically 87, premium 91-93.
High-performance engines require higher octane fuel to prevent damage.
Does this car need premium, or is regular octane fine?
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
- petrolMotor vehicle fuel
- premium fuelHigher-octane gasoline option
- aviation fuelPetroleum for aircraft engines
- E8585% ethanol motor fuel
regular unleaded · flex fuel · fuel station · filling up · gas pump · unleaded · leaded · fuel tank
Striking to announce presence
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- pre-ignitionPremature fuel combustion
- autoignitionSpontaneous combustion from heat
- compression ratioComparison of original to reduced
pinging · combustion chamber · ignition timing · ping · rattle
Seven-carbon alkane
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- alkanesSaturated hydrocarbon compounds
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
- distillationPurification via vaporization
crude oil · additives · MTBE · aromatics · isomerization · reforming · cracking · blending
Rate of mechanical work
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- turbochargerExhaust-powered engine booster
- superchargerEngine air compressor
- boostUpward push or increase
power output · throttle response · tuning · muscle car · sports car · racing fuel · torque · forced induction
gasoline
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
- petrolMotor vehicle fuel
- premium fuelHigher-octane gasoline option
- aviation fuelPetroleum for aircraft engines
regular unleaded · E85 · flex fuel · fuel station · filling up · gas pump · unleaded · leaded · fuel tank · jerry can
knocking
Striking to announce presence
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- pre-ignitionPremature fuel combustion
- autoignitionSpontaneous combustion from heat
compression ratio · pinging · combustion chamber · ignition timing · ping · rattle
heptane
Seven-carbon alkane
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- alkanesSaturated hydrocarbon compounds
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
distillation · crude oil · additives · MTBE · aromatics · isomerization · reforming · cracking · blending · oxygenates
horsepower
Rate of mechanical work
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- turbochargerExhaust-powered engine booster
- superchargerEngine air compressor
boost · power output · throttle response · tuning · muscle car · sports car · racing fuel · torque · forced induction · aftermarket
87
Two-digit odd integer
- petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields
- Gasolinegas, petrol, fuel, unleaded, premium
- fuelfuel, diesel, gasoline, petroleum, crude oil
- fuelsgasoline, diesel, coal, gas, petrol
- gasoline enginesgasoline engine, four-stroke engine, spark plug, piston, cylinder
- Car Specshorsepower, torque, MPG, RPM, fuel economy
octane ratingfuel efficiency
Output per unit burned
energy density · carbon footprint · fuel economy · volatility · viscosity