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How High Octane Fuel Works

By Ben Mester

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 20Oct2010
Word count: 518
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People often have misconceptions about fuel and how the different fuels out there work. In modern days, there are actually quite a few different types of fuel. There are the three common varieties, 87, 89, and 91 octane, but there are also diesel and E85 octane as well. What's the difference between the various kinds of fuel and are there situations in which it's good to use a higher octane fuel on a normal engine? Those are the questions we'll answer in this article.

To my discredit, I'll admit that I've had firsthand experience with using the wrong kind of fuel in an engine. When I was very young I mistakenly put diesel fuel into a regular engine. After running poorly for about 45 seconds, it began to surge violently forward and then abruptly lose all power. The engine shut off completely after just over a minute of use and I had to spend $500 having the wrong fuel sucked out of the engine and fuel tank. So are there certain situations where it's good to use high octane fuel in a normal engine?

Some people think that price equals quality, but in this instance that's not the case. Premium gas is more expensive because it has a higher level of combustive chemicals in its mixture. It burns longer. Engines that are specifically formulated for high octane fuel have a different cycle in their engine to allow for a slightly longer burn. When you put premium fuel into a regular engine, it actually causes excess pollution. Your engine will push out some of the unburnt fuel with every stroke and it will come out of your exhaust system and pollute the air.

Some people also have the misconception that using premium fuel is good for when you're about to take a smog test. But as you can see from the above paragraph, this can actually cause your otherwise healthy vehicle to fail its smog test. So don't do it. Going the other way in octane is actually preferred. Using a lower octane fuel, like a specially prepared 85 octane will cause you engine to run a little bit hotter, burning up even more emissions and helping you to pass a smog test.

So what's E85 octane. E85 octane is a gas that is partially synthesized from ethanol. It's actually a misrepresentation of the true octane but that's a different story. What about diesel? What is that? Diesel is a fuel that was mostly used in the last century. For those who have been around it, you know that diesel fuel gives off a pretty offensive odor, and for that reason, most vehicles have stopped using it, though there are still applications for some vehicles.

The other kind of fuel that can actually be combusted inside your engine is isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is used in certain applications, like formulas that are supposed to help you pass a smog test. It burns very hot and very clean, which, as we discussed earlier, is good for lowering your emissions. It's not safe to burn rubbing alcohol by itself however, so don't try it.

I hope you got something out of this article on the vehicle's fuel system. For more on automotive tips, check out my other article on how to pass a smog test.

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