FP60 = increaed octane?

[langow]

Not sure if my title makes sense, but here's my question.
I've read several threads and posts stating that the use of FP60 will allow the use of a lower octane fuel.

I thought FP60 somehow increased the energy level of the air/fuel mixture explosion.

I thought higher rated octane fuels were just harder to ignite? Hence, high performance engines require them to prevent pre-ignition of the fuel.

Assuming I'm on track with my two assumtions above, neither is nessassarily related to the other, but there are several posts suggesting that using FP60 will allow the use of a lower than recommended octane rating.

How, why would this be true? I must be missing something.

 

[Shaman]

FP doesn't necessarily increase octane per say. I mean, that it doesn't contain a higher concentration of combustible materials than 87 or 89 octane. What it does, as you have read, is reduce the need for octane.

For example. High mileage cars will start getting a ping on 87, because of carbon deposits and other things that cause problems. People will then bump up to 89 to prevent the ping.

When this happens, they are masking the problem.

Insert FP or other fuel system treatment. Increasing the solvency/lubricity of fuel, will lessen the urge to ping, and allow the user to run lower octane than without it.

 

[GarrettSocling]

I've wondered about this, whether FP helps to prevent detonation when an engine is running lean, how FP effects ignition timing. I haven't been able to glean much, but I'm pretty ignorant.

 

[Ken2]

Higher octane fuels are not harder to ignite. "Octane number is a measure of a gasoline's antiknock performance — its ability to resist knocking as it burns in the combustion chamber."
http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/bulletin/motorgas/

I don't know just how FP60 helps lower the octane requirement. It does clean the combustion chamber of carbon deposits, and that is one way to help. It may also effect the flame propogation of the burning gasoline.


Ken

 

[langow]

quote:

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Higher octane fuels are not harder to ignite. "Octane number is a measure of a gasoline's antiknock performance — its ability to resist knocking as it burns in the combustion chamber."

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I thought knocking and pinging was simply mis-timed ignition of the fuel due to the fuel pre-igniting off compression. Similar to a desiel. I'm more than willing to accept the fact that I could be wrong about this, but if so, then what exactly is knock and ping?

 

[BlueWorld]

quote:

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Higher octane fuels are not harder to ignite.
"Octane number is a measure of a gasoline's antiknock performance — its ability to resist knocking as it burns in the combustion chamber."

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Since knocking is caused by pre-ignition, 'antiknock' performance must eliminate pre-ignition. Eliminating pre-ignition means igniting the mix at the proper time, which by default is later in the cycle than the 'pre-ignition'. Later in the cycle means higher temperature/pressure, higher temperature/pressure means the mix was harder to ignite.

So yes, higher octane fuels are 'harder' to ignite.

 

[unDummy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_knocking

Don't use an octane level lower then what is recommended by the manufacturer. Don't worry, the knock sensor will pull timing if anything is detected(from using the wrong fuel) Best performance is programmed.

If you need a higher octane fuel than what is recommended to prevent problems, then you have an issue that needs to be addressed. Maybe an additive will help. But, I wouldn't use any additive as an excuse not to use the recommended type of fuel.

I think that benefits of any FI cleaner is to maintain airflow(no dirty intake valves), maintain fuel flow(pretty injector spray patterns), and to prevent piston or CC deposits.
The above is an issue with poorly maintained vehicles. I guess that those owners get the most benefits from..........

 

[Bob A.]

The lower the octane, the higher the energy is in the fuel. That's why it pre-ignites.

In short and oversimplified: lower octane fuels are denser. The denser the fuel, the higher the energy. That's why diesel fuel gets better mileage than gasolines -- and why it ignites more easily from compression.

I've experienced much better fuel efficiency with 87 octane gas than with 89 or 92. I mentioned this one time to a friend of mine who explained what I outlined above. Montanans use 85 octane gas in areas of higher altitude because it has more energy in it than 87, 89, or 92 octane gas.