Here is an excerpt about a topic that often comes up on this board:
Going to higher octane alone is like going swimming in the Everglades. Chances are, the power will drop off, your engine will run hot and mileage will decay. It seems best efficiency (or optimum pressure point) reached by the engine occurs when the fuel octane is correct. This optimum pressure occurs inside the engine cylinders when the piston is 15 degrees after top dead center. Too high an octane may cause optimum pressure to occur at 25 or 35 degrees after top center which means late timing that causes power to drop. Too low an octane rating will cause peak pressure to happen at 5 or 10 degrees after top center. Such early timing leads to detonation, loss of power and even engine damage. So you just cannot beat proper timing with proper gasoline.
Check out the article
http://www.lubedev.com/articles/octane.htm
Going to higher octane alone is like going swimming in the Everglades. Chances are, the power will drop off, your engine will run hot and mileage will decay. It seems best efficiency (or optimum pressure point) reached by the engine occurs when the fuel octane is correct. This optimum pressure occurs inside the engine cylinders when the piston is 15 degrees after top dead center. Too high an octane may cause optimum pressure to occur at 25 or 35 degrees after top center which means late timing that causes power to drop. Too low an octane rating will cause peak pressure to happen at 5 or 10 degrees after top center. Such early timing leads to detonation, loss of power and even engine damage. So you just cannot beat proper timing with proper gasoline.
Check out the article
http://www.lubedev.com/articles/octane.htm
