Octane rating is an anti-knock or predetonation prevention designation – not related to power. Using a higher Octane rating fuel in 87 octane engines may reduce your power.
An OCTANE RATING is related to engine compression – NOT POWER. Using higher Octane does NOTHING but take more dollars out of your wallet. For any engine, use the Octane rating stated in the user manual.
Reply: And you don’t think 11:1 comp ratio deserves premium? 2013 850 XP.
Please feel free to run whatever you like. You will not get any more power. Your manual calls for 87 Octane. Octane rating is an anti-knock or predetonation prevention designation.
I just read an article that said higher octane fuels are designed to burn slower for higher compression engines to help prevent predetonation. I know like most folks, you pull up to the pump and see 87, 89, 91, even 93 octane and think higher must be better. Exxon even promotes put a 93 tiger in your tank on that little pump screen. But I think they just want your money knowing most people don’t know what the octane rating is for.
But here is the big rub, if higher octane gas burns slower, do you actually REDUCE power in your 87 octane rated engine using 91 or 93 octane gas? Wouldn’t that be a hoot. You think you are getting more power, but you really get less power because you are getting lower HP on the engineered power curve for that engine.
Dave
