Date:         Fri, 28 Dec 2001 21:31:47 -0800
Reply-To:     gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      higher octane higher burn temperature
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Paul,
    I agree with everything you say but what makes the
octane higher.   I think that the higher octane gas is
reformulated during the cracking of oil to give a
hydocarbon that burns at a higher temperature.   This
higher octane gas will not burn too soon(preignite)
and cause knocking.   That is why you can mix 92 and
87 to get 89 octane.   Energy content is the same
unless you add something like alcohol to achieve the
higher octane.
   I still believe that you can advance the engine of
our vanagons to get better preformance while using
higher octane fuel but you run the risks of higher
combustion pressures and temperature and shorter
engine life.   Not worth the cost in my opinion.   I
too will stick with a regular diet.   regards gary
Date:    Fri, 28 Dec 2001 19:47:43 +0000
From:    Paul Mayfield <paulmayfield@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: higher octane needs

Please correct me if any of this is untrue/incorrect!

Bentley states on the back cover:
-----------------------------
Gasoline octane requirement
US Cost of Living rating (CLC)...87
CLC rating method. (RON+MON)/2 = 87
MON = Motor Octane Number
RON = Research Octane Number
-----------------------------
As far as Vanagon engines are concerned,
regular 87 octane gas has more energy than high octane
gas and produces more power -in a stock engine-
because it is not diluted with additives that produce
much less energy than raw gas.

The only difference between High octane and Regular
are additives: anti-knock and cleaning agents.

As far as I know (and I may be wrong on this) Vanagon
engines with digifant do not have the capability to
make
use of high octane gas. I've heard some high
performance
high compression engines have preignition sensors
that adjust to lower power levels when 87 octane is
used.
(porsche,corvette?)

I have a friend who owns a Chevron station.
He has a stable of very expensive collector cars- all
paid for with profits from overpriced premium gas.
Suckers, he calls em.  30 cents a gallon suckers.

Flamesuit on.

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