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In a higher compression engine, much like the NA and the forced fed TT, the cylinder temperatures are much higher than in you average passenger car. Regular gas would ignite just by entering the cylinder, causing it to ignite prior to the spark of the spark plug. This will cause the small explosion that you hear as a ping, robbing you of the full power (because some of the fuel is burned) and potentially causing piston damage (because it is igniting on the way up/down the cylinder, not while the piston is at the top of the cylinder). High octane gas actually ignites at a higher temperature, allowing it to be fed into the cylinder and igniting when it is supposed to. Knock sensors will detect your 'pinging' and retard the timing, so that the spark happens sooner, before the cylinder has reached its full compression, robbing you of power.
Mike Zeppieri
Stage II+ 2+2 "My money pit in the shape of a Z." |
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