What does octane mean?
Adding a chemical called tetraethyl to gasoline can significantly improve the gasoline's octane rating. So what does octane mean?
The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. When gas ignites by compression rather than because of the spark from the spark plug, it causes knocking in the engine. Knocking can damage an engine, so it… » Full Story on HowStuffWorks
The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. When gas ignites by compression rather than because of the spark from the spark plug, it causes knocking in the engine. Knocking can damage an engine, so it… » Full Story on HowStuffWorks
