http://wardsauto.com/engines/oems-co...igh-octane-gas

 

Right now is if you want the higher rating you need to go to E85. But then your mileage suffers dramatically. They don't address the issue that when they mandated ethanol based fuels you lost 10% of your engines efficiency.

 

E85, yep power loss & corrosion to the fuel systems.

 

I like this argument for 98 RON fuel:

“Higher octane, according to Dept. of Energy studies and other studies, shows a proven low-cost enabler to carbon-dioxide reduction.”

 

What would the 87 octane rating be in RON? They're comparing apples and oranges.The 87 rating in the US is the average of RON and MON.
Railguy

 

Rail guy, that's a great question.

I'm amused at the original article linked. After reading I only have questions. One of them you asked.

I don't have an answer, though I tried, but for discussion try this link. From what I can tell, it "depends", or its quantitive or imprecise, variable.

http://www.refiningonline.com/engelh...ep/tcr4_29.htm

Making fuel must be like baking bread.

 

Higher octane? E85 is here, and its the future. Well, i dont know that, but thats what we got. I hastily readed that article, and they speaked about RON98? Whats available gas grades then on US? Here they are ( benzins) RON95, RON98 and in growing amounts E85.

Btw, how is E85 priced at USA? There its priced to 2/3'rd of price of RON95, which is stable as fuel grade here. It totally offsets the higher consumption of fuel.

 

E85 is corrosive to fuel systems both on the metal parts and the rubber. You would have to have a fuel system designed to run on alcohol for it to be completely compatible and not chew everything to bits, but that won't happen.
My 2013 Honda CB1100 says in the owners manual not to use anything higher than 10% ethanol or fuel system damage will, not may, occur. Right now the government is PUSHING quite hard for 15% ethanol as a mandated fuel in the United States and that would force many older vehicles off the road due to fuel incompatibility. Talk about a racket to force people to buy new cars or just stop driving all together....no thanks.