
85-octane fuel is used in fast cars because it offers high octane content, which increases power and performance. Alcohol-based fuel, such as E85, is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. Modern vehicles are tuned to run on a specific grade of gasoline, and using a higher-octane fuel will not provide any performance benefits.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Octane | 85 |
Use | High-elevation driving |
Benefits | Less fuel to mix and burn, lower cost |
Disadvantages | Potential problems, voiding of the warranty, performance issues |
Alternatives | 87 octane, alcohol-based fuel |
What You'll Learn
- Alcohol-based fuel is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content
- Modern vehicles feature engines tuned to run on a specific grade of gasoline
- Less oxygen is available the higher you get above sea level, requiring less fuel to mix and burn
- Alcohol is used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and so on
- E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline
Alcohol-based fuel is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content
Modern vehicles feature engines tuned to run on a specific grade of gasoline. A motor designed to run on 87 octane won't see any performance benefits when using a higher-octane fuel. On the other hand, a car intended to run on 91 octane will typically experience performance issues if you use a lower-octane fuel, as the engine's computer controller attempts to compensate for the lower knock resistance.
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Modern vehicles feature engines tuned to run on a specific grade of gasoline
85-octane fuel is most easily found in parts of the U.S. where high-elevation driving is common, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico. In these states, many towns sit thousands of feet above sea level, and 85 octane has carved out a foothold as the base grade of fuel during the era of carburetion. It also offered savings for those who live at altitude. The correct fuel to use in your vehicle is listed in its owner's manual and on the sticker inside the fuel filler door.
Current cars and trucks are less tolerant of low-octane fuel than their predecessors, regardless of altitude. Potential problems from using 85-octane fuel (such as pinging, power loss, reduced fuel economy, and voiding of the warranty) outweigh the savings from the fuel's lower price.
Fuel with 85 octane is no longer a cost-effective choice for modern automobiles. Less oxygen is available the higher you get above sea level, requiring less fuel to mix and burn when producing power. For older vehicles with carburetors, this reduced the knock-resistance requirement below the 87-octane standard, allowing an 85-octane fuel to perform like an 87-octane fuel.
A motor designed to run on 87 octane won't see any performance benefits when using a higher-octane fuel. On the other hand, a car intended to run on 91 octane will typically experience performance issues if you use a lower-octane fuel, as the engine's computer controller attempts to compensate for the lower knock resistance. These engine tunes are programmed assuming the vehicle is driving at or near sea level. At higher altitudes, however, lower atmospheric pressures change the reaction inside each cylinder.
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Less oxygen is available the higher you get above sea level, requiring less fuel to mix and burn
Modern vehicles feature engines tuned to run on a specific grade of gasoline. A motor designed to run on 87 octane won't see any performance benefits when using a higher-octane fuel. On the other hand, a car intended to run on 91 octane will typically experience performance issues if you use a lower-octane fuel, as the engine's computer controller attempts to compensate for the lower knock resistance. These engine tunes are programmed assuming the vehicle is driving at or near sea level. At higher altitudes, however, lower atmospheric pressures change the reaction inside each cylinder.
Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, aka ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
Fuel with 85 octane is most easily found in parts of the U.S. where high-elevation driving is common, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico. In these states, many towns sit thousands of feet above sea level, and 85 octane has carved out a foothold as the base grade of fuel during the era of carburetion. It also offered savings for those who live at altitude. The correct fuel to use in your vehicle is listed in its owner's manual and on the sticker inside the fuel filler door. The advent of modern fuel-injection systems and sophisticated computer controls means that 85-octane fuel is no longer a cost-effective choice for modern automobiles.
Potential problems from using 85-octane fuel (such as pinging, power loss, reduced fuel economy, and voiding of the warranty) outweigh the savings from the fuel's lower price. Current cars and trucks are less tolerant of low-octane fuel than their predecessors, regardless of altitude.
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Alcohol is used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and so on
Alcohol-based fuel is used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and other racing events. Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
Alcohol-based fuel is also used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and other racing events. Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
Alcohol-based fuel is also used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and other racing events. Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
Alcohol-based fuel is also used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and other racing events. Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
Alcohol-based fuel is also used in drag racing, NASCAR, IRL, and other racing events. Alcohol is effective in creating more power because it offers high octane content. E85 is up to 85% ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. So naturally, E85’s high alcohol content makes it the highest octane fuel on the market. This means that the vehicle ECU used together with eFlexFuel does not need to retard ignition or lower the boost pressure in any circumstances. This means more performance – just when you need it. E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline.
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E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline
E85 is a fuel that is made of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline. This is because ethanol has over 1/3rd of oxygen by mass, which is higher than in oxygenated race fuels, where the levels are below 15% of oxygen by mass. When oxygen is introduced as part of the fuel to the engine; the heat energy is used to change the state of fuel from liquid to gas. Alcohol has nearly ten times the cooling effect when comparing to gasoline. Cooler temperatures mean there's less risk of heat build-up in the motor. Heat build-up can cause all kinds of problems in racing: everything from reduced power output to engine failure.
E85 is also a specialized fuel that boosts huge power to the engine. It is popular because the cost is a fraction compared to commercial race fuels. Non-toxic ethanol cuts greenhouse emissions by almost 59%.
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Frequently asked questions
85-octane fuel is used in fast cars because it is less knock-resistant and less oxygen is available at higher altitudes.
The knock-resistance requirement for fast cars is below the 87-octane standard.
Potential problems from using 85-octane fuel include pinging, power loss, reduced fuel economy, and voiding of the warranty.
85-octane fuel is most easily found in parts of the U.S. where high-elevation driving is common, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico.
The advent of modern fuel-injection systems and sophisticated computer controls means that 85-octane fuel is no longer a cost-effective choice for modern automobiles.