Is it bad to run 110 octane?

[emesnj]

One of my friends was telling me that its bad to run 110 octane because of something or other...i dont remember....

any help?

[Kompressor]

Your cats?

[LinkinGlory]

yeah its great. especially if your car is stock.

[emesnj]

well uhhh...im kinda new to this whole car thing.....i was just wondering what the repercussions or problems are....pros and cons? i dunno

[M3NTALM3]

Smells like shit!
Expensive
and theres a few reasons why its 'not' good ot run all the time. i just don't really know the scientific shit behind it.
Just use it on track days..

[emesnj]

yea...
that was the only time i ran it...
i just wanna know if stuffs gonna get messed up...

[LinkinGlory]

it will **** up stock internals

[Scho]

Originally posted by LinkinGlory
it will **** up stock internals

Not with boost!

[BMW Roundel]

what about 100 octane and 98 octane, on stock engine with piddly mods: Dinan intake, dinan ecu chip, and exhuast....engines gonna blow huh

[greateratlanta]

I think the stock compression ratios found in BMW motors are too low for higher octane gas 100 and above.

[Bretts02]

you guys all need to slow down and stop saying things that dont make sense. Driving 110 octane only has one downside and that is price. Its just gasoline with bigger carbon chains, and bigger carbon chains mean that it is less likely to detonate prematurely, thats why low compression ameican cars can run on like 85 but an m3 needs 91 at least. The higher the octain the better the fuel stands up to heat and compression. If you run 30 pounds of boost into your engine your going to need a higher octane but it wount hurt a regular engine to go higher, no will it help. be careful, however, some 110 octane fuels are leaded and they will destroy your O2 sensors very quickly, just make sure you check before you waste money.

[emesnj]

FINALLY! an answer...thank you

[Bretts02]

Lead is very bad for O2 sensors and cats. If you have a racecar without those things you sure as hell can adjust your timing to the extreme as well as upthe compression but you sure as hell will never come even close to passing emmission standards if you use 110 leaded fuel very much. even after it passes through your engine and your back on regular fuel your cats can be destroyed very quickly so beware.

[Rob ITR1035]

how will 110 octane help a lightly modified motor?

[Vitolo]

Originally posted by Bretts02
you guys all need to slow down and stop saying things that dont make sense. Driving 110 octane only has one downside and that is price. Its just gasoline with bigger carbon chains, and bigger carbon chains mean that it is less likely to detonate prematurely, thats why low compression ameican cars can run on like 85 but an m3 needs 91 at least. The higher the octain the better the fuel stands up to heat and compression. If you run 30 pounds of boost into your engine your going to need a higher octane but it wount hurt a regular engine to go higher, no will it help. be careful, however, some 110 octane fuels are leaded and they will destroy your O2 sensors very quickly, just make sure you check before you waste money.

Your logic is flawed. It is not a matter of more is better. True the higher the octane the better it stands up to heat and compression BUT there is such a thing as too much octane, where the motor will run worse since the fuel will actually be prevented from combusting. You only want enough octane to avoid pinging the motor(pre-detonation).