Whether or not a higher octane fuel improves or impairs an engine's performance depends on the design of the engine. Octane rating does not relate directly to the power output or the energy content of the fuel per unit mass or volume, but simply indicates gasoline's capability against compression. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating. For the video game, see Hi-Octane.Īn octane rating, or octane number, is a standard measure of a fuel's ability to withstand compression in an internal combustion engine without detonating.
