Important fact about gasoline and power production

[Genie47]

Power

 

The power an engine develops depends on its design. In general, the more air an engine can process, the more power it can produce. Major design considerations for power are the displacement of the engine, the compression ratio, and the presence of a supercharger or turbocharger. Other factors affecting power are the number of valves per cylinder, valve timing, and spark timing (see Chapter 5, Gasoline Engines). Because different grades of gasoline have essentially the same heating value, they all provide the same power in a given engine as long as their antiknock performance meets the engine

Edited April 14, 2005 by Genie47

[Lanceteo]

hhmmm... icic. thanks for the infor brother!

[Roy669]

Great Info Bro!

[Genie47]

The info is good but there will always be some people who have read this and continue pumping Synergy 8000 or V-power when their cars don't need it.

[Roy669]

That's the power of Media & Advertisement!We are easily brainwashed.

[Octopus]

Now on 95 grade petrol, cos I noticed some difference compared to 92 grade petrol when accelerating. 92 grade just doesn't have (by feeling) the same power as 95 grade. My dad also noticed the difference when I switched to 92 grade sometime back without informing him.

[Genie47]

Check your ignition advance. Your car is carburetted. The mechanic tunes the carb and checks the RPM and tunes the ignition advance. If you are getting more power with RON95, your car might have been tuned while running on RON95 petrol.

 

That is the beauty of carburetted cars. No electronics, can easily "customize"

 

EFI cars ignition advance can be changed by the ECU but to a certain extent. My car got an ignition advance switch. Dunno where is it but the dealer knows. You can make it accept only RON95 and above petrol. But generating more power from ignition advance is not much.

[Octopus]

How does the mechanic tune the carb? Is it as simple as adjusting the idling rpm? I know where to adjust the idling rpm and where to adjust the air-con compensating screw, those 2 are pretty easy to fiddle with.

I think I know where to adjust the air-fuel ratio screw but don't dare to touch that one.

[Crv2004]

Ya i agree too

[Genie47]

Actually it is just that but mechanic got a help. He don't need to keep going back to check your RPM. He can see it with the laser pickup gun.

 

If you want, we can buy one. I think 200 bucks. Can tune to your hearts content. Of course there is ignition advance to tune as well.

[Octopus]

Errh, 200 bucks a bit expensive, guess I'll give that idea a pass.

How to tune the ignition advance? Is it also a screw on the carburator body? Or something more complicated.

[Lordalfa]

Ignition advance is not fueling. So skrooing your carb will not help you. You need to turn your distributor cap. That is an ancient and tried technique. But you still need a timing gun.

[Octopus]

Thanks for your reply. I think I've seen my mechanics did that when they were replacing my distributor with a 2nd hand set. At that time, I didn't know that they were adjusting ignition advance......

 

Is a timing gun an instrument which measures the rpm? Need to stick a reflective tape on the rotating parts and the instrument will measure the rpm via laser? If that's the instrument, I think my company has one set of that.

[Lordalfa]

Wrong advance can misfire. You have been warned.

[Octopus]

Of course I'm not planning any DIY stuff.......just for the knowledge.

[DarkLord]

So I have "spoilt" my ECU by feeding it the good stuff (Synergy F1)? Because when I feed it Mobil5000, the whole car feels like dying and no power.. FC also increased...

[Genie47]

The thing is this. Does the FC improvement with the high RON grade save you much as compared from the savings from using cheaper grade of gas?

[DarkLord]

Ermz.. My FC went down to 14km/L when I topped up with Ron95(SG) (to 3/4 tank). Now hovering around 16km/L with V-power (SG) as my top up. Regular petrol is Synergy F1 (JB). The thing is the lack of power that really irks me.