So, I saw a gas station offering racing gas.

Would our engines run it? And what would happen?

 

Waste of money. I don't know much about the 8's ECU, but I doubt it's tuned to take advantage of 100+ octane gasoline.

 

Damage? Run crappy?

 

No you would run fine with it. Won't do anything for you though. The engine is set to runat it's optimum level with 91/93 octane gas. Unless you are FI'ed this would do very little for you.

 

if it's leaded racing gas it will foul the O2 sensors and kill the catalytic converter, throwing check engine lights and not passing emissions

 

The first thing it would do is to lighten your wallet. You won't gain any power with it and you'll probably lose power with it since the engine isn't tuned for it. Save your money.

 

Racing Gas may not contain the detergents to keep the fuel injectors clean also. Stick to premium.

 

You would probably experience LESS total power, due to the slower burn rate and lighter components.

If it is LEADED race gas, it can poison the catalyst,($1800)and quickly kill the primary O2 sensor ($600) causing a default rich condition, check engine light, and the repairs that won't be under warranty.

S

 

so in other words.... DOOOOOOOOOOOO IT!

 

Please cite references to support the slower burn rate claim. My own research (https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=15) shows that isn't true.

1. Unless your car is tuned to take advantage of higher octane gas, it won't gain you anything. The NA RX-8 will not automatically adjust timing based on higher octane gas.
2. Leaded and unleaded race gas exists. Unleaded is commonly found in 100 octane, sometimes in 110 octane. Leaded is commonly found in 110 and higher octane ratings.
3. Octane ratings are calculated in three different ways. RON, MON and (RON + MON) / 2. Either RON or MON (I forget which) is more important in terms of anti-knock. This means the last method (which is more commonly used) can result in different anti-knock properties for the same octane rating. This is why CA "91 octane" is equivalent to FL "89 octane" when it comes to knock under boost.
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LadyM