octaanschaal

The octaanschaal, or octane rating, is a standard measure of a fuel's resistance to knocking or pinging in a gasoline engine. Knocking occurs when the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder ignites spontaneously and unevenly, rather than burning smoothly. This can damage the engine and reduce performance. The octane rating is determined by comparing the fuel's anti-knock characteristics to a mixture of isooctane and n-heptane. Isooctane, which has excellent anti-knock properties, is assigned an octane number of 100, while n-heptane, which knocks very easily, is assigned a number of 0. A fuel with an octane rating of 95, for example, has the same anti-knock performance as a mixture of 95% isooctane and 5% n-heptane. Higher octane fuels are less prone to knocking and are typically used in high-compression engines that require them to prevent damage and achieve optimal performance. Modern engines are designed with specific compression ratios and ignition timings that are optimized for certain octane ratings. Using a fuel with a lower octane rating than recommended can lead to engine knocking, reduced power, and potentially long-term engine damage. Conversely, using a fuel with a higher octane rating than necessary generally offers no significant benefit in terms of performance or fuel economy for engines not designed for it.