Gasoline

Gasoline, originally spelled “gasolene” was first coined as a word in 1865. It was initially used to describe any liquid offered for sale and used as a fuel to power an internal combustion engine.

Gasoline is a volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture blended from several products of natural gas and crude oil/petroleum.

Hydrocarbon molecules of different lengths have different properties and chemical reactions. The hydrocarbon chain, octane (having eight carbons) prevents the engine compression ratio from premature ignition (knocking). When gasoline ignites by compression rather than from the spark from a spark plug, it will cause “knocking” in the engine. And as we all know, this is not good for an engine.

What is an Octane Rating?

In a phrase, it is an anti-knock index. Developed in 1931, an octane rating is a measure of how resistant gasoline is to premature detonation.

The formula (RON+MON)/2 (Research Octane Number + Motor Octane Number), divided by two, describes the pump octane rating that we all have recognized over the years. The higher the number, the less likely knocking will occur.

Bell Fuels provides the following grades of gasoline:

• Regular Unleaded Gasoline: Posted Octane Rating (R+M)/2 of 87

• Midgrade Unleaded Gasoline: Posted Octane Rating (R+M)/2 of 89

• Premium Unleaded Gasoline: Posted Octane Rating (R+M)/2 of 93