alright.. i've been running on 93 octane ever since i got my car [july 'o2]. not ONCE did i ever fill up on anything lower than that.. that is until after i read a thread here about using regular unleaded [87 ocatne] ONLY. when i was using 93 octane, my gas drained like a ***** and my car response was delayed somewhat every now and then. however, i just started using 89 octane just a week and a half ago and it seems that my car runs better, idles smoother and quieter, and its responsiveness has been kicked up a notch.. and to add to the good points, my gas lasts me alot longer than the 93 octane did. now i dont know if all this is just in my head or if the car really does run better on 89, but please someone just confirm it for me

 

Read the various and sundry threads on the topic. To boil it down to its base points: easier combustion of the lower octane since the car does not need to avoid predetonation.

 

now i always wanted to know, wut really is meant when using the word 'detonation' ?

 

http://www.motorera.com/dictionary/index.htm

For more info read anything related to igniton and timing.

detonation:
The action of the fuel charge firing or burning too violently, almost exploding. It sometimes results in a noise called "pinging." Detonation is caused by autoignition of the "end gas" i.e., that part of the charge not yet consumed in the normal flame-front reaction. Detonation occurs because piston motion and compression of the end gas raise its temperature and pressure to the point where the end gas autoignites. The pinging or knocking noise is the result of intense pressure waves in the charge which cause the cylinder walls to vibrate. Also called "fuel knock."

 

detonation is when there is combustion (aka explosion) inside a cylinder..then predetonation would be combustion before the designated timing therefor throwing off that time causing bad things to happen to your engine..

 

whoa.. thanks for the clarification.