<VV> Old Flame Speed

[Padgett]

>Octane, in common laymans terms has always been, "resistance to self ignition
>under pressure / heat"
>
>Once ignited...the fuel's characteristics and chamber design determine how
>fast it propagates.

Completely true but when I learned about gasoline fuels,  one of the 
"fuel's characteristics" was that the higher the octane, the slower the 
burn rate and was a byproduct of "resistance to self ignition"). Has this 
changed ? Otherwise why would we advance the timing for hi octane and 
retard it for low ?

Probably few remember now but back in the early '70s, cars that did not 
stop running when the key was turned off were common. One trick that 
sometimes worked was to put in gear (add load) and floor it (cooling shot 
from the accelerator pump). Sometimes it didn't. Often a cloud of really 
eye burning smoke emitted when it did stop. Embarrassing for new Cadillac 
owners.

GM's answer back then was a solenoid to hold the throttle open to the idle 
point when the key was on and would shut the throttle all the way when 
turned off. That worked until fuel injection became common and turning the 
key off also stopped the injectors. Once had a Fiero that would have a ded 
battery if it sat for several days (usually at the airport parking garage). 
Turned out a PO had hotwired the electronic ignition so it was always on 
and what stopped the engine was the injectors.