While octane matters in regards to compression ratio and spark timing, it is not the only property of a fuel to consider. In fact, engine performance and longevity can be greatly compromised if a fuel with the wrong Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) for the application is used. You've probably heard of Winter and Summer blend fuels, and the RVP is the measurement of that seasonal change in fuels - even though the fuels are the same octane!

Engines that are hard to start, cylinders that wear out quickly can be due to with too low of a Reid Vapor pressure for the environment and/or application.

The vapor pressure of the fuel is a very important consideration when choosing which fuel to use.

In this video, Anders Hildebrand from  @SunocoRacing  explains the test method and why it is so important.
00:00 Introduction
01:04 Look Beyond Octane Alone
01:35 What Is Vapor Pressure
02:12 Winter & Summer Blend Fuels
02:35 Fuel Ignition
04:05 Vapor Lock
04:51 How Fuel Affects Piston Rings
05:20 Fuel Wash
06:57 Choosing The Right Vapor Pressure Fuel
09:24 How To Recognize You Have The Wrong Vapor Pressure Fuel

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