From the 1920s to the 1970s, the evolution of engines (measured by compression ratio) and the evolution of fuels (measured by octane rating) occurred in tandem. Gasoline octane improvement during that ...

Everything you need to know about the numbers on the gas pump.

As you may know, an engine's compression ratio is directly linked to its combustion efficiency. All else being equal, higher-compression engines tend to make more power while offering better fuel ...

Premium gas costs more, but does it deliver more power or better fuel economy? Here's what drivers need to know before ...

“Compression ratio” is a term thrown around a lot when you’re talking about engine specs, but what does it really mean? For the most part, when people are talking about an engine’s compression ratio, ...

Increasing an engine’s compression ratio is a proven way of unlocking extra horsepower, but there’s a point of diminishing returns. The team at Garage 54, the Russian mechanics who built a V16 using ...

Harry Ricardo built the first known variable compression ratio engine as a test engine in the 1920s to study knock in aircraft engines. Variable compression ratio was achieved by raising or lowering ...

Tucker Ryals;Gainesville, FL: I'd like to pose a question regarding an article Jeff Smith wrote on the Chevy 5.3L motor "Bolt On a Cam and Heads and Add 120+ HP" (April '08). I read the article with ...

Apart from the very curious, not many people ask why diesel engines, compared to gasoline, run higher compression ratios. The argument is reasonably straightforward and starts with fuel ...

Compression: An automotive term used by everybody, forever. Let's get into some detail and maybe develop a better understanding. Pressure, and more pressure: It's a must-have to produce power within ...