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Point 4 - (This is just my own theory) There has been some small amount of concern about carbon build-up. If High-test fuel retards combustion, and if it isn't a requirement, I wonder if using higher octane may in fact reduce firing efficiency in lower compression engines and therefore contribute to the carbon fouling that some have experienced. Again, that's just a thought with little to base it on - But its my idea and I'm stickin' to it.
Actually your theory is right on with the facts. What we call octane is really "octane rating". Octane is a chemical component of gasoline, heptane being another. The process, known as cracking, of raisng the amount of octane in gasoline became prohibitivly expensive many years ago, so chemicals were added to simulate the characteristics of octane, ie resistance to combustion. For years the main chemical was tetraethyl lead, hence the term "ethyl" for higher octane rated fuels. Tetraethyl lead is no longer used, that is why it's called unleaded, which is becoming an archaic term since all commercial gasoline has been unleaded for about 30 years.
Since octane rating is resistance to combustion, running higher octane fuel in an engine designed for lower octane will result in incomplete combustion. The key to getting the best performance from your fuel is to burn it as completely as you can without igniting it too soon (preignition) which results in ping.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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