[2ndGenTeg]

No, it's boosted. And, as I said before, if you're running boost, you have to use a higher rating to prevent detonation.

When the contents of the cylinder are under more pressure (as in boost or high compression), they become more volatile, and are therefore more prone to detonation, preignition, knock, whatever you want to call it, and a higher octane gasoline becomes necessary in order to prevent these things. However, running a higher octane gasoline than what is necessary will not boost performance- only hurt it (minimally, but it's still detrimental, nonetheless).

As for automatically advancing the timing, you're backwards. Many vehicles come equipped with a knock sensor that automatically retards the timing if it detects detonation.

Thank you, drdingo, for unwittingly providing information to back up everything I've said thusfar.

VR4, please don't knock my use of the shift button to add emphasis to some things when you can't use it to capitalize the first letter in a sentence. As for your 11:1 remark, reread this thread. I've mentioned high compression numerous times. Read, think, and reply. Please don't skip the first two steps.