On this day in 1887 Dr. Graham Edgar, developer of the octane rating system, was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During the pioneering era of the early automobile it was impossible to tell if a gasoline would cause engine knocking due to irregular combustion caused by a nonstandard refining processes and the use of numerous types of fuels within gas engines. The only real way to find out if a particular fuel would work in a certain car was to fill it up and crank it and just see what happens. In 1926, while working for a division of General Motors, Edgar solved this issue by developing the octane rating system. He found that the chemical isooctane would not knock in any engine, under any operating conditions, while n-heptane would always knock in any engine. By mixing isooctane and n-heptane in different amounts, he was able to create fuels of all qualities, suitable for different types of engines. The percentage of isooctane in the mixture is the octane number read on the fuel pump today.
The best way to support This Day in Automotive History is to become a monthly subscriber on Facebook.
Subscriber benefits include:
- Most importantly, you’re supporting great content about Automotive History
- Early access to content on Facebook
- Discounts on our store
- Special live videos
If you learned something today, please buy me a beer!
POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE
August 31, 2006 – The oldest licensed race car driver dies at 94
August 31, 2021
October 9, 1953 – Chrysler sells the Chrysler Building in NYC
October 9, 2022
RECENT POSTS
October 31, 1957 – The Chevrolet Impala is announced
October 31, 2024
October 29, 1932 – Safarikar builder Bruce Mohs is born
October 29, 2024
October 28, 1977 – Tokyo Motor Show opens
October 28, 2024
October 27, 1937 – Second generation Cadillac V-16 is introduced
October 27, 2024
This Day in Automotive History - the book!
This Day In Automotive History
By Brian Corey
This book tells fascinating tales, bringing individual days to life with short stories, photographs and illustrations.
This Day in Automotive History
This Day in Automotive History is a transportation history, car history and general automotive history website dedicated to providing informative and entertaining content.
We encourage you to share our page and connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter. If you’d like your car featured, reach out to us!
We encourage you to share our page and connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter. If you’d like your car featured, reach out to us!
Related Posts
October 31, 1957 – The Chevrolet Impala is announced
October 31, 2024
October 29, 1932 – Safarikar builder Bruce Mohs is born
October 29, 2024
October 28, 1977 – Tokyo Motor Show opens
October 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!
Connect with us on Facebook or sign up for our automotive history newsletter to keep in touch.