Not likely, but possible.

Raising the octane rating of gasoline actually reduces its ability to burn.

That's why your engine pings when you use too low an octane rating.  The
fuel is starting to burn before the spark plug even fires.  It is so
volatile that existing heat and pressure alone will cause it to start to
burn.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "pierre a. lachance" <palachance@CCAPCABLE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 2:13 PM
Subject: octane!

> i do not know if someone can remember this, but in the first years of the
> bug in america, a dealer once told me that if he knew that an  owner had
put
> high octane in his  new car and blew the engine, they would not pay for it
> ...
>
> if my memory is good, compression was around 8.0, and it  was wrong to
pour
> premium gas in...just an old thought!
>
> pierre