Octane for a ZC DOHC Non-VTEC

What octane rating would you recommend for this engine?

Also, what do the different Octanes actually do? Is higher better, or does it make your car faster?

There is a gas station close by that sells 101 octane... All the others are 87,89, and 91.

run it on 87. The higher the octane the higher resistance to combustion. IE higher octane gas takes more compression/spark to ignite than lower octane gas. You may get a tad more power by running a higher octane but not for the price differnce (expecially with gas prices they way they are). This is because it will hold off on detination longer. Kinda like advancing the timing a bit to wait a little longer to ignite will give you a small amount more power. So if your heading to the track, go ahead and throw ome 101 in it but daily driving just go with the lowest one.

Thank you very much

the zc motor actually calls for either 91 or 93 octane. I love my car and all but i cant afford that gas.

Main reason why I dont wanna swap or chip my car right now... Most of the major upgrades like that call for high octane gas...:(

the compression ratio of the ZC is in the low 9s.

I'd say 89 octane on a regular basis. Even on race day, run 89 octane.

The myth that advanced timing and race gas makes more power is false. What really makes more power is timing that is set correctly and fuel that has the correct balance of anti-knock and quick burn.

correct timing on a completely stock motor will make the correct power, but onces you start modifying stuff and adding differnt parts timing usually allways has to be changed to get the most out of it.