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I've always understood that the higher Octane rating fuel produces less BTU's then lower Octane fuels therefore the lower Octane rated fuel is more potent then the higher Octane fuel. The reason race cars and modern cars use higher Octane is to keep from pre-firing (knocking) before the piston reaches Top Dead Center. This pre-detonating destroys race motors running 12/1 compression and over time will hurt new cars that run 10/1 compression. I'm guessing that somehow the outside climate is preventing pre-detonation so therefore your getting the most out of the lower octane (higher btu's) rated fuel without knocking.
A common mis-conception about Octane is that it has to do with Oxygen. Octane has something to do with the chemical make up of some fuel, 8 carbon electrons per nucleus? Something like that, Don't laugh, I don't remember all the moleculer parts.
Anyway this is how it's been explained to me, could be wrong or off a little bit so don't quote me.
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