I wouldn't necessarily say that. You will never achieve more power using 87 octane in an engine that requires 93 octane simply because the lower octane gas will cause the engine to knock (detonation), the knock sensor will pull timing, and thereby taking away power. In a car without a knock sensor such a race car with an engine that requires high octane, is built to handle detonation if it were to occur, but is tuned properly in the first place. Even some new cars today don't have knock sensors such as some Fords (the old supercharged T-Bird, the Lightnings, and even the '03-'04 Cobras don't really have an effective knock sensor like GM) a ), but are tuned properly. What would happen if you tired to cheap out by putting 87 octane in a Lightning? Kaboom!