reason i ask is that if you put bad gas in and you floor it, will it stop the car from going faster at the rate im going to prevent ping and knock?

 

the ECU will retard the timing giving you less power with the bad gas (87 octane or lower)

 

The ECM can only pull so much timing. You can still do damage with poor gas. It's not idiot proof. (no disrespect intended and not aimed at anyone)

What has always amazed me is my 04 Cobra...high horsepower, supercharged, etc., has no knock sensor at all. Nada. But the factory programming is very rich under boost conditions, so Ford felt it was safe. They're right...no detonation issues whatsoever on the factory tune and boost level.