anyone running octane booster?
 

I recently started using some Turbo 108 octane booster. I'm not relying on the stuff, as I still only buy 93 or 94 octane gas, but figured it would offer bit more of a safety margin. It costs $5 and some change for a can at Pep Boys. One can is enough to treat 44 gallons of gas, so Its more than enough for 2 fill ups. Also, I'm running 16 psi at the most on pump gas. What do you guys think?

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/gasoline-octane.html

use xylene instead. it actualy will raise your octane. octane booster bought at pepboys is BS.
xylene is commonly used as a paint stripper. it can be had for about $7.00 for a gallon. do a google on it (xylene) or toluene. ;)

Re: anyone running octane booster?
 

I do when I tend to drive the car hard. I'am sure it doesn't raise it but a few points but it can save your ass.

if you are talking about pepboys booster. i doubt if it will save your ass or even your motor. ;)

What affects does the xylene have on the rest of the fuel system and motor? Anything bad?

i tried xylene a couple of weeks ago...dumped a gallon in after filling up with 10 gallons of 94. Xylene i think is 117 octane so it brought me up a point or so. so far no bad effects that i know of...everything seems normal.

Does it eat rubber and plastic? I know guys used to dump acetone years ago, but they had to do certain stuff to their carbs to keep them together.

It seams like it will eat paint. I don't know about rubber and plastic. By accident I spilled a little down the side of the car as I was pouring it in and it didn't look like it went to good with the paint. It made a streak that I could feel when I ran my hand over it. I immidiatley wiped it off and then hit it with some 3m fine cut compound. Luckily it all came out. I think it just attacked the zaino on my paint.

hey what ever happened to that 104 octane booster that came in a red bottle, that was the shite. I was shooting MAD flames, bumper caught on fire too, but it
was easy to put out hehe

I've run Toluene alot! It's cheaper to buy 100 octain avation gas or some 104 VP, I'm a painting contractor so toluene is $3.75 a gallon! where i can get 100 octain for $2.20 and not have to mix 93 into the car as well.

As far as it being safe? i've had no problems in the four years! 3 gallons of toluene and fill the tank with 93 your right around 98 octain if i remember correctly?

Sounds about right..I've run it for some time as well, mostly in my piston engine. I just purchased a single turbo so I have a feeling I'll be visiting Sherwin Williams for some Toluene sometime soon. Where do you get it at $3.75 a gallon?
Michel

Sherwin Williams!

M.A.B paint stores, and F&H aslo cary it cheap.

Ihor- Octane boosters claim an increase in 2-3 points. A point is 1/10 of an octane. I doubt octane booster would even be detectable when mixed with 93-94 octane. FYI, 94 octane is really 93 octane mixed with toluene at the refinery. I have been using xylene for a couple of years now with very good results.

Hey Josh, how much xylene do you use.

You are not supposed to go over a 10% mixture. I try to keep it just under 10% when I race. It's kind of ironic. The one time I decide to use real race gas (114) I experienced engine damage. I never blew a motor on xylene though. :)

So how much would 10% xylene raise the octane of 93 or 94 pump gas

if using 92 octane
Xylene final octane
5% 93.25
10% 94.5
15% 95.75
20% 97
25% 98.25
30% 99.5

Final octane = ((percentage of xylene*117)+(percentage 92 octane fuel*92))

you can figure it out from whatever the rating you started with. this ratting is determined by Ron/Mon system from the refinery i believe, not from chemical testing. i could be wrong, but read what it says at the pump about ron/mon...i think that is what the engines are called..:confused: i have not read about it in a while.


you should definatly not use more than 20%. it leaves deposits when it burns. xylene has a rating of 117, but you can not run straight xylene

read up on it to learn more. actualy i am going to also to refresh my memory.

a 10% mixture of 94oct. will give you 96.30

and w/ 93 it will give you 95.4

is there a way to make 100 octane?

hmmm...yes
i could figure it out with the formula i posted. maybe this time you can. :)
try it. its fun.

Cause at the track they sell 100 octane unleaded. Its pretty expensive at $4.50 a gallon. I'd like to try to make my own to run on the street. I know xylene is pretty cheep.

I am not really sure how they make 100 octane fuel. For the amount of boost I have been running (<17psi) I have not seen the need to go above 96 octane. I think you may be better off trying to locate a small local airport to sell you some aviation fuel if you are trying to save some money. BTW, the cheapest I've found xylene is about $7 a gallon. If you really think about it, you are not even saving that much money by using it considering 116 race fuel goes for about $7 a gallon as well.

Is there a difference between the xylene and toluene?....and how much of each is needed for a tank full of 93oct?

toluene is 114 octane and xylene is 117. the gallon of xylene that i used says that of xylene that i bought says that xylene can be used anywhere toluene is needed...not that that i based my decision on that..they don't know that we use this stuff as "race fuel"

After doing some reading, it looks like you can do a 30% xylene mix with 93 octane and get a 100 octane rating. I thought 10% was the limit but it looks like 30% will work.

I spoke to a lab about Toluene.. and the only thing they said was that if you run more than 20% you may be a little smokey.. no other side effects. It also had no lead..so your cats, O2 and injectors will be ok...everyone here uses it in their cars.. EVOS, GTRs, WRX... seems to work well ..buy a drum and keep it covered and you're fixed !

Is VP leaded ??? Anyone know??