Octane Boosters- Good or Bad?

[rno240]

Does anyone use these in their car? Do they actually do something for performance? Can they cause any harm?

Input appreciated!

[mrflip69]

Bad. From what I've heard and read, octane boosters have minimal impact on raising the actual octane (.1), and create pockets of uneven octane, harmful at combustion.

What you can do, is get toluene to actually make 100 octane and etc. by mixing it with 93... The actual formula you can find if you search a little.

[golgo13b]

I stopped usig those a couple of years ago. I thought when the bottle said 3 points it meant 93 octane raised to 96 octane, not 93 octane raised to 93.3 octane. Now i just keep a small (3 gal) jug of race gas and add a little every so often. Just running premium seems to be good enough though. Been looking for a cheap source for toulene, any suggestions? I can only get it from the paint-shop guys currently.

[180fan]

octane boosters suck. don't do jack.

[MECPInstaller]

used them and didn't notice a change in performance at all, I think they are pretty well just a placebo. A bottle of 151 rum or everclear would work alot better lol, don't try it though.

[Doomed2Walk]

lol, why waste good everclear? just make jungle juice and have a party ;o

[ILikeMy240sx]

mmm jungle juice... mmmmmmm

[golgo13b]

Take the everclear and make jello with it, then leave it in the refrigerator. Dont tell anybody there's everclear in it, and watch the insanity commence.

[rno240]

Thanks! I didn't think it would be that great either but wanted to get other opinions. I'll look into the toluene or racing fuel (where can you get these by the way?).

[MECPInstaller]

somebody correct me if i'm wrong but can't you buy toluene at home depot in gallon tins, around the paint section. I thought i've seen it mixed in around the ketones and paint strippers.

[underground57]

Hey dunno how accurate this is, but I got it off of a turbo saturn site:

Low octane fuel tends to burn too rapidly for proper combustion to take place, increasing the octane rating allows for a longer burn. Many people have used toluene, which has an octane rating of 110, to increase the octane rating of their fuel. This can easily be done with the following equation.

[ (gal x octane) + (gal x octane)] / total number of gallons.

[(5gal x 92oct) + (3gal x 110oct)] / 8 = 98.75 octane

Do not exceed 20% toluene.

[yashin]

useless **** for dumbass kids

you honestly think that pouring 350ml of "octane booster" into a 60L tank will do anything??

[skydragoness]

^ what he said.

Pointless sh** , just use premium gas, and use an intake cleaner for your throttle body if you want things to run more smoothly

[BadMojo]

On a related note, be careful when ****ing around with Toluene.

"Toluene may affect the nervous system. Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped.

Inhaling High levels of toluene in a short time can make you feel light-headed, dizzy, or sleepy. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.

High levels of toluene may affect your kidneys."

From the CDC.

Edit: Toluene is used in glue, paint thinners, and a ton of other applications. It does have an appealing, if brain cell killing, smell.

[MECPInstaller]

can't be as bad as sitting in the interior of a car inhaling curing fiberglass fumes for an hour straight i know i was doing pretty good after each session....then had a pounding headache for hours to follow. Respirators work wonders;) I would agree with you guys though it just doesn't seem too safe to be adding somethign to your gasoline. If it was soo good why wouldn't it already be mixed in.

[xjon]

I'm using toluene in my rb just to bring it up to 93 octane for these hot summer days. Just a little piece of mind to prevent detonation. I got my friend with an IS300 into it also. Very addicting. He is all grins.

I remember when I first added it to my KA. My friend thought I had done a tune up. I was laughing. Also at 93 octane.

[DammitBobby]

Airport gas has a higher octane level we use to call it blue gas because of its color. If I am not mistaken I think it is at 100 octane level. Years ago I would put some in my 69 Mach1(that I no longer have ( and bump the timing up. Raising octane only helps non aspirated engines if you plan on bumping up your timing or if your valves are rattling. Turbo engines from what I have been reading with no experience benefit by uping the boost and preventing detonation.

[GEO]

whast the point of using higher octane on a relativily stock internal engine?

[BadMojo]

Nothing gained by running high octane gas on a stock KA. It may increase your quarter mile time slightly by making your wallet, and therefore your car (while you're in it), lighter.

Different brands of gas have different additives with increased detergent qualities, but I have no first hand knowledge if it's actually a marked increase from one brand to another or if it's just marketing hype.

As far as cleaning, I've always had good luck with SeaFoam. A third in the tank, a third sucked up through the vacuum hose connected to the brake booster and a third of the can in through the oil fill.

[rno240]

I've read a few posts about Seafoam and it sounds like a great idea. Problem is, where do you get it? I checked at Advanced Auto Parts and no luck. Where do you get this miracle in a bottle?

[Zyphar]

you can only get it at certain stores. The only place i have seen it is at NAPA.also, you cant order it online either because of a hazard shipping it =\.

http://www.seafoamsales.com

i still need to do it in my car but i still think that it could cause a problem cuz of its high mileage and carbon build-up. It could open up cracks for oil to go into. But i think the good outwieghts the bad.

[BadMojo]

I've seen Seafoam at Autozone too. The super secret magic ingredient is Naptha!