Octane ratings/boosters...again.

[T45]

I was searching for high octane fuel local to me and found this ancient thread somewhere. They talk about gas being 1.25 so it's about that old. Anyways there are some formula's for octane booster that I though I'd post up and see what the expert fuel guys think.

By Ken Mosher submitted by Eric Webb

some data about the Sunoco CAM2 fuels from their literature:

SUNOCO "Standard"

Color......................Purple

Research Octane.........115

Motor Octane..............107

R+M/2 ......................111

Specific Gravity........0.725

Reid Vapor Pressure..... 8#

-- Distallation temp, degrees F --

Initial............90

10%............160

50%............220

Final...........360

SUNOCO "GT Unleaded"

Color......................Natural

Research Octane.........105

Motor Octane..............95

R+M/2 ......................100

Specific Gravity........0.760

Reid Vapor Pressure..... 8#

-- Distallation temp, degrees F --

Initial............90

10%............150

50%............210

Final...........230

SUNOCO "Supreme"

Color......................Blue

Research Octane.........116

Motor Octane..............109

R+M/2 ......................112

Specific Gravity........0.715

Reid Vapor Pressure..... 8#

-- Distallation temp, degrees F --

Initial............90

10%............155

50%............215

Final...........260

SUNOCO "Maximal"

Color......................Red

Research Octane.........118

Motor Octane..............115

R+M/2 ......................117

Specific Gravity........0.700

Reid Vapor Pressure..... 6#

-- Distallation temp, degrees F --

Initial............100

10%............150

50%............220

Final...........240

And from Rich Lassitter's article in the GS Xtra ... how to mix your own brew:

Formula #1 - Toulene

=============================

R+M/2.........114

Cost...........$2.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium

--------------------------------

10%...........94.2 Octane

20%...........96.4 Octane

30%...........98.6 Octane

Notes: Common ingredient in Octane Boosters in a can. 12-16 ounces will only

raise octane 2-3 *points*, i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Often costs $3-5 for 12-16

ounces, when it can be purchased for less than $3/gal at chemical supply houses

or paint stores.

Formula #2 - Xylene

=============================

R+M/2.........117

Cost...........$2.75/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium

--------------------------------

10%...........94.5 Octane

20%...........97.0 Octane

30%...........99.5 Octane

Notes: Similar to Toulene. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*,

i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Usually mixed with Toulene and advertised as *race

formula*.

Formula #3 - Methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE)

=============================

R+M/2.........118

Cost...........$3.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium

--------------------------------

10%...........94.6 Octane

20%...........97.2 Octane

30%...........99.8 Octane

Notes: Oxygenate. Very common in octane booster products. Has lower BTU

content than toulene or xylene, but oxygenate effect makes the gasoline burn

better and produce more energy.

Formula #4 - Methanol or Ethanol

=============================

R+M/2.........101

Cost...........$0.60 - $1.75/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium

--------------------------------

10%...........94.3 Octane (Methanol)

10%...........94.7 Octane (Ethanol)

20%...........Not Recommended

Notes: Methanol is wood alcohol. Ethanol is grain alcohol and found in Gasohol

in 10% ratios. Both alcohols are mildly corrosive and will eat gas tank

linings, rubber and aluminum if used in excessive ratios. Main ingredient in

"Gas Dryers", combine with water.

Formula #5 - Isopropyl Alcohol and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol

=============================

R+M/2.........101

Cost...........$0.60-$1.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium

--------------------------------

10%...........94.5 Octane

20%...........Not Recommended

30%...........Not Recommended

Notes: Similar to Methanol/Ethanol. Isopropyl Alcohol is simply rubbing

alcohol.

How to make your own octane booster (this is the basic formula of one of the

popular octane booster products). To make eight 16 ounce bottles (128 oz = 1

gal):

100 oz of toulene for octane boost

25 oz of mineral spirits (cleaning agent)

3 oz of transmission fluid (lubricating agent)

This product is advertised as "octane booster with cleaning agent *and*

lubricating agent!". Diesel fuel or kerosene can be substituted for mineral

spirits and light turbine oil can be substituted for transmission fluid. Color

can be added with petroleum dyes.

I'll only add one comment regarding using methanol. In a word, don't.

It attacks zinc and magnesium very rapidly. Guess what is in carburators

and other fuel system parts.

[qsiguy]

Man that would be nice to have those fuel prices still. The 100 octane I bought recently was $6 gal. Probably won't do that again for a while.

[T45]

Yeah but you live in the middle of a desert. You should be thankful for being able to get lobster and crab legs, let alone racing fuel.

P.S.-Scottsdale RULES! p0rn stars in grocery stores FTMFW!!!

[AlabamaDan]

P.S.-Scottsdale RULES! p0rn stars in grocery stores FTMFW!!!

REALLY!! Is that where they live?

[AlabamaDan]

Sorry to divert your thread. But it was really T45 that started it.

I'm not a chemist and what you've written I can't follow exactly. What I do see is that these boosters have a minimal effect. Is it really worth it?

[T45]

It's stated clearly in the internet rule book that Al Gore wrote. It states:

Thread diversions are only admissable when diverted content contains graphic nudity or verbal relation to graphic nudity, smut or p0rn stars.

[ddrumman]

REALLY!! Is that where they live?

NO They live a couple of miles down the street. West Valley (Northridge, Canoga Park) baby!!! Sorry for hijacking.

[elwesso]

note that xylene and toulene are the main ingredients in, you guessed it, BG44k.

I dont know what places like sunoco add to their unleaded gasoline to get the higher octane. its possible they add the xylene and toulene, but they may also have some trickery. im scared that all your hooker talk has scared off Tech, who would have those answers...

Can you really buy just a straight up gallon of 100% xylene or toulene?

Another thing to consider when you start with pump 92 octane, who knows if its actually 92 octane??? What if you're actually starting out with 90, 89, etc? Not uncommon for octane ratings to be lower in reality..

The thing I wonder about is the energy content (per unit) of xylene vs gasoline.. We know that gasoline is about 114,000 BTU/gallon.. Xylene and toulene might be significantly less, so while you increase octane you may be making less HP for the same amount of gas consumed... Something to consider

at 30% 1 gallon will treat 3.33 gallons of gas.. Lets assume about 3.10 for premium... You end up with gas about 3.61/gallon, not bad.. I dont know how that compares, but I bet its way cheaper than buying race gas.

What you need to find out is a) what do gas companies do to increase octane in their unleaded race fuelsb) what the energy content of Xylene, Toulene, or any of this other stuff is.

[T45]

Xylene and Tolulene used to be available at home improvement stores by the gallon. I used to stock them back in the early 90's but I don't know about nowadays. Seems all the huffers found out that tolulene is a killer high. It may or may not be avail now, I have no idea.

We've all been to shady town once or twice and I don't think qtech is any different. Although some of his posts are so well written and beyond my comprehension I sometimes wonder if he's a bot...

[Q45tech]

Mixed - Xylenes and toluene are already significant percentages in all stock gasoline...........the so called aromatic portions.

These are used in BG44k as carrier solvents for the detergent package.

[maxnix]

Another thing to consider when you start with pump 92 octane, who knows if its actually 92 octane??? What if you're actually starting out with 90, 89, etc? Not uncommon for octane ratings to be lower in reality..

An Aha! moment occurred to me when the station manager mentioned that midgrades are dispensed by blending regular and premium. So there are only really two grades and blends of them.

[Fridge]

We use the sonoco in my luv truck. Funny thing the 116 makes less power than the 114. It does not evaporate as easy seems thicker. The 119 is better but very pricey. for a real kick in the pants try c44 it carries its own oxygen. Picks up 30 hp on the dyno. I dont think any of these would do your convertor any good though..

[T45]

Speaking of oxygenation, the thought of adding a fish tank air pump to my gas tank crossed my mind...

[elwesso]

Skip the middle man, grab the o2 tank from your gas torch and pressurize your tank with it...

No, theres no way that could end bad!

[T45]

[Romeo5k]

A who, A what, and A where?? Okay ppls, im completely lost, but whatever you all are saying looks good. Altho i dont understand crap but the fact u trying to find a way to better gas and not spend so much money. Kool with me, why dont someone experiment on their Q?

We use the sonoco in my luv truck. Funny thing the 116 makes less power than the 114. It does not evaporate as easy seems thicker. The 119 is better but very pricey. for a real kick in the pants try c44 it carries its own oxygen. Picks up 30 hp on the dyno. I dont think any of these would do your convertor any good though..

116, 114... ummm excuse my ignorance, but ur not talking about octane numbers.. u cant possibly be!