DIY Octane Boosters (Page 1/3)
RotrexFiero JAN 01, 03:21 PM
What works best?

Anyone have any experience?
pmbrunelle JAN 01, 03:34 PM
Canadian Tire here sells 1-gallon containers of toluene and xylene.

Besides the aromatic hydrocarbons, you can also try alcohols (methanol, ethanol), but those may require a retune (different stoichiometric ratio).

I think that your choice of octane booster will depend on what is available locally to you for a good price, in large enough quantity.

I don't have experience with either of these.

I do have water injection (distilled water from grocery store, pharmacy) installed on my Fiero, but I don't have much experience with it yet.
reinhart JAN 02, 05:34 AM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:

I do have water injection (distilled water from grocery store, pharmacy) installed on my Fiero, but I don't have much experience with it yet.



Any reason you need distilled water vs tap water?
DimeMachine JAN 02, 08:25 AM
Not really a booster - but I know a guy that runs a mix of 33% E85 with 89 pump gas - and that gives him what his intercooled setup is looking for.

I think I have heard good things about torco.

------------------
84/87 NB, 3800SC, E-85, VS Cam, 2.8 Pulley, 4T65E-HD, HP Tuners, AEM Wideband, Regal GS Gauges, S-10 Brake Booster. 1/4 mile -11.85 at 114mph

Dennis LaGrua JAN 02, 10:40 AM
I've used Lucas octane booster with success. It is based on the additive MMT and one 15 oz bottle can raise your octane level several points. Its a top rated brand. You could try a DIY method but its hard to determine the mix and results. Years back racers added Amyl Nitrate to their fuel but I believe that was to achieve more horsepower. All in all I see little value using chemicals that could damage your fuel injectors but the Lucas stuff should be safe.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

RotrexFiero JAN 02, 11:31 AM
I use to be able to purchase a quart can of octane booster for a few dollars and now a small bottle is $20.

It's just not for the Fiero but my motorcycle and lawn tractor. They run better with higher octane gas.

I'm not sure this is true but I've been told that the only difference between octane levels in gasoline is a small amount of low cost chemicals that are added to the main lot of gasoline. It's not like these formulations are that complex.

I consider these chemicals to be the yeast in a loaf a bread. I am looking to take something that's heavy, fat, and lazy, and just puff it up a little. I'm not trying to make my own jet fuel.
Dennis LaGrua JAN 02, 12:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by RotrexFiero:

I use to be able to purchase a quart can of octane booster for a few dollars and now a small bottle is $20.

It's just not for the Fiero but my motorcycle and lawn tractor. They run better with higher octane gas.

I'm not sure this is true but I've been told that the only difference between octane levels in gasoline is a small amount of low cost chemicals that are added to the main lot of gasoline. It's not like these formulations are that complex.

I consider these chemicals to be the yeast in a loaf a bread. I am looking to take something that's heavy, fat, and lazy, and just puff it up a little. I'm not trying to make my own jet fuel.



I just purchased a case of 12 15 oz Lucas Octane Boosters for $75 shipped on Amazon. All you really need is one 15 oz bottle for a Fiero tank full of 12 gallons. of premium gasoline. That's about $6 per bottle and it works. Since I installed the intercooler, my engine really doesn't need it. I look at it as a safeguard when I slam that pedal all the way down to the floorboard.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

wilberto JAN 02, 12:58 PM
I used to mix 1 gallon of aviation fuel to 4 gallons of premium for my Harley in the 70's when the feds were screwing with our gas. Worked great but no idea what the octane rating was.
pmbrunelle JAN 02, 01:58 PM

quote
Originally posted by reinhart:
Any reason you need distilled water vs tap water?



I don't want the water nozzles to get clogged with mineral deposits.


quote
Originally posted by RotrexFiero:
I consider these chemicals to be the yeast in a loaf a bread. I am looking to take something that's heavy, fat, and lazy, and just puff it up a little. I'm not trying to make my own jet fuel.



The alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons I mentioned do not significantly increase octane if lightly spritzed on the fuel. These liquids are high-octane fuels themselves, and must be used in "large quantity" to have an effect on the mixed fuel.

80s F1 cars burned fuel that contained 85% toluene.

By how many octane numbers do you wish to increase your fuel? What fuel are you starting with?


quote
Originally posted by RotrexFiero:
I'm not sure this is true but I've been told that the only difference between octane levels in gasoline is a small amount of low cost chemicals that are added to the main lot of gasoline. It's not like these formulations are that complex.



Well TEL (tetraethyl lead) was the most famous of these additives that could be added in small amounts and give a large octane boost, but refineries don't use TEL anymore.

MMT as Dennis mentioned can be added in small amounts and have an effect.

How safe is it to handle these organic additives that contain metals? Do refineries add MMT?

I think that refineries are stuck adding aromatic hydrocarbons in large amounts when they need to make higher octane gasoline without ethanol. I don't think there's a free lunch anymore.

********************************************************************************

Are you experiencing knock in a lawn tractor?

Are you sure that octane is the characteristic you want to increase, and not some other metric that correlates more with "They run better"?
RotrexFiero JAN 02, 05:38 PM

quote
[B]

Are you experiencing knock in a lawn tractor?

Are you sure that octane is the characteristic you want to increase, and not some other metric that correlates more with "They run better"?



My motorcycle at high rpms bogs, same as the lawn tractor, but not as noticeable. They both perform better with higher octane gas.

Seriously, I know nothing of gasoline chemistry outside I know to run higher octane and it makes a difference. I prefer it in my Fiero and small engines. But, its just expensive.