I went to the local auto parts store and picked up a can of that Royal Purple Max-Boost octane booster instead of of the intended fuel injector cleaner. I had planned to run through some injector cleaner using one of those pressurized non-dismantle cleaning systems at the fuel rail at around 30-35 psi. How much damage would I do using the Max Boost?
Yea I'll probably end up doing that if I suspect it would damage the injectors in any manner. The can does say it cleans deposits from the injectors, but obviously they're referring to pouring it in the tank.
⚠️ Booster is not cleaner and use like that can cause major damage because isn't diluted w/ 10+ gallons of gas.
Even w/ "right cleaners" be careful. Can do damage to old port injection. Many had coils direct flooded w/ gas to cool "better" and some cleaners and other additives "eat" coil insulation.
If injector flow anything, Might clean better just using "Top Tier" gas for a tank or three. Most or All of these stations listed their have same good cleaners in all grades not just higher octane product from some others.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Thanks for the tips Ogre... what I had thought about too is using the about 2oz. of the Boost diluted with about 16oz. of fresh gas -- but not sure if that would do damage as well.
I searched high and low for the cleanser Scotty Kilmer used years ago called Sledgehammet but they must not make it anymore. I don't think Top Tier would be available in my area.
The car only has 48K on the engine but with its age I just had a sneaking suspicion that the injectors need a good cleaning since it idles rough.
"Mr. Injector" in Idaho ultrasonically cleans and flow tests injectors for $18 each. Why fool around with a cleaning solution that may or may not work.
I have been using the Royal Purple additive for 5 years now and no issues so far on my GT.
Are you using it to boost octane or for its fuel stabilization properties? How much are you adding. This product and others for example the Lucas octane booster product contain a manganese organo-metallic compound known as MMT for short. The EPA actually allows use of MMT at a certain amount in retail gasoline. Testing showed that this amount did not affect emissions for example by fouling the O2 sensor. and/or spark plugs. However, no gasoline producer in the US uses it because of fear of the unknown (asbestos was once thought safe). For the Lucas product, a legal amount of MMT gives about a 1 octane number boost. The Lucas recommended amount (CYA for off-road use only) is 5X the legal amount for on-road. At this level the O2 sensor might be affected. Since you are a long time user, thought I'd ask about your experience with the O2 sensor and spark plugs. I've got a high compression ratio engine project in the planning stages and 93 octane may not be enough.
------------------ formerly known as sanderson 1984 Quad 4 1886 SE 2.8L 1988 4.9L Cadillac 1988 3800 Supercharged
48K injectors should be ok w/o you cleaning them other then the "better fuel." Even "cheap" fuel is better then fuel delivered in 80's and 90's because EPA made the fuels to have more cleaners.
Top Tier gasoline relates to premium additive packages such as detergents and oxidation stabilizers. These have no effect on octane. The Royal Purple Max-Boost although primarily an octane booster containing MMT also appears to at least contain a stabilizer.
MMT is an octane booster which acts similarly to lead. I spent 41 years in the oil refining business retiring in 2015. None of the majors or big independents are blending MMT in their gasoline. Perhaps there is a small operation somewhere blending MMT but I doubt it.
Too much future health uncertainty using it and bad optics since the Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club et al have all taken positions against it.
I see no reason to use Max-Boost or similar products for their additive package if octane is no concern. Just buy good quality gasoline - I usually buy from Shell when at home.
I am planning a Quad 4 build with 11.5:1 compression and although 93 octane is readily available here, I doubt that 93 is high enough. That's why I am interested in the long term experience of other people who have used MMT octane boosters.
------------------ formerly known as sanderson 1984 Quad 4 1886 SE 2.8L 1988 4.9L Cadillac 1988 3800 Supercharged
I am planning a Quad 4 build with 11.5:1 compression and although 93 octane is readily available here, I doubt that 93 is high enough. That's why I am interested in the long term experience of other people who have used MMT octane boosters.
I understand the potential for more power with a higher compression ratio, but in this day and age, is it really worthwhile building an engine that requires non-readily available fuel?
I have a JDM Subie that requires 94 octane. Only Chevron sells it locally, and of course, it's the most expensive gas in a market that has the highest fuel prices in North America. I think I'd be willing to sacrifice a bit of power in order to make use of a more readily available, less expensive gas option.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-27-2022).]
I will be far from a daily driver. I just want to build the ultimate Quad 4.
The Lucas octane booster sells for about $8 per 15 oz bottle on-line. The recommended dosage is one bottle per 25 gallons of gas. At this dosage it should give about a 3 octane number boost and the cost per gallon is about 40 cents = cheaper than buying premium at the pump!
------------------ formerly known as sanderson 1984 Quad 4 1886 SE 2.8L 1988 4.9L Cadillac 1988 3800 Supercharged
Okay, gotcha. A man's got to do what a man's got to do.
quote
Originally posted by sanderson231:
... and the cost per gallon is about 40 cents = cheaper than buying premium at the pump!
I had briefly considered that option when I bought the Subie, but I just didn't want to be messing around with having to figure out how much gypsy juice to be adding each time I bought gas. There seemed to be a potential element of error involved with each fill up (unless of course I bought exactly the same amount of gas each time). I don't drive the Subie much (it had originally been bought for autocross), so it's just so much easier to go to the local Chevron station and buy their expensive 94 octane gas.
Here's a recent example of gas prices locally. At first, it may appear that these prices are pretty good... until you realize this isn't the price per gallon... it's the price per litre... and there's almost four litres to a gallon!
This brochure has a graph of how MMT improves octane. The octane at the pump is the average of Research octane (RON) and Motor Octane (MON). The pump octane is known as R+M/2.
The legal amount of MMT in the US is 8.3 mg/l which according to the chart should give about 1 R+M/2 octane. I can't find the reference any more but from it I determined that Lucas octane boost had about 5X the legal amount when used at the recommended dosage. This would give about 2.5 R+M/2 octane.
Back in the 60's the pump octane was RON so it wasn't unusual to see 100 octane gas.
Hope this helps
------------------ formerly known as sanderson 1984 Quad 4 1886 SE 2.8L 1988 4.9L Cadillac 1988 3800 Supercharged
