Octane boosters

**RFischer** · 11-02-2008, 05:57 PM

So I was in the local Canadian Tire and saw Octane boosters that cost a bunch of dollars. Upon looking through the Web I saw that Toluene ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene ) is much cheaper than octane boosters and does a better job ... I found a link about octane numbers ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_number ) and interestingly ethanol ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol )is used to boost octane ... ... Also - some forums talk about using Laquer Thinner as it contains Toluene, Methyl Alcahol, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone ... any thoughts or experience out there ???

**formerice** · 12-02-2008, 06:55 PM

I've had good results with NOS brand octane booster. It contains MMT. Tolulene, Xylene, acetone, methanol, ethanol all work I'm sure, but the NOS stuff is like $9 and if you add half a bottle to 8 gallons it will raise your octane from 91 to 96 or 93 to 98. Perfect for a shot of nitrous. Warning, the NOS stuff is very toxic and must be kept out of sunlight. I poured half a bottle out into a measuring pyrex cup. then as I walked out into sunlite to pour into my tank, it started to turn dark purple.

**ZMagnum** · 12-02-2008, 07:04 PM

The best octane booster is just to buy some high octane unleaded gas at the track. Even at $7.50 a gallon (what my track charges) it's still cheaper than a lot of over the counter stuff.

**Token** · 12-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Check out the info at:

http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/octane_boosters.html

**duce** · 12-12-2008, 09:02 PM

ive used toluene and it works great. I wouldnt use laquer thinner as I think it is a very strong solvent and my cause hoses and rummer seals to deteriorate. toluene is very oily like paint thinner.

**slideway** · 12-12-2008, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by duce

ive used toluene and it works great. I wouldnt use laquer thinner as I think it is a very strong solvent and my cause hoses and rummer seals to deteriorate. toluene is very oily like paint thinner.

Careful with that toluene, If face is to close and you breath it you may feel woosey!
(that's the stuff in the old glue punks and dopers sniffed) And worse yet you might like it!

**Cam** · 12-12-2008, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Token

Check out the info at:

http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/octane_boosters.html

I luv it when you post a link to vulva Dave.

Originally Posted by slideway

Careful with that toluene, If face is to close and you breath it you may feel woosey!
(that's the stuff in the old glue punks and dopers sniffed) And worse yet you might like it!

Good **** man.....................errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, try some

So far I like the Lucas stuff the best.

**wheelife** · 12-12-2008, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by slideway

Careful with that toluene, If face is to close and you breath it you may feel woosey!
(that's the stuff in the old glue punks and dopers sniffed) And worse yet you might like it!

Or turn into an old punk...

**wheelife** · 12-12-2008, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Token

Check out the info at:

http://volvospeed.com/Reviews/octane_boosters.html

HAHA, token reads Volvo forums....J/K..

**slideway** · 12-12-2008, 10:23 PM

Good **** man.....................errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, try some

So far I like the Lucas stuff the best.[/quote]

Lucas, high oct. + buzz = value?

**Cam** · 12-12-2008, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by slideway

Lucas, high oct. + buzz = value?

Works for me

**inferno08** · 12-12-2008, 10:33 PM

The best octane booster that I've use is the NOS race formula. I had a mitsubishi eclipse gsx with a stroker motor and gt35r turbo (decent size) that I tuned myself using a wideband, laptop and a program called dmslink which allowed you to tune and datalog. Best tuning software I've ever used. My goal was to get the most out of the car that I could without using race fuel and have a pretty nasty street car. The nos octane booster made that totally possible. I ran run bottle of this octane booster with every fill up so I could run my race tune all the time. You never know when you may need it.

On straight pump gas I could run 25psi with about 16* of peak timing by redline getting just a bit knock/detonation (my dsmlink measure knock/detonation). With a full bottle of octane booster to a full tank of 93 octane I could run 29psi and 22* timing by redline with zero knock. That was the point where I stopped pushing it but I bet I could have gotten 33-35psi with a decent timing curve using pump and nos octane booster with more tuning. For you guy's that know about forced induction, running that much boost and timing on pump gas is pretty much unheard of.

Basically what I trying to say is, NOS Race Formula is the cat's pajammas!!! This was not all based off the ass dyno either. My tuning log's showed the cold hard proof. You can pick this stuff up at Napa or Autozone.

**Shelby** · 12-12-2008, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by formerice

I've had good results with NOS brand octane booster. It contains MMT.

Quoting from the 2005 Manual:

MMT In Gasoline

MMT is a manganese containing metallic additive that is
blended into some gasoline to increase the octane number.
Gasolines blended with MMT offer no performance
advantage beyond gasolines of the same octane number
without MMT. Gasolines blended with MMT have shown
to reduce spark plug life and reduce emission system
performance in some vehicles. The manufacturer recommends
using gasolines without MMT. Since the MMT
content of gasoline may not be indicated on the pump,
you should ask your gasoline retailer whether or not
his/her gasoline contains MMT.
It is even more important to look for gasolines without
MMT in Canada, because MMT can be used at levels
higher than those allowed in the United States.
MMT is prohibited in Federal and California reformulated
gasolines.