Octane Booster

[Ait]

Hi everyone,

What brand of octane booster do you guys use? Wynns? STP? Any recommendations? I hear some are bad for our engines.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

We've been discussing this in another thread so I'll recap some of the discussion.

There are so many octane boosters to choose from that the choice is difficult to make. The best octance booster are Nulon Pro Strength Octance Booster, NF Octane Booster Racing Formula and Toluene.

The first two you can buy from the shop the later from hardware stores and servo stations. These octane boosters will raise PULP by about +2.5RON. The octane rating is related to when the engine will begin detonating and pinging, it is not a reflection on additional power. With a higher octance rating though you can advance the timing and therefore get more power.

There are a number of boosters that provide little in the way of improved RON (+0.2RON) but will add more horsepower, these contain nitromethane. Some examples of this are PowerFuel Super Street Nitro Based, PowerFuel MaxRace Nitro Based.

Hope that helps.

See'ya:burnout:

[Ait]

Thanks for the info!

Would you normally go for higher HP or just increased octane? I've heard some of these wear your valve seals? there's some truth in that?

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Higher RON will protect your engine from detonation, a big plus. The amount of power from these boosters is relatively minimal, so I would go for the protection, allows you to run higher boost safely. If you want the best of both worlds then use VP Motorsport fuel, 107 octane plus shitloads more power.

See'ya:burnout:

[Guest MRE]

Nulon Pro Strength Octance Booster.

I used this crap.........

It killed my Oxygen sensor, spark plugs.

I would hate to know how much other deposits it has left thought my engine/turbo/cat.

The advice I have had from a trusted Turbo specialist is don't bother.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

MRE,

All octane boosters will cause deposits on your spark plugs, they will tend to go an orangey color. I said it had the highest octane rating, which I was presuming was for the drags, I wouldn't recommend using octane booster all the time.

I would use it but only on the occasions when you know you're going to be running high boost and leaning on the car alot.

See'ya

:burnout:

[Ait]

Doesn't sound too good to keep using those things. For the past 3 months I had them on every alternate tank. That means once a month. I think it's time I stopped wasting money.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Ait,

I wouldn't bother using it in normal street driving, just wasting you money, I bet if you take your plugs out they'll look like shit. Seriously if your using BP Ultimate (98RON) then I wouldn't bother, just add it if you go racing or drag racing. The higher boost will need the additional octane to ensure no detonation.

See'ya:burnout:

[Hicks]

Make sure you buy the right stuff though.

Wynns is shit!!

My opinion....

[Ozzy]

I'd definately agree with not using commercial octane booster....the crap fouls up your plugs. It has been suggested although, you keep a bottle in the boot for those times you can't get 98ron fuel (of course only the good quality stuff..if you got it in Coles or Woolies, then I reckon it would be crap...like their oils).

Toluene on the other hand can be bought from petroleum companies, I think in 20 litre drums, and mixed with your petrol (ask advice on the proportion per tank)....but care must be taken as it is a CARCINOGEN.....(causes cancer....very dangerous stuff). The best advice, I think though if you're not drag racing is just use one of the commercially available 98ron fuels (BP Ultimate, Shell Optimax or Mobil Synergy 8000 (only available in NSW/SA & Vic I think))....if you read their Material Data sheets, they are pretty well on par with each other...although I prefer the BP (don't know why...just seems to go better).

[blind_elk]

This from an old thread (Backyard Race Fuel) initiated by rev210 on 27/8

Toluene = Methyl-Benzene.  

A search of the net uncovered that it is not on the NIOSH carcinogen list, but it adversely affects the central nervous system.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Either way, I would advise that you use gloves when mixing it. No point getting sick from it, then you can't drive your car!

See'ya:burnout:

[rev210]

Originally posted by Ozzy

.but care must be taken as it is a CARCINOGEN.....(causes cancer....very dangerous stuff

It's definately not a carcinogen. It is dangerous tho. Don't go sniffing it on purpose. You will die on a high.

BTW ordinary fuel IS carcinogenic, linked to leukemia.

[rev210]

Originally posted by GTS-t VSPEC

Either way, I would advise that you use gloves when mixing it. No point getting sick from it, then you can't drive your car!

See'ya:burnout:

It's pretty good at cleaning oily grime your hands if you forget to wear gloves:D The central neverous system effects occur if sniff it. Thats why harware stores have it locked up sometimes (to prevent those who do this from stealing it)

Mind you ordinary petrol is far worse to spill on your hands but most people change fuel filters and stuff without gloves. Maybe they should wear some.

[Ozzy]

I promise to make this my last on the subject, but the US ATSDR (agency for toxic substances and diseases registry) website states........

'How likely is toluene to cause cancer?

Studies in humans and animals generally indicate that toluene does not cause cancer.

The EPA has determined that the carcinogenicity of toluene can not be classified. '

The above statement doesn't sound too convincing to me....I definately wouldn't clean my hands with it !!!

:eek:

[Ait]

ARhhh...now I've got a bottle of STP to get rid off. I think I'll keep it for those times when I won't have Premium around.

Thanks guys, think I'll stop using these things. For drag racing days, I'll use only Nulon Pro. Supposed to be one of the best besides toulene.

If 98 ron is good enough, how much power loss is there since our cars are supposed to run on 100 ron?

[rev210]

Originally posted by Ozzy

I promise to make this my last on the subject, but the US ATSDR (agency for toxic substances and diseases registry) website states........

'How likely is toluene to cause cancer?  

Studies in humans and animals generally indicate that toluene does not cause cancer.  

The EPA has determined that the carcinogenicity of toluene can not be classified. '

The above statement doesn't sound too convincing to me....I definately wouldn't clean my hands with it !!!

:eek:

The mineral safety data sheet (australian version) does not classify toluene as a carcinogen, nor does any other world standard for toxicity. As I said before however, ALL general use petrol contains carcinogenic substances. And the vapours from petrol contain these very same carcinogenic substances. Like to fill your car up in a chemical protection suit now? If you don't then you aren't reacting consistantly with the belief that toluene might be carcinogenic.

I find that the same people that label toluene a carcinogen are blissfully unaware that petrol is recognised world wide as a carcinogen. They probably even wash parts (and hands) in it and siphon petrol using their mouth?

[sniffy]

so if i go driving out in the country, and the only fuel out there is unleaded...using a booster will bring it up to standard pulp??? if so...should this be a "must"?

[giz01]

i always use Wynnns race formula when i race my car & gf's car

Hot 4's actually did a dyno feature using the different boosters and wynns was the best plus the car used was a turbo capri which just happens to be the same car as i own!

[51jay]

Toluene.....you'r supposed to put it in your tank....not clean your teeth with it!!

You can get it at Autobarn 20L drum $48 it's a heap better than any of the retail octane boosters being pure Methyl Benzine. Now the hot weather is here I add 5L to my tank when I go to the drags or racetrack as a hedge against detonation.I think this gives an octane rating of 99.8. incidently none of the BP servos I enquired at could supply it .