Gasoline - octane booster
JoshMcMadMac said:
Nick, that's really cool! Thanks for sharing.
Here is some info on home brewed octane boosters
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Homebrew Gasoline Octane Boosters
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Editor's note: I would NOT suggest that a person use the following fuel
mixtures without considering the detrimental effects on your engine,
vital engine components (O2 sensor, etc), and other potential damage.
That said, the information is interesting.
Original published in:
GS-Xtra
1213 Gornto Road
Valdosta, GA 31602
(912) 244-0577
Editor: Richard Lasetter, president Gran Sport Club of America (GSCA)
Formula #1 - Toluene
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 Toluene. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3
*points*, i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Usually mixed with Toluene 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 toluene 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.
Sample Mixture
To make your own octane booster, it is easiest to make up a large
batch, and then bottle it up in "dosage-size" uses.
Below is the basic formula of one of the popular octane booster
products. To make eight 16 ounce bottles (128 oz = 1 gal):
o 100 oz of toluene for octane boost
o 25 oz of mineral spirits (cleaning agent)
o 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.
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VTR WWW Editor's Note: This article has been included on the VTR pages
because this topic is frequently of interest to Triumph owners. However,
VTR has no special knowledge about octane boosters. Please do not
address correspondence for further information on octane boosters to
VTR. If you are looking for further information on octane boosters, you
may be able to find other resources on the net by using a search engine
such as Alta Vista <http://www.altavista.com/>.
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