Octane Booster
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
Originally Posted by MetalVette
Are there any octane Boosters out there anyone could recommend. Here in CA the best we can get is 91 Octane. I was just in Alabama and they have 93.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by MetalVette
No, runs great, just looking to see if higher octane would make any difference. 
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
OCtane will do nothing for you if you don't need it. It burns slower than a lower octane fuel.
Some of the VERY VERY high end race fuels are oxygenated, which will produce more power, but they are near 40 dollars a gallon!
You better have a bunch of sticker on your car and be bringing home lots of cash to run one of them. But they will make more power.
That I guess is the common misconception with racing fuels. People think that if you run them you will make more power. Not the case if the motor is not built for it. The power itself comes from compression. The tighter the squeeze, the bigger the bang. Think of gunpowder...pack it loosely it will pop. Pack it tight it will go kaboom. With the tight scenerio a common gas octane like 91 will detonate due to the pressures before the spark plug even fires. Higher octanes will withstand the pressures more and then explode with the addition of the spark.
You don't need to worry about it.
Some of the VERY VERY high end race fuels are oxygenated, which will produce more power, but they are near 40 dollars a gallon!
You better have a bunch of sticker on your car and be bringing home lots of cash to run one of them. But they will make more power. That I guess is the common misconception with racing fuels. People think that if you run them you will make more power. Not the case if the motor is not built for it. The power itself comes from compression. The tighter the squeeze, the bigger the bang. Think of gunpowder...pack it loosely it will pop. Pack it tight it will go kaboom. With the tight scenerio a common gas octane like 91 will detonate due to the pressures before the spark plug even fires. Higher octanes will withstand the pressures more and then explode with the addition of the spark.
You don't need to worry about it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
91 octane will be just fine. Here in WA we have 92 octane and I have never seen any indication of ping or spark knock. Been to CA a number of times and never noticed a difference (except for the prices )
I have even run 89 octane in my modded 87 and the only time I have ever heard a obvious ping was at WOT or going up into the mountains on long steep grades. Around town there were no problems.
)I have even run 89 octane in my modded 87 and the only time I have ever heard a obvious ping was at WOT or going up into the mountains on long steep grades. Around town there were no problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Madison Mississippi
Higher Octane will do nothing for your car. Run a data log or Obd1 scan tool and look for knock counts. You can try seafoam or marvel mystery oil to de-carbon your engine if that is the source of pinging. We used to smoke-up the whole shop de-carbonizing but, the results are worth it. Most older, higher mileage engines can benefit from combustion chamber cleaning. Try transmission fluid, it has an awsome cleaning agent also. We used to pour it right down the carbs but in your case try using a vaccum port. good luck 
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Do all these octane boosters actually boost octane?
Some i've read the label on, merely remove deposits to "reduce the engine's octane requirement". Which is total b.s., sorta like claiming a 12 guage is a cure for diabetes.
Some i've read the label on, merely remove deposits to "reduce the engine's octane requirement". Which is total b.s., sorta like claiming a 12 guage is a cure for diabetes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Do all these octane boosters actually boost octane?
Some i've read the label on, merely remove deposits to "reduce the engine's octane requirement". Which is total b.s., sorta like claiming a 12 guage is a cure for diabetes.
Some i've read the label on, merely remove deposits to "reduce the engine's octane requirement". Which is total b.s., sorta like claiming a 12 guage is a cure for diabetes.
