All Hail Xylene!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 13,985
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough NH
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
All Hail Xylene!
Last night i got myself 4 gallons of Xylene (117 octane) thinner to use as my own "race gas" for a track rental i'm doing tomorrow. I've used it before, and damn does it make my car run good. :D
I've put it into a 5 gallon gas container for transport to the a "staging area" (Magoo's house, :lol: ).
With 4 gallons added to a full 20 gallon tank will give me a 20% mix. This is good for 97.8 octane gas.
Of course i added some Marvel Mystery oil to help keep things lubed, becuase this stuff is really "dry". :reddevil
I've put it into a 5 gallon gas container for transport to the a "staging area" (Magoo's house, :lol: ).
With 4 gallons added to a full 20 gallon tank will give me a 20% mix. This is good for 97.8 octane gas.
Of course i added some Marvel Mystery oil to help keep things lubed, becuase this stuff is really "dry". :reddevil
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: All Hail Xylene! (TurboVette)
I'm probably heading off to the drag strips this summer.
My friend has a 96 Firebird transam... I'm not sure, but I think he's car is faster then mine.
I have an 88 vette convertible.
I'd really like to put a spin on things and kick the poopie out of him.
Does this stuff add Horse power to your engine or just make it run better?
and were do you buy it?
MOO HOO HA HA HA!!!! :blueangel:
Were allowed to cheat right?
My friend has a 96 Firebird transam... I'm not sure, but I think he's car is faster then mine.
I have an 88 vette convertible.
I'd really like to put a spin on things and kick the poopie out of him.
Does this stuff add Horse power to your engine or just make it run better?
and were do you buy it?
MOO HOO HA HA HA!!!! :blueangel:
Were allowed to cheat right?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: All Hail Xylene! (Mervz)
Here's an excellent article on modifying octane in your tank.
http://www.idavette.net/hib/fuel/index.htm
You need to watch the use of xylene. At some point, I don't recall what it is, you will have diminishing returns. Xylene doesn't have as much energy as gasoline, therefore you will generate less power. It'll run very smooth, just not as fast.
Page 2 of the above article has good info on xylene and toluene as octane boosters.
[Modified by John Row, 3:31 PM 6/26/2003]
http://www.idavette.net/hib/fuel/index.htm
You need to watch the use of xylene. At some point, I don't recall what it is, you will have diminishing returns. Xylene doesn't have as much energy as gasoline, therefore you will generate less power. It'll run very smooth, just not as fast.
Page 2 of the above article has good info on xylene and toluene as octane boosters.
[Modified by John Row, 3:31 PM 6/26/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: All Hail Xylene! (Mervz)
If you're not running forced induction (turbo/supercharger/N2O) then running this high octane will make your car run slower. There's more BTU's in gas than xylene, the more zylene the less energy = less HP. For your LT1, with good quality 92-93 octane gas you'll go faster than with a 20% cut of xylene.
Eric
Eric
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Re: All Hail Xylene! (silver & red CE)
If you're not running forced induction (turbo/supercharger/N2O) then running this high octane will make your car run slower. There's more BTU's in gas than xylene, the more zylene the less energy = less HP. For your LT1, with good quality 92-93 octane gas you'll go faster than with a 20% cut of xylene.
Eric
Eric
And don't forget us high compression guys. :D
I use the "Rocket Fuel" Toluene Mixture for my octane boost needs. I read that the Toluene keeps its "power" up better than the rest? But who knows. I know the Formula 1 guys use it in VERY high concentrations...but with 75psi of boost I can imagine why... :eek:
ALso many places will NOT sell it to you without an account and a PO(Purchase Order). Our local Sherwin Williams gave me a VERY hard time about buying it, after some smoozing with the girl she finally gave in. But I needed to give her my drivers license etc before she would do it. She said the Feds watch it closely because its what they use to "Cut" Cocaine, and also people "Huff it". So if you see me at the track, especially after I break something, and I am acing a little goofy, you know what I have been up to :crazy: :lol:
But yeah unless you "need" the added detonation protections/deturant, you are wasting your money and also your power. The stuff I use is about 8 dollars a gallon, and at over a gallon a run, it gets costly real quick. :skep: :thumbs: :steering:
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,315
Likes: 245
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Re: All Hail Xylene! (ski_dwn_it)
[Quote]She said the Feds watch it closely because its what they use to "Cut" Cocaine, and also people "Huff it". So if you see me at the track, especially after I break something, and I am acing a little goofy, you know what I have been up to
That explains everything!! Years ago i was a seaman on a oil tanker and we would ship that stuff to Portland. While loading the fumes would roll out of the tank vents onto the deck. Everytime was a new experience.
:crazy: :eek: :crazy: I didn't realize we were transporting liquid gold. :D :cheers:
That explains everything!! Years ago i was a seaman on a oil tanker and we would ship that stuff to Portland. While loading the fumes would roll out of the tank vents onto the deck. Everytime was a new experience.
:crazy: :eek: :crazy: I didn't realize we were transporting liquid gold. :D :cheers:
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: All Hail Xylene! (Mervz)
If you can't use the additional octane (mostly to reduce knock), than it will slow you down.
BTW the answer to why xylene and toulene is used as opose to race gas. Most races are leaded which kill O2 and catalytic converters. They are sometime easier to locate than race gas.
[Modified by dgoodhue, 9:56 AM 6/27/2003]
BTW the answer to why xylene and toulene is used as opose to race gas. Most races are leaded which kill O2 and catalytic converters. They are sometime easier to locate than race gas.
[Modified by dgoodhue, 9:56 AM 6/27/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Re: All Hail Xylene! (dgoodhue)
I just put some 100 octane gas in my car this morning for racing tonight, $3.75 a gallon - doesn't make sense to me to spend all that time trying to mix all this stuff together. They sell 105 octane gas (unleaded of course) for $4.60 a gallon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: All Hail Xylene! (dgoodhue)
Thanks John Row,
I read that article.. I honestly understand a lot more now.
I have a few questions
My vette engine was overbored to a 383 and the heads were shaved, so I was told that the compression is higher because of this. I was told to only put in premium Gas. I basically always go to the same gas station "sunoco" they have 94 octane Gas... other places, about 90% of them only have 91 or 92 octane.
My car seems to run very well on 94 octane gas... but lets say I did put 89 or 87 octane gas, would this risk having the engine knock?
If not, then I know this would cause loss in HP because of the knock sensor would ajust the spark timming.
What if I put in 100 octane Gas? would I gain HP?... if not, then what if I advanced the timming on my car? would I then gain HP?
Plus? did I gain any HP with the heads shave and the piston over bored and putting in high octane gas? about how much (all my parts are stock exept for flow master mufflers and K&N filter)
Thank!
I read that article.. I honestly understand a lot more now.
I have a few questions
My vette engine was overbored to a 383 and the heads were shaved, so I was told that the compression is higher because of this. I was told to only put in premium Gas. I basically always go to the same gas station "sunoco" they have 94 octane Gas... other places, about 90% of them only have 91 or 92 octane.
My car seems to run very well on 94 octane gas... but lets say I did put 89 or 87 octane gas, would this risk having the engine knock?
If not, then I know this would cause loss in HP because of the knock sensor would ajust the spark timming.
What if I put in 100 octane Gas? would I gain HP?... if not, then what if I advanced the timming on my car? would I then gain HP?
Plus? did I gain any HP with the heads shave and the piston over bored and putting in high octane gas? about how much (all my parts are stock exept for flow master mufflers and K&N filter)
Thank!
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Re: All Hail Xylene! (TheStef)
The Shef....
You want to run the least octane, while maintaining a knock free WOT. What octane you can get away with highly depends on your tune, and your setup.
Yes typically a higher compression engine will make more HP all things equal to that of a lesser compression engine.
You want to run the least octane, while maintaining a knock free WOT. What octane you can get away with highly depends on your tune, and your setup.
Yes typically a higher compression engine will make more HP all things equal to that of a lesser compression engine.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Re: All Hail Xylene! (ski_dwn_it)
Here is another excellant site while we are all in the sharing mood. This is a definate book marker.
Keep pulling down the technical articals to pick new topics. You'll have more to read than most heads can hold....That is why I have info dripping out my ears. LOL
Keep pulling down the technical articals to pick new topics. You'll have more to read than most heads can hold....That is why I have info dripping out my ears. LOL
