[Z06] Good octane booster?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Peoria IL
Torco is the best. Lots of people run this in their boosted cobras. Back when I had an 03 cobra my tuner recommended this to me when I swapped pulleys and upped the boost to 16 pounds. I got it in a 5 gallon bucket straight from torco and put about a quart in every tankfull.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Tune and maybe injectors. Your fuel lines, gas tank, and pump are already ok for E85. You'll need to run more fuel. Some people like to tune N/A E85 AFRs to 14:1 or a little higher. But since you're forced induction, you may want a little more fuel. You'll also WANT to boost higher as you'll get more efficiency from E85 at higher compression.
Basically it comes down to your tune and if you've maxed out your injectors, you're going to need bigger ones. You're going to need at least 25% MORE gas to the motor under boost as compared to gasoline. So you'll need to see what the duty cycle is on your injectors at max power.
How much power are you making now and what size injectors do you have?
You can guess how much power you're going to make with the new tune on E85 and more boost. Then for whatever amount of gasoline you'd use for that amount of power, add 25% and then you'll know what injectors you'll need.
Basically it comes down to your tune and if you've maxed out your injectors, you're going to need bigger ones. You're going to need at least 25% MORE gas to the motor under boost as compared to gasoline. So you'll need to see what the duty cycle is on your injectors at max power.
How much power are you making now and what size injectors do you have?
You can guess how much power you're going to make with the new tune on E85 and more boost. Then for whatever amount of gasoline you'd use for that amount of power, add 25% and then you'll know what injectors you'll need.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Tune and maybe injectors. Your fuel lines, gas tank, and pump are already ok for E85. You'll need to run more fuel. Some people like to tune N/A E85 AFRs to 14:1 or a little higher. But since you're forced induction, you may want a little more fuel. You'll also WANT to boost higher as you'll get more efficiency from E85 at higher compression.
Basically it comes down to your tune and if you've maxed out your injectors, you're going to need bigger ones. You're going to need at least 25% MORE gas to the motor under boost as compared to gasoline. So you'll need to see what the duty cycle is on your injectors at max power.
How much power are you making now and what size injectors do you have?
You can guess how much power you're going to make with the new tune on E85 and more boost. Then for whatever amount of gasoline you'd use for that amount of power, add 25% and then you'll know what injectors you'll need.
Basically it comes down to your tune and if you've maxed out your injectors, you're going to need bigger ones. You're going to need at least 25% MORE gas to the motor under boost as compared to gasoline. So you'll need to see what the duty cycle is on your injectors at max power.
How much power are you making now and what size injectors do you have?
You can guess how much power you're going to make with the new tune on E85 and more boost. Then for whatever amount of gasoline you'd use for that amount of power, add 25% and then you'll know what injectors you'll need.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Right now, you're probably making about 600 from the crank. 60Lbs injectors on forced induction should handle 640BHP at 80% duty cycle and 720BHP at 90%. So you'll be fine with the injector size you've got now. You've got plenty of room. You should be able to make another 50-60RWHP on E85 (likely more if your tuner is good) and those injectors will handle that just fine.
By the way, if you want to know how I did my math:
60Lbs x (80% duty cycle) / 0.6 BSFC x 8 injectors = 640BHP
60Lbs x (90% duty cycle) / 0.6 BSFC x 8 injectors = 720BHP
I used .60 for the BSFC because you're force inducted. If you were N/A, I'd use .50.
EDIT: After thinking about that, you'd probably be able to make another 100HP from E85 if you decide to really get into more boost. You'll be pretty damn safe with E85.
By the way, if you want to know how I did my math:
60Lbs x (80% duty cycle) / 0.6 BSFC x 8 injectors = 640BHP
60Lbs x (90% duty cycle) / 0.6 BSFC x 8 injectors = 720BHP
I used .60 for the BSFC because you're force inducted. If you were N/A, I'd use .50.
EDIT: After thinking about that, you'd probably be able to make another 100HP from E85 if you decide to really get into more boost. You'll be pretty damn safe with E85.
Last edited by SCM_Crash; Sep 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,274
Likes: 2,852
From: Fort Worth, Texas
I tested a lot of different octane boosters w/ my 12.5:1 CR v8 vega.Hyper-fuel from Oreilly's allowed the most timing for over-the-counter stuff. Does say it can damage the o2 sensors and cats if you use too much.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 60,263
Likes: 16
From: Deplorable 160 Proof Olde Anglo-Saxon in Atlanta, GA
I've seen Torco advertised for $113/6 cans and I doubt one of those cans is even equal to a gallon of C16 (MON of 117), which is about $11.50/gallon. Plus, it is a known fact that adding more C16 further improves your octane in a predictable manner, not sure if this has been proven with Torco.
If you are running a boosted engine and want max performance, you'll need octane, which means cats and O2 sensors won't last as long as they would otherwise, that's part of the game. Of course, if you're running "off road" with a highly boosted engine, I doubt you'll have cats anyway.
If you are running a boosted engine and want max performance, you'll need octane, which means cats and O2 sensors won't last as long as they would otherwise, that's part of the game. Of course, if you're running "off road" with a highly boosted engine, I doubt you'll have cats anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 4
From: Northern VA
A can of [insert high octane # here] whatever is not going to raise the 15 gallons in your tank more then 1 full octane point. Go to the track a pick up a gallon of 110 for $7.75 and treat the gas if you want to actually raise your octane level.
They are a waste of money on a stock c5. I have seen them help older cars but for a C5 it's not going to do a thing.
I know at my local track you can get 103 unleaded. Any higher and they are all leaded which will eat up o2s and cats.
They are a waste of money on a stock c5. I have seen them help older cars but for a C5 it's not going to do a thing.
I know at my local track you can get 103 unleaded. Any higher and they are all leaded which will eat up o2s and cats.
