Octane Boosters...what do they really do?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 3
From: Valparaiso Indiana
Octane Boosters...what do they really do?
Hey guys.
I seem to have a little pinging/knocking when I use regular unleaded gas. It goes away when I use premium.
After looking at all the stuff on the shelves at the auto store, should I be using an additive, such as a fuel injection cleaner or an octane booster? Are these products actually worth something or more hype than anything else?
Just looking to keep the car running as smooth as possible for daily driving, no track or racing.
Thanks!
I seem to have a little pinging/knocking when I use regular unleaded gas. It goes away when I use premium.
After looking at all the stuff on the shelves at the auto store, should I be using an additive, such as a fuel injection cleaner or an octane booster? Are these products actually worth something or more hype than anything else?
Just looking to keep the car running as smooth as possible for daily driving, no track or racing.
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Easiest and most cost-effective tactic is to use 93 or better. Boosters that do anything at all are not cheap to enhance regular fuel ..........
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Octane Boosters purchased from an automtive store are way overpriced for what you get. Deceptive advertising is also used in the marketing of these products.. If the Octane Booster manufacturer claims a 3-4 point increase in octane, and lets say you are using 93 octane pump gas, the result would be 93.3 or 93.4 NOT 96 or 97 octane. What is Octane Booster?? The ingredients are a combination of toulene and/or xylene. This is used by the Petroleum Industry to increase the octane of pump gasoline. Perfectly safe. Guess what? You can purchase a gallon of Xylene or toulene at your local Home Depot for 10.00 a gallon. I make my own homebrew octane booster this way. You can get a 5 gallon can at Shrerman Williams paint Store for $40.00 thats 8.00 a gallon. Two quarts per tank will give me a 94-95 octane.. My timing has been advance.. No pinging or knocks
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by mrm1149
Easiest and most cost-effective tactic is to use 93 or better. Boosters that do anything at all are not cheap to enhance regular fuel ..........
It makes no sense to save $0.20-0.25 per gallon buying regular gas, and then spending $5-10 a tank on an additive. Assuming about 15 gal on a fillup, it's an extra $3 for Premium. You can't get any effective Octane booster for that price. Buy the good stuff (91-93 Octane, whichever is available in your area)!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock, Texas, USA
When does the pinging occur i.e. under what conditions? Yes, you can buy premium fuel, but that might not continue to solve your problems forever. You could have carbon buildup that is creating hot spots and contributing to knock. The more controlled burn rate of 93 vs 87 may be helping to prevent this. I am not for sure if some of the handheld tuners actually reduce the timing when you select low octane fuel as a programming option. If they do, you might try to find a used unit like a Hypertech. Reducing the timing could alleviate the knocking. An overall tune might also do some good. Just my $.02.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by David426
Octane Boosters purchased from an automtive store are way overpriced for what you get. Deceptive advertising is also used in the marketing of these products.. If the Octane Booster manufacturer claims a 3-4 point increase in octane, and lets say you are using 93 octane pump gas, the result would be 93.3 or 93.4 NOT 96 or 97 octane. What is Octane Booster?? The ingredients are a combination of toulene and/or xylene. This is used by the Petroleum Industry to increase the octane of pump gasoline. Perfectly safe. Guess what? You can purchase a gallon of Xylene or toulene at your local Home Depot for 10.00 a gallon. I make my own homebrew octane booster this way. You can get a 5 gallon can at Shrerman Williams paint Store for $40.00 thats 8.00 a gallon. Two quarts per tank will give me a 94-95 octane.. My timing has been advance.. No pinging or knocks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
I worked at a refinery for a year or so, they used to make race gas for a few drag teams and turbo blue and red fuels.
They told me that I needed to be careful about additives, be sure to filter the stuff used in paint thinning, it can have particles you dont want.
You can use the cheaper stuff, but read the lable to see what your are getting, the TORCO stuff is ready to go, but expensive....
They told me that I needed to be careful about additives, be sure to filter the stuff used in paint thinning, it can have particles you dont want.
You can use the cheaper stuff, but read the lable to see what your are getting, the TORCO stuff is ready to go, but expensive....
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,466
Likes: 0
From: GARDENA Ca, State Of Konfusion
St. Jude Donor '05
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 329
Likes: 18
Originally Posted by gotnovette
Hey guys.
I seem to have a little pinging/knocking when I use regular unleaded gas. It goes away when I use premium.
After looking at all the stuff on the shelves at the auto store, should I be using an additive, such as a fuel injection cleaner or an octane booster? Are these products actually worth something or more hype than anything else?
Just looking to keep the car running as smooth as possible for daily driving, no track or racing.
Thanks!
I seem to have a little pinging/knocking when I use regular unleaded gas. It goes away when I use premium.
After looking at all the stuff on the shelves at the auto store, should I be using an additive, such as a fuel injection cleaner or an octane booster? Are these products actually worth something or more hype than anything else?
Just looking to keep the car running as smooth as possible for daily driving, no track or racing.
Thanks!
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
To answer your question, octane in gas prevents predetonation. The predetonation that often occurs with lower octane fuels COULD be the knocking that you hear. The low octane is most likely the knocking because every corvette I’ve heard of knocks on 87 octane fuel.