Octane Boost OK?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 10
From: Sacramento California
Octane Boost OK?
My gf did me a favor and topped off (almost half a tank) the 'vert a couple weeks ago. To my dismay, I later learned she pumped in midgrade
I've since given my dissertation on detonation and explained to her what head gaskets are for and how crap gas doesn't mix well with high compression. Anyway, I've ran the tank down driving like grandma, filled up with premium, yet still the pinging sound of terror is still slightly audibly under load. My thought is to throw a bottle of Octane Boost into the tank. Anybody know of a reason not to? If I remember correctly, sometimes oxygen sensors can be sensitive to higher octanes. Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks!
I've since given my dissertation on detonation and explained to her what head gaskets are for and how crap gas doesn't mix well with high compression. Anyway, I've ran the tank down driving like grandma, filled up with premium, yet still the pinging sound of terror is still slightly audibly under load. My thought is to throw a bottle of Octane Boost into the tank. Anybody know of a reason not to? If I remember correctly, sometimes oxygen sensors can be sensitive to higher octanes. Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Octane boosters bought at the store don't do jack. They might raise your Octane from 91 to 91.3 at best. The cost is about $7.00. Get a gallon of Xylene and mix with a few ounces of Mystery oil. Use half of a gallon in a full tank. This will give you around 95 Octane
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by David426
Octane boosters bought at the store don't do jack. They might raise your Octane from 91 to 91.3 at best. The cost is about $7.00. Get a gallon of Xylene and mix with a few ounces of Mystery oil. Use half of a gallon in a full tank. This will give you around 95 Octane
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
You can do that stuff with Xylene, but DON'T let even a little drop on your paint or you will be buffing or if you don't notice it... FWIW, your car will be fine with regular gas - 89 octane. The PCM has low octane tables it will switch to if it detects knock. Personally I wouldn't make a habit of using regular gas, but you'll be fine on just 1 tank, and it is a mix so you'll be good to go. Just MHO, but you MAY owe your girlfriend an apology, maybe a nice cruise with the top down. 
Mike, Xylene or Toluene ,not sure of the spelling, is paint thinner. You can buy it at paint supply houses in 1 to 5 gallon containers. I personally use a can of Torco at fill up if I think I need it.
Lastly, I found this link Xylene as a supplier for an example.
Mike, Xylene or Toluene ,not sure of the spelling, is paint thinner. You can buy it at paint supply houses in 1 to 5 gallon containers. I personally use a can of Torco at fill up if I think I need it.
Lastly, I found this link Xylene as a supplier for an example.
Last edited by ArKay99; Apr 17, 2006 at 11:52 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
All paint stores sell it. Most all Hardware stores haveit. Home Depot or Lowes. 11.99 a gallon. Or you can buy 50 bottles of Octane booster at the auto parts store for 5.99 a can. Toluene is harder to find and more expensive
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Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Xylene works but a half gallon of it in a full tank of 93 works out to be 93.67 octane when you do the math. One and a half gallons of Xylene in a full tank of 93 would get you 95. For 91 octane gas you would need nearly 3 gallons in a full tank to get to 95 octane.
Torco is the way to go. 1 quart of Torco with 10 gallons of 91 is 96.5 octane.
Torco is the way to go. 1 quart of Torco with 10 gallons of 91 is 96.5 octane.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
low and mid grade gasoline
I have a buddy who has an '02 coupe and runs 87 octane in it all the time without knock. Of course it affects power and fuel economy. If you still have pinging after refill with 93 octane, something else is amiss. Is it setting any codes?
Charlie
Charlie
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,221
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From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by SFVetteman
Xylene works but a half gallon of it in a full tank of 93 works out to be 93.67 octane when you do the math. One and a half gallons of Xylene in a full tank of 93 would get you 95. For 91 octane gas you would need nearly 3 gallons in a full tank to get to 95 octane.
Torco is the way to go. 1 quart of Torco with 10 gallons of 91 is 96.5 octane.
Torco is the way to go. 1 quart of Torco with 10 gallons of 91 is 96.5 octane.
I've been a user for over 3 years in every tankful!!!
I'd much rather carry around a quart of Torco, that does the same as almost 5 gallons of Xylene. I'm still honoring Dirty Howies 5 gallon jug special. $160.00 delivered for 5 gallons of Torco Race fuel concentrate.
That comes out to 8 bucks a Quart.
JB
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,221
Likes: 899
From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by SKF engineer
Do you need to add the MM oil to Torco?
JB
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 2
From: Bergen County NJ
Originally Posted by jbsblownc5
No, I like to pour in half the quart,then gas, then the other half, followed by the rest of the gas. This gives it a premix in the 2 tanks.
JB
JB
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by SMR 67
Can you get this at retailers or only on their website?
http://www.jbsblownc5.net/html/products.html
DH
