Xylene and other octane boosters...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Xylene and other octane boosters...
I have heard a little about mixtures of xylene to bump up the octane and performance of the car. I hear this is better and more effective than all these so-called octane boosters. Does anybody know if this will hurt the car in the long run? Does anybody know what mixture is best...I have heard 2:1 gas/xylene and 5:1. I tried about a 5:1 mix and my check engine light came on after about 75 or so miles so I deluded the mix. I liked the feel of the performance but I don't want to screw up the car...any thoughts? By the way...I am a new member and I don't know how to post and or do a signature yet...bear wit me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (Branden Mardis)
These links should answer your questions;
http://chemistry.about.com/gi/dynami...Gasoline6.html
http://www.gtatech.com/news_au_articl.html
http://home.kscable.com/ssutton/miat...e/toluene.html
http://chemistry.about.com/gi/dynami...Gasoline6.html
http://www.gtatech.com/news_au_articl.html
http://home.kscable.com/ssutton/miat...e/toluene.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (FRISKY)
Carl...
I put a couple of gallons of xylene in the tank...I read that toluene or xylene could be used to boost the octane. I had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. Do you think the xylene will hurt anything?
I put a couple of gallons of xylene in the tank...I read that toluene or xylene could be used to boost the octane. I had about 3/4 of a tank of gas. Do you think the xylene will hurt anything?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (Branden Mardis)
It should not hurt anything.
If you are getting knock retard without it, adding some should give you more power.
If you are getting knock retard without it, adding some should give you more power.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 132
From: PA
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (FRISKY)
Where could a person acquire this xylene and touline? A regular hardware store? I'm a little worried about dumping anything but gasoline in my fuel tank. Sounds like it might be worth it though.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 132
From: PA
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (QuickSilver97)
Although, since reading this I'm not sure now...
________________________________________ ______________________
If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same. The higher octane fuel costs more, so you are just throwing money away. If you are already using a fuel with an octane rating slightly below the optimum, then using a higher octane fuel will cause the engine management system to move to the optimum settings, possibly resulting in both increased power and improved fuel economy. You may be able to change octanes between seasons ( reduce octane in winter ) to obtain the most cost-effective fuel without loss of driveability.
________________________________________ ______________________
If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same. The higher octane fuel costs more, so you are just throwing money away. If you are already using a fuel with an octane rating slightly below the optimum, then using a higher octane fuel will cause the engine management system to move to the optimum settings, possibly resulting in both increased power and improved fuel economy. You may be able to change octanes between seasons ( reduce octane in winter ) to obtain the most cost-effective fuel without loss of driveability.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 328
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From: city state
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (QuickSilver97)
Below is from the Octain artica on about.com http://chemistry.about.com/gi/dynami...Gasoline6.html
"If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same. The higher octane fuel costs more, so you are just throwing money away. If you are already using a fuel with an octane rating slightly below the optimum, then using a higher octane fuel will cause the engine management system to move to the optimum settings, possibly resulting in both increased power and improved fuel economy. You may be able to change octanes between seasons ( reduce octane in winter ) to obtain the most cost-effective fuel without loss of driveability"
"If you are already using the proper octane fuel, you will not obtain more power from higher octane fuels. The engine will be already operating at optimum settings, and a higher octane should have no effect on the management system. Your driveability and fuel economy will remain the same. The higher octane fuel costs more, so you are just throwing money away. If you are already using a fuel with an octane rating slightly below the optimum, then using a higher octane fuel will cause the engine management system to move to the optimum settings, possibly resulting in both increased power and improved fuel economy. You may be able to change octanes between seasons ( reduce octane in winter ) to obtain the most cost-effective fuel without loss of driveability"
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (QuickSilver97)
I had to do some looking, but I found it at a local paint store...Sherwin Williams. They sold it in gallon cans...about $7.00 each. Earlier in the post there is a link that explains how to use it (toluene). I wouldn't start out with more than a gallon per fill-up. I used 2 gallons of Xylene the other day on about a 3/4 tank of gas and the check engine light came on. I took it to a buddy at the dealer and he said it was no big deal...the cats were picking up O2 out of range due to the high octane. Xylene is easy to acquire...touline is a little harder...but the toluene seems to be more recognized and safer on the car. Read the http://home.kscable.com/ssutton/miat...e/toluene.html for details
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Kayenta Utah
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (Branden Mardis)
Unless you're running higher compression, nitrous oxide, a supercharger, or a turbo, you won't benefit from more than 94 octane, unless you program a little more timing advance. Higher octane rating doesn't mean the gas is more "powerful", it means it is less likely to knock. If you run 100 octane in a stock engine, your burn rate will be off and the car will run worse, regardless of the "seat-of-the-pants" testimonials. If you're not getting knock retard, there's no reason to run higher octane in a stock engine. I ran 100 octane in my last car, but with a supercharger AND 10.4:1 compression, I needed it!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: OKC OK
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (Paul Scarpelli)
its a simple fact
run your car at the lowest octane gas for the most HP.
higher octane hurts preformance i've seen it on a dyno when doing motorcycles.
if the car is knocking or retarding which costs you power raise the octane untill those situations stop. This should max. out HP.
Putting 110 octane into a bone stock car designed to run on 87-91 is a money wasting battle unless you like the smell. :D
run your car at the lowest octane gas for the most HP.
higher octane hurts preformance i've seen it on a dyno when doing motorcycles.
if the car is knocking or retarding which costs you power raise the octane untill those situations stop. This should max. out HP.
Putting 110 octane into a bone stock car designed to run on 87-91 is a money wasting battle unless you like the smell. :D
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 132
From: PA
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (Paul Scarpelli)
Unless you're running higher compression, nitrous oxide, a supercharger, or a turbo, you won't benefit from more than 94 octane, unless you program a little more timing advance. Higher octane rating doesn't mean the gas is more "powerful", it means it is less likely to knock. If you run 100 octane in a stock engine, your burn rate will be off and the car will run worse, regardless of the "seat-of-the-pants" testimonials. If you're not getting knock retard, there's no reason to run higher octane in a stock engine. I ran 100 octane in my last car, but with a supercharger AND 10.4:1 compression, I needed it!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Waterloo Ontario
Re: Xylene and other octane boosters... (QuickSilver97)
I was boosting my gas to about 95.4 octane last summer, and although I did not see any HP increase (no loss either), what I did notice was how much quieter and smoother the car ran at WOT on the back straightaway at Mosport. I don't think you will see any performance increase, but you will definitely see a reduction in pinging, which in itself is enough for me as that will prolong the life of the engine.
imp.
imp.
