Quick octane booster question.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Quick octane booster question.
Quick question before the races tonight.
Would adding an octane booster do anything for my car at the strip? It is tuned on 91 octane, so would it do anything, or would it do more harm than good?
Would adding an octane booster do anything for my car at the strip? It is tuned on 91 octane, so would it do anything, or would it do more harm than good?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 2
From: Denver CO
In my experience, octane booster doesn't help. What i've found that does help is high octane, leaded race gas. I buy 108 from a Yamaha dealership and My Vette and my Harley love it and I experience a noticeable improvement.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 568
Likes: 1
From: Fresno California
I would think that with the way gas is these days you may want to try it and see. Chevron and Mobil are what I use because of the reporting on gas in this area (Los Angeles) is that they are consistent in octane field tests. It has been my experience not only with my c5 but with my Wife's 2012 Mustang GT that one tank will ping and the next tank won't. I have read that The Torrance Mobil refinery distributes most of the gas sold in L.A. no matter what brand you are buying. Haven't seen it myself but they say you can watch just about any brand truck fill up at the same spot and that the detergent package for the various brands are put into the gas after the truck tanks are filled. I have made a few passes on the 1/4 mile at AAA Speedway in Fontana and I used booster just to make sure it wasn't going to be a "ping" day. Knock retard certainly makes a difference in my c5.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
So maybe just one of those cheap little bottles of STP or the like booster that does maybe a 2 or 3 octane increase to be safe? As long as it wont have detrimental effects I don't mind putting it in to be at my max potential.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,386
Likes: 689
From: Boise ID
Those cheap octane boosters do not raise the octane by 2 or 3 full points, they raise by .2 or .3 of one point.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
That stuff is mostly donkey ****. The only one I know that really works is Torco. I carry a few of cans/bottles when I travel into states with only 91 octane.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
: Bill !!!They are exact opposites.
Octane is a combustion inhibitor... not an enhancer.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,439
Likes: 405
From: Portland OR
Have a good time!
Unless scanning, you won't know if it get's into KR. So don't worry about it.
When mine shows KR, it doesn't have a huge effect on the ET. Maybe .03 seconds.
If you were to add something, 100 octane unleaded race gas. It's expensive!
Also, as was suggested to me, leave the car in D, not in 3 and don't manually shift it.
Ron
Unless scanning, you won't know if it get's into KR. So don't worry about it.
When mine shows KR, it doesn't have a huge effect on the ET. Maybe .03 seconds.
If you were to add something, 100 octane unleaded race gas. It's expensive!
Also, as was suggested to me, leave the car in D, not in 3 and don't manually shift it.
Ron
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Midland/Houston TX
x2 on Torco! I can see the results with Torco while scanning with HP Tuners! Can't say that about other products....