torco octane booster
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,984
Likes: 185
From: CT
It's ethanol that's mixed in today's gas, not methanol. Octane is greater with ethanol, although there are other issues. Additives, i.e. octane boosters are usually common compounds, not some magic mix (I know, used to sell the most popular octane booster in the '70s/'80s that was an already available chemical. We merely bought it by the drum then repackaged it), not doubt the "highly touted" Torco is the same thing, just with a lot of good marketing behind it
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 3
Now, sure we could average it out by factoring in the cost of the gas - but let's bear in mind that the cost of gas a year ago was $4+, which would actually put this at about $6/gallon. Regardless, be it $4/gallon or $6/gallon+ averaged out, the only time I'd be putting it in my car is if 93 and 89 were completely sold out and I had to get the crappy gas. Which, luckily for me, that hasn't happened & hopefully never will - because I will say I am not going to pay $120 for some octane booster to sit and age in my garage for the day to come when I need to boost 87 octane from the 7-11.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
The guy just asked where he could buy it, not whether he should use it. It's his money and his car and was suggested to him by someone highly regarded by many on this board.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,984
Likes: 185
From: CT
So, other people might be interested more in the item. I see nothing wrong with people adding additional info to a post.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 3
It was asked where he could purchase the product - and he got his answer. It's a discussion board for a reason, because people talk about things that are related to the topic, which is why there's a saying "off-topic". Everything in this thread has been on topic, in that it all deals with the octane booster. My opinion was simply: it's costly.
I'm not saying if someone should or shouldn't use it, I couldn't care less if someone does - it's not my car and I don't know enough about octane boosters to say pros/cons about it. All I know is, price per gallon is very expensive.
I'm not saying if someone should or shouldn't use it, I couldn't care less if someone does - it's not my car and I don't know enough about octane boosters to say pros/cons about it. All I know is, price per gallon is very expensive.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,515
Likes: 255
From: Rochester New York
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
None that I could find in 30,000 miles and 2 years on the SRT4. You do get a specific odor while running it and can get a pinkish/tan deposit on the exhaust tips. It's a great product if you have Forced Induction, high compression and advanced ignition timing.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 1
From: Inland Empire CA
St. Jude Donor '10
I run Torco in my Harley, between tanks of 100 octane racing gas, which now is $7.99 a gallon here in California. The racing gas is hard to find at the pump, but its pretty easy to buy drums of it. Sure the drums are more economical, but I wouldn't want the stuff in my garage.
I have been thinking of running the Torco in my Vette, as suggested by Chuck Cow with my recent tune.
I have been thinking of running the Torco in my Vette, as suggested by Chuck Cow with my recent tune.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Use it during the heat of summer and at the track.
I run Torco in my Harley, between tanks of 100 octane racing gas, which now is $7.99 a gallon here in California. The racing gas is hard to find at the pump, but its pretty easy to buy drums of it. Sure the drums are more economical, but I wouldn't want the stuff in my garage.
I have been thinking of running the Torco in my Vette, as suggested by Chuck Cow with my recent tune.
I have been thinking of running the Torco in my Vette, as suggested by Chuck Cow with my recent tune.
And.....When you're mad at your wife!
Chuck CoW
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: SPRING CREEK NEVADA
I have been using it in my snowmobile for 2 years running 18-25 lbs of boost with 30 to 50 hp. shot of nitrous, it works great, I will be using it in my new vette as well, I paid $220.00 for 5 gal. which when mixed with 91 octane to achieve 100 octane has worked out to about $3.50 a gallon thats alot cheaper than race fuel. I won,t need to mix that much for the vette so it will be alot cheaper.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 926
From: Alaska
This product sounds interesting. I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here as I honestly know nothing about it and have a question.
Living up here in the great white north the highest octane gas I can find at the pump is 90.
Would I realize any benefit to adding Torco to my 09 unmodded Vette fueled with 90 octane gas?
Living up here in the great white north the highest octane gas I can find at the pump is 90.
Would I realize any benefit to adding Torco to my 09 unmodded Vette fueled with 90 octane gas?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
This product sounds interesting. I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here as I honestly know nothing about it and have a question.
Living up here in the great white north the highest octane gas I can find at the pump is 90.
Would I realize any benefit to adding Torco to my 09 unmodded Vette fueled with 90 octane gas?
Living up here in the great white north the highest octane gas I can find at the pump is 90.
Would I realize any benefit to adding Torco to my 09 unmodded Vette fueled with 90 octane gas?
With no mods you will realize very little gain over 90 octane.
If you tune your car to run off of a gas/torco mixture you will see gains.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 1
From: Denton The Lone Star State!
Why wouldnt you run 93 octane and then put it in to be sure you're getting the most octane you can?
If you are running lower your timing will adjust to the lower timing table.
Agreed. Cheapest I've run 104 octane was 6.00 a gallon (havent found 100 octane...only 104 unleaded at the track when I was racing my nitrous-fed firebird)
If you are running lower your timing will adjust to the lower timing table.
Agreed. Cheapest I've run 104 octane was 6.00 a gallon (havent found 100 octane...only 104 unleaded at the track when I was racing my nitrous-fed firebird)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
I guess I just didn't understand the reasoning for running a lower octane and putting in an expensive octane booster rather than just paying 15c more for the 93 octane in the first place.
Perhaps you just had a bad experience one time with the gas and it pinged a bit.
Perhaps you just had a bad experience one time with the gas and it pinged a bit.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 1
From: Denton The Lone Star State!
I guess I just didn't understand the reasoning for running a lower octane and putting in an expensive octane booster rather than just paying 15c more for the 93 octane in the first place.
Perhaps you just had a bad experience one time with the gas and it pinged a bit.
Perhaps you just had a bad experience one time with the gas and it pinged a bit.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Questions after reading the above:
1) What's in Torco. Anyone know?
2) If you add Toulene, what's a good mixture ratio?
3) I understand our engines have knock sensors to automatically retard/advance ignition to match the fuels' octane. Here in Peoples Republic of California the max octane is 91, if I boost my octane to 93 or even more, will the engine automatically take advantage of the octane boost and performa a little better? I have an LS3.
Thanks
I've bought some 104 octane at a local speed shop. I cost $10 a gallon for a 5 gallon can.
1) What's in Torco. Anyone know?
2) If you add Toulene, what's a good mixture ratio?
3) I understand our engines have knock sensors to automatically retard/advance ignition to match the fuels' octane. Here in Peoples Republic of California the max octane is 91, if I boost my octane to 93 or even more, will the engine automatically take advantage of the octane boost and performa a little better? I have an LS3.
Thanks
I've bought some 104 octane at a local speed shop. I cost $10 a gallon for a 5 gallon can.
