Octane Boosters

[pncfzfn]

On a ride last year across the US, I hit several states, Kansas, the Dakotas, Nebraska, etc that mandate ethanol in their gas. In some of these places the highest octane rating available was 87. I found a product on the web called Octane Supreme 130. This product reports to boost the octane 5 points for approx 2oz/gal. The product contains tetraethyl lead to boost the octane rating. Anyone have experience with this or any other similar product. I only need it in the states that don't have 91 or better. My major concern is there any problem that the additive may cause to my EFI, plumbing, or engine?

[route66paul]

I didn't think that you could buy that in the US. The main probs with lead is cat muffs will fail and you can foul plugs using too much. Yes, I remember SO well.

[Ed Y]

HD has been selling some stuff called "Fuel additive". I've been using it for years on trips out west where 85/87 octane is the only thing available. Works well for me. At high elevations, 87 octane will also work fine, based on my observations.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by Ed Y

HD has been selling some stuff called "Fuel additive". I've been using it for years on trips out west where 85/87 octane is the only thing available. Works well for me. At high elevations, 87 octane will also work fine, based on my observations.

I took a bottle of that stuff on a long trip I made to Canada last year. There were a couple of places in British Columbia, and also in Alberta where we stopped for gas and all they had was 86 octane. It seemed to work okay.

[wehohl]

Here is an article by a Sunoco engineer regarding Octane boosters.

http://www.gti-vr6.net/library/misc/...e_article.html

[bbrowncods]

I am burning 50/50 GT-100 and 93. It runs good.

[Old Salt]

Originally Posted by thrasher

I took a bottle of that stuff on a long trip I made to Canada last year. There were a couple of places in British Columbia, and also in Alberta where we stopped for gas and all they had was 86 octane. It seemed to work okay.

I've never seen that here in BC, Thrasher. You must have been in the mountains or close to them. I live 25 miles east of Vancouver so Chevron 94 is always available. When I have to fill up anywhere else, I'll look for an Esso.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by Old Salt

I've never seen that here in BC, Thrasher. You must have been in the mountains or close to them. I live 25 miles east of Vancouver so Chevron 94 is always available. When I have to fill up anywhere else, I'll look for an Esso.

Hi Old Salt. We were in the far eastern part of BC near Alberta, so we were in and out of the mountains pretty much the whole time. We entered BC from Idaho, north through Revelstoke, east on the Trans Canada Hwy to Lake Louise, AB, north on Icefields Pkwy to Jasper, AB, then south back into the US via Montana.

On the issue of low octane gasoline, one of the places that sticks in my mind was just at the ferry terminal in the little town of Shelter Bay, which is about 51 klicks south of Revelstoke, BC. We had just gotten through taking the Galena Bay - Shelter Bay ferry across. The other places were on Hwy 93 in between Elko and Roosville. This is about 200 klicks south of Radium Hot Springs, BC. We reentered the US into Montana from Roosville, BC. Gas stations were pretty sparse out there, as was any sign of civilization.

[Old Salt]

You're absolutely right about sparse civilization in some of those areas but you were right around some great riding areas. I can see why you couldn't find much over 87 octane there. They wouldn't be moving much gas at 91, 92 or 94 octane in those areas. That's the same area I plan on riding this summer.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by Old Salt

You're absolutely right about sparse civilization in some of those areas but you were right around some great riding areas. I can see why you couldn't find much over 87 octane there. They wouldn't be moving much gas at 91, 92 or 94 octane in those areas. That's the same area I plan on riding this summer.

It was absolutely fabulous riding.

The whole route from the port of entry on Idaho Hwy 1 at Porthill, right by the long glacial lakes, the two ferry crossings on the way to Revelstoke was not fast but it was really nice. The Trans Canada Hwy on the way to Lake Louise was very scenic, but we got behind a really slow 18 wheeler with problems that was backing up traffic for miles. The Icefields Pkwy going from Lake Louise to Jasper should not be missed. I wish we had the time to go further north from Jasper, AB. Of course, if it was up to me, we'd end up making our way up to the north slope of Alaska.

On the way back south, Hwy 93 right around Radium Hot Springs was breathtaking. It was like riding through a very narrow canyon with overhanging rock because the road was built by literally blasting through the rock. As I rode through, I spotted a big horn sheep just laying on the rock directly above just watching the traffic go by. Alas, the roads with endless meadows and sparse civilization in southeastern BC and northwest Montana offered a needed break from the mountain riding.

I'm sure there's a lot more great riding in that area. Can you tell I wanna go back???

[copperheadwolf]

You can use Toluene (you can get it at hardware stores and paint shops).
It has a R+M/2 of 114
Mixtures with 93 Octane pump gas
10%...95.1 Octane
20%...97.2 Octane
30%...99.3 Octane
So if you have a 5 gal. tank 20% is one gallon.
Notes: Toluene is a common ingredient in Octane Boosters in a can. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*, I.e. from 92 to 92.3.(for a tank full in a car) Often costs $3-5 for 12-16 ounces, Toluene can be purchased for less than $6/gal at chemical supply houses or paint stores.

So if you have high cylinder pressures (usually gos hand in hand with high compression) and need a higher octane gas to prevent preignition this is a cheap and safe way to do it.

[copperheadwolf]

Oh and for 87 octane
10% = 89.7
20% = 92.4
30% = 95.1

[Mo-Dog]

Originally Posted by wehohl

Here is an article by a Sunoco engineer regarding Octane boosters.

http://www.gti-vr6.net/library/misc/...e_article.html

Wehohl, which one's work? We KNOW that octane bosters will get us out of a pinch. Which ones are the best? Your article does not help...

[wehohl]

Wehohl, which one's work? We KNOW that octane bosters will get us out of a pinch. Which ones are the best? Your article does not help...

I do not know which one works. The referenced article was only to show that the claims some make are not necessarily true.

[Ed Y]

And keep in mind that one person's opinion, regardless of job and who he works for, really is no indication of anything. JMHO