[rlearp]

Toluene is not that expensive from Fisher, VWR, or other suppliers (in bulk). You do not need UV/vis or HPLC grade, you just need basic toluene. I've bought lots of the stuff and do so a couple of cases at a time.

Handling is not particularily difficult. I'm a chemist and respect it, but it isn't too bad. Don't expose it to your skin, take precautions against vapor inhalation (just add it to the tank outside, not in closed quarters), and you'll be fine. Of course, like other chemicals we like to burn in combustion engines stay away from sparks and sources of ignition!

Toluene used to be a fairly common solvent in the organic labs I used to teach and work in, but it seems to not be the case any longer.

I use it as an additive to gas for my Lotus Turbo since it runs a lot of boost and needs a high octance fuel to prevent knocking (20lbs+). I've not got the 40 together yet, but that motor is 11:1 so it will need some good gas too.

Ron