Liquid Octane boost suggestions!

[Fred Z]

I wanted to ask this here, vs the engine thread, to get the best and most solid answer. I was using a product, Liquid Horsepower, forget the name right this moment, but used it every other tank full and it really helped clean things up and didnt cause any issues with motor. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what works best on a High Performance 427W with 550 Hp and torque? I know I can hit pepboys and find options but you guys are way more in tune on these things. I am not trying to do anything special, just keep it running nice.
no torching here...........just a question.
fred z

[fastd]

suggestion: find 110 octane gas somewhere near or order online. best bang for the buck

[Tommy]

I don't think any of the small cans of octane booster you can buy at the auto parts store increase octane by more than about one tenth of a point (i.e., from 93 octane to 93.1 octane) when added to 15-20 gallons of gas. To see any measurable or noticeable change in octane, I purchased an additive that was sold in a roughly ten gallon container and delivered by freight. As best I recall, mixing it with 93 octane in a 9:1 (gas:additive) ratio increased the octane about seven or eight points to 100 octane. ... It's been a few years so I won't argue if someone comes forth with more accurate information.

PS: I think it was something like this: Hitrate

[STL Mark]

I actually dyno tested one of the popular products. I added the proper amount to a full tank of 93 octane - and lost 30 RWHP. I don't know if anything was "cleaner" - but I won't be adding anything to the tank ever again.

[Jaydee]

How about plain water. Years ago I installed water injection. I could advance the timing 5deg without pre-ign.
JD

[jwoodard]

Try Klotz Octane boost. Three ounces/gallon will raise the octane about 10 points.

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by STL Mark

I actually dyno tested one of the popular products. I added the proper amount to a full tank of 93 octane - and lost 30 RWHP. I don't know if anything was "cleaner" - but I won't be adding anything to the tank ever again.

I can't tell from your post if you really boosted your octane or just added some of the usual over-the-counter stuff. In any case, boosting octane alone does not result in an increase in engine torque or power. What it does is allow you to tune the engine more aggressively (e.g., more timing advance) without suffering detonation. So, if you don't retune the engine after you raise the octane, you won't feel much difference. .. Unless you have a computer controlled fuel injection that automatically senses and adjusts for the fuel.

[itstock]

What is your compression and timing that you need it? 550hp doesn't seem that extreme for a 427w combo.

[WardL]

100% of the fuel additives to boost octane or power in your fuel are bogus. For 3 ounces in a gallon of fuel to boost it 10 points it would have to be over 500 octane. Maybe if it were pure tetra ethyl lead. Do you buy regular gas at 87 octane and with your Klotz additive you have 97 octane? How does your Cobra run on that blend? Your mind tells you the additive is suppose to help and you get tricked into thinking it really does help. Carb cleaner if your carb is dirty or a stabilizer if you are going to store gasoline for 3 years or more. Gasoline will normally stay fresh for at least 2 years given it is kept cool and dry.

[Gaz64]

Subaru upper engine cleaner.

[RET_COP]

If your engine is on the edge something like Klotz will help no doubt, but race gas even at 50/50 is the better alternative. I have experimented with Toluene and that also works. It can be expensive though.
Lou

[Ron61]

I ran 110 leaded octane racing gas in my Cobra and mixed it with the junk they sell at the pump for years with no problems. I buy it in 55 gallon barrels and it really doesn't cost that much more now than the junk I get at the pump. I was running 11.5 compression and raced the car hard. I have never used an octane booster that did anything but cost money. A barrel of racing gas will last you for quite a long time if you mix it. When racing I ran it straight and normally would use two barrels a year.

Ron

Originally Posted by RET_COP

If your engine is on the edge something like Klotz will help no doubt, but race gas even at 50/50 is the better alternative. I have experimented with Toluene and that also works. It can be expensive though.
Lou

[jwd]

Originally Posted by WardL

100% of the fuel additives to boost octane or power in your fuel are bogus. For 3 ounces in a gallon of fuel to boost it 10 points it would have to be over 500 octane. Maybe if it were pure tetra ethyl lead. Do you buy regular gas at 87 octane and with your Klotz additive you have 97 octane? How does your Cobra run on that blend? Your mind tells you the additive is suppose to help and you get tricked into thinking it really does help. Carb cleaner if your carb is dirty or a stabilizer if you are going to store gasoline for 3 years or more. Gasoline will normally stay fresh for at least 2 years given it is kept cool and dry.

I wish more people were as smart as you. Everything you posted is 100% accurate. All those "octane boosters" are a complete waste of money and most are 99.9% kerosene.

Jim

[mpanten]

Originally Posted by jwd

I wish more people were as smart as you. Everything you posted is 100% accurate. All those "octane boosters" are a complete waste of money and most are 99.9% kerosene.

Jim

I have read quite a bit on this subject. Most are Junk but "lucas" does actually raise the octane with one bottle Volvo Performance Repairs And Modifications

[wideglidejoe]

I'm not an expert, an authority, or a chemist, but I have worked in an oil refinery for 35 yrs. The last 23 yrs I've been in various supervisory roles over fuels blending, both leaded and unleaded, both automotive and aviation. So that's what I'm basing my comments on, my work history/experience.

The cleaning of your fuel system that others have posted about comes from toluene, it is definitely a "cleaning" solvent, that also happens to have a very good octane rating, as others have posted.

Almost all refineries use the option of blending with toluene, especially in 91-93 pump gas blends. Toluene is a refining by product, if the particular refinery has any chemical process units. Those refiners use the toluene they produce in gasoline blending, but they also sell it as feedstock to other chemical plants to make other products. Refiners that don't produce their own toluene purchase it in rail car quantities. Consumers can purchase toluene in gallon cans at Lowes, etc., but it is available in 55 gal drums if you can find a bulk chemical supplier.

Back in the 70's, I built a hot SBC for a Vega that saw both street and strip action. Thru lots of experimenting, I found that a blend of 93 pump gas with 10% toluene was the best blend for my particular engine, along with lots of experimenting with carb jetting and ignition timing. I probably could have done just as well by just buying 110 race gas, but I had the toluene available, and I'm a tinkerer. 10% toluene may not be optimum for everyone. For me, anything over 10% toluene resulted in dark sooty plugs with no increase in performance, even when changing jets and plug heat ranges. Too much toluene will also hamper cold starts and will be extremely rich until your engine is up to normal operating temps.

Aviation gasoline (NOT to be confused with aviation turbine/jet fuel, which is kerosene), both leaded and unleaded, relies heavily on toluene. Some aviation gasoline blends in my past had as much as 30% toluene in the blends.

I have not evaluated any of the bottled octane boosters, but I have a hard time believing that they raise octane as much as they advertise. It's what I call "snake oil". If it works for you, go for it!

I also play with two Harley's; one engine is stock, the other is heavily modified. I have found that in extremely hot weather that the Lucas octane booster seems to help my modified Harley, but now we are talking air cooled engines, so that adds another variable. In my modified engine, I ran Sunoco 106 a few times, it ran better. But, my Harley dyno man told me not to run 106 as a steady diet unless I planned to do it 100% of the time, and it was tuned on the dyno for 106.

Obviously this is just my opinion and experience, for what its worth.

Have fun!!

[RET_COP]

Great information guys. Hey, I didn't mean to come across short on my post with octane booster. I apologize. I have used many and do believe Race Gas is the best option followed by a mixture of race gas. Toluene continues to work very good for me as I get it in bulk. I understand there are alot of snake oils out there and additive for the most part is not always a good option, So again great information and thanks for the reply Ron, I'll have to call some companies in my area to see about a barrel. The Horsepower Pills had me cracking up. I've been hooked on it like a crack addict for years.
Lou

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by WardL

100% of the fuel additives to boost octane or power in your fuel are bogus. For 3 ounces in a gallon of fuel to boost it 10 points it would have to be over 500 octane. Maybe if it were pure tetra ethyl lead. Do you buy regular gas at 87 octane and with your Klotz additive you have 97 octane? How does your Cobra run on that blend? Your mind tells you the additive is suppose to help and you get tricked into thinking it really does help. Carb cleaner if your carb is dirty or a stabilizer if you are going to store gasoline for 3 years or more. Gasoline will normally stay fresh for at least 2 years given it is kept cool and dry.

+1

Use either a race gas or tulene......tulene has an octane of 114 and is basically an automotive paint thinner.....when I worked in a body shop we would buy it in 55 gal drums to clean our paint guns and equipement,back then,about a dollar a gallon in bulk.......
I mixed it with 93 octane for my race car for years,never had any problems.......

David

[RET_COP]

It's not a waste of money if it stops dieseling or run on problems, I can attest to this. Look,- good octane booster like Klotz or a Toluene works, if your car is on the edge. Race gas in a 50/50 mix is far better especially if you are way over the edge like Ron said. 11.5:1 is not on the edge. My 10.75:1 on a hot day is,.. and I have used a quality octane booster and/or Toluene to correct some minor issues.
Ron, what kind of fuel did you buy and where did you get it?
Lou

[Ron61]

Lou,

The barrel that I just got was K&S Racing fuel 110 leaded octane. They change brands from time to time as they try to get the lowest priced ones. They also handle 114 leaded octane, but one of the guys told me it didn't improve his car at all over the 110.

I buy it at a distributor here in Redding and they deliver the barrels to my house.

And there is also this that might help.



Ron

[LuvDaBlues]

I would agree with the guys about mixing with a racing full. Most 110 octane will be a leaded product. The Chevron Traq Tech III would be the best. Lowest price at $430 a 55 gallon barrel in Texas. Chevron still mixes and tests their own product and I don't believe they add color. VP is about $445 a barrel (which I race with), but they buy the petroleum products elsewhere and mix themselves. Only issue is the purple dye they mix in can get messy/goopy if you don't run often. Then Sonoco 110 ($450) is good and mixes well with 91 pump gas for racing (Denver) and not much dye, if any. We blend 50/50 when racing at high altitude, and it cleans the crap out of everything.

I know little about the unleaded fuels from the 3 producers, but know guys who add and mix in their race cars.