Boost / Fuel Octane Figures

[TurboTime]

Some helpful info on Octane Boosters:

NOS Octane Additive:
When mixed in a 60:1 ratio of fuel to additive the NOS averaged a RON reading of 102.8 and a MON rating of 92.5. Giving NOS in a concentration of 60:1 an AKI of 97.6 when mixed with 93 pump fuel.

When used an a concentration of 20:1, over the recommended maximum, 102.6 RON was achieved with a MON of 93.1 giving it a AKI of 97.8.

The results from the NOS booster seemed a little off, but they were later confirmed. No matter what concentration used NOS would not boost 93 pump over 98 octane.

STP Octane Additive:
When mixed in a 60:1 ratio of fuel to additive the STP averaged a RON reading of 100.1 and a MON rating of 90.2. Giving STP in a concentration of 60:1 an AKI of 95.2 when mixed with 93 pump fuel.

When used an a concentration of 20:1, over the recommended maximum, 103.1 RON was achieved with a MON of 93.5 giving it a AKI of 98.4.

As with almost all of the boosters tested, more than one bottle is needed to raise the octane of an entire tank any significant amount. Based on the amounts needed, boosting 87 octane to 93 is not cost effective over just purchasing premium from the start. To boost to 98 AKI from 93 on most tanks would require over 6 bottles. This level of additive is never recommended.

Outlaw Octane Additive:
When mixed in a 80:1 ratio of fuel to additive the Outlaw averaged a RON reading of 101.2 and a MON rating of 91.4. Giving Outlaw in a concentration of 80:1 an AKI of 96.3 when mixed with 93 pump fuel. Give the lean additive fuel ratio, this is impressive for a 9 dollar bottle of commonly available octane booster.

When used an a concentration of 40:1, over the recommended maximum, 102.2 RON was achieved with a MON of 92.1 giving it a AKI of 97.15.

As with other boosters tested, the effectiveness levels off after a certain ratio. IE, just because 1oz gives 3 octane numbers does not mean 2oz will give 6. More is not better here.

This is one of the few boosters able that can with just one bottle raise the octane of an entire tank a significant amount. In a lightly tuned engine this could be a good product to gain a few octane numbers for track days. Two bottles in a full tank would provide a healthy increase in octane. While race fuel would be better, for occasional track days this would be a great fuel supplement.

Finally Lucas Octane Additive:
When mixed in a 100:1 ratio of fuel to additive the Lucas Octane Boosted averaged a RON reading of 101.4 and a MON rating of 91.8. Giving Lucas in a concentration of 100:1 an AKI of 96.6 when mixed with 93 pump fuel. With a ratio of 100:1 this make Lucas the most concentrated additive.

When used an a concentration of 50:1 103.1 RON was achieved with a MON of 93.5 giving it a AKI of 98.4.

To date Lucas octane booster is the only booster tested that had significant results with only one bottle in the tank. One bottle is enough to make 10 gallons of 96.6 octane out of 93.

Hope this helps!!!

Kevin

 

[TomKat]

I was told by the previous owner of my turbo the run half premium and half AV (100LL) when on high boost. He also said the add octane booster to the mix. I have heard that octane booster is a joke. What is the concensus on this site?

Lance

TORCO Fuel Accelerator Works awesome!!! I've been mixing to reach an octane rating of 96. I'm running a stage 1 supercharger with no gaskets at the 6-9K foot elevation. I think there is one other (LUCAS???) that works as well. All the others are only good for 0.1-0.2 points in the octane ratings. Good Luck!!

 

[kinger]

I just burned the torco with 87 octane on my 91 set up MPI stage 1 and it lived, I have faith in the Torco as well now as a back up plan when I cant get premium. I also ride just a tough easier as well till I know i can get good fuel.

 

[DooAssassin]

Just to clear up the idea that 100LL is DRY. The reason people say its dry is because they get it mixed up with Jet fuel like JET A1. Jet fuel is very dry like kerosene and if its used in a diesel engine you need to add oil to it otherwise it will burn up your compression rings from lack of lubrication. This is were people get mixed up and think that Avgas is DRY. As a matter of fact its not as dry as 91, 100LL has lead in it for added lubrication. Thanks

 

[rxrider]

DooAssassin - welcome to the site and thanks for you input.

Please add your location to your user profile.

rxrider
TY Management team

 

[snoseeker]

mixing the E85 and premium

does anybody know the formula for mixing to get a high octane fuel I have heard that some car guys do it for high octane

 

[TBird]

You talk about mixing race fuel with pump fuel?
This calculator is useful : http://www.motorsportsracingfuels.com/O ... lator.html

 

[nate007]

Just to clear up the idea that 100LL is DRY. The reason people say its dry is because they get it mixed up with Jet fuel like JET A1. Jet fuel is very dry like kerosene and if its used in a diesel engine you need to add oil to it otherwise it will burn up your compression rings from lack of lubrication. This is were people get mixed up and think that Avgas is DRY. As a matter of fact its not as dry as 91, 100LL has lead in it for added lubrication. Thanks

JetA IS kerosene, and yes, it doesn't have the lubricity of diesel. It's basically and simply a more refined version of diesel, however newer versions of diesel for late model engines (which is what's at the pumps today) actually lacks the proper lubrication for injectors on pre-'07 diesels. I drive an '05 Cummins and use an additive religiously after replacing injectors twice since '08. No problems since.

On the 100LL topic, there are previous posts that do comment on it's intended purpose, and reasons why you shouldn't use it in auto engines. The lead content in it is very high, similar to the fuel available 30+ years ago at every gas station. Aircraft engines do operate in a very narrow rpm range (2400-2700+/-), and piston aircraft are also air cooled, so their requirements are very different and much of the octane and lead requirements are for cooling purposes as well as lubrication of valve seats and guides. I've held a private pilots license for many years and do know that although it's easy to find and usually cheaper to buy, I won't use it in my supercharged Camaro.
Although it has been used for years by many racers and such as a poor mans race fuel it is simply too dirty to use in modern, injected engines. Normal race fuel is well known to kill 02 sensors, and avgas does an even faster job of it. Will it work? yes. Is it correct, or good for your modern sled motor, no!

On another note for 100LL, the US gov't and FAA have announced they will be phasing out 100ll over the next few years anyway for environmental reasons, so I'd save yourself the headaches of having to re-visit the topic down the road and look elsewhere!

Many of you in this thread have been talking about mixing race fuel and pump fuel to achieve higher octane, and a few of you have posted some very good information. As someof you know, I run a speed shop and deal with everything from older high-compression big blocks to modern, boosted street driven vehicles. I don't get into the race segment, which mixing isn't an issue anyway, but have spend considerable time over many years experimenting and researching combinations that are feasable for the everyday user to run on the street regularly.
1. First thing I'll say is that most supercharger manufacturers will tell you that pump fuel KILLS race fuel. They're not just higher octane versions of the same thing, but formulated differently for different applications. For instance ) a 50/50 mix of 100/91 will effectively yield a 95-96 octane, only boosting numbers 4-5 points. Why buy $6+ race fuel to lose most of the octane? Why spend $45+ for 10 gallons of 95?
2. There are many octane boosters on the market, and yes many are what I consider "snake oil". As recommended by a number of supercharger manufacturers, Torco is one of the few that really does boost numbers to what they say. In my personal opinion, I choose to use that based on recommendation of them. In my area there is a gas station that has 110 at the pumps year round, and even calculating the costs of a 50/50 mix, I'll still be ahead using Torco to achieve a 97+ octane and be less harmful on my 02 sensors that I would getting a 95 with a race fuel mix.

TotallyNytro,
We are in process now of dyno testing some new products we've developed over the last two years, and are comparing numbers between Torco and Lucas, and from what we've seen so far, we may be favoring the Lucas here very shortly!

 

[snoseeker]

I would like to know about E85 and pump fuel I heard car guys do this

 

[nate007]

The ethanol content in e85 is not as consistant as regular pump fuel as e85 is mixed in the tanker trucks right before it's delivered to the stations. You could get one tank with as little as e70, and another as high as e90, so unless you can store enough of it, tune for it and use it all at once (racing) I wouldn't say it would be good for sled use. Flex fuel vehicles have sensors in the fuel system to monitor the alcohol content in the fuel as it's being fed to the engine and can adjust for the variances.
As a general rule, you will consume approximately 30% more fuel per unit of measure than a 91oct pump gas, so your fuel metering/adjustments would have to be changed to account for that. The reason for this is that the molecules in the ethanol are much larger than petroleum fuels.
E85 however does have a much higher "octane" rating (it's called something differnent though) than petroleum fuels, but it equvalates to approx 105-110 octane.
I have experimented and tuned my car with E85, and tried almost every fuel I could get my hands on, but with E85 I noticed a lack of power in the low/off idle range, but it did run cooler and had alot more mid and upper end power.
It can be done with E85, but in my opinion it'd be too finicky to use regularly on a machine that wasn't designed for it.

 

[rxrider]

Thanks nate007 for your insight

As a result of what you're saying I stick with premium fuel and water-meth injection. I even get away with regular because of the meth... keeping the boost low off premium tho.

 

[all_4_stroke]

Have any of you ever heard of Klotz octane booster? I use it regularly in everything I own and was recommended to me by a local two smoker mechanic. The octane boost can be up to 10 points over. I don't know the real world tests but I have had good luck with it so far.

 

[TurboTime]

Nate007, have you completed the testing between Torco and Lucas? Very interested to know the results. I have been using Lucas for the past couple of years and its has performed awesome..

Thanks,
KI

 

[SLEDSTART]

Just bought a Supercharged MTX 162" and I wanted to do a little reading on fuel. I knew I would find a million different results/opinions. I live where I have 100LL easily accessible at under 5 bucks and wanted to see if I can use this fuel for the sled. The sled is set up for high elevation right now (10 pounds MPI stage 1) and he (previous owner) said he would only run a decent race fuel in it.
My goal is to learn the tune for sea level (0 to 100 ft) and then test his tune he had at elevation as I do want to drag it west. As far as I know MPI said mix of race fuel no matter where I am. So with 10 pounds at sea level (bone stock engine) would you guys run the 100LL straight, mix or not at all? Also if I bring it down to say 7 pounds can I start using pump fuel? I don't really want to drag fuel around but I will. I do have a connection for buying decent 110 race fuel I think he said for about 9 bucks.
Better yet are either of these octane boosts you guys are talking about another solution with pump gas? I just know how fuel can vary...especially in the middle of nowhere. I don't want to burn this thing down. Any advice to this fuel novice would be appreciated....thanks!

 

[rxrider]

If you want to dragrace your sled, then set it up with the boost pressure you want and run the fuel required. When racing is done, reduce boost pressure and run the fuel needed.
You need to run a bit more octane than the calculator suggests for the safety of your engine.

In my area racefuel is hard to get and extremely expensive. My soulution has been to run water/meth injection on top of 93 octane pump fuel. I run 10:1 compression and 22 lbs of boost all day long, done for a long time, my engine still lives, I'm at sealevel. RX-1.