DIY octane boosters!!!

[cussonyu]

hi

I just find it on the internet, not sure about it, hope anyone give me a hand.



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Toluene paint thinner is one major component of octane boosters due to its high octane (about 110 or so) as reported in cage mags of the \'80s. You can buy it cheaply at paint supply houses and it works about as good as "108" stuff at 1/10 the cost or less. I was able to use 1+ bar boost pressure with about
10% toluene in the olde turbo cage days but for cycle use about 4 oz per US gal in 87 octane gas should get you close to the \'90s. Perhaps John F. or somebody who knows can clarify the exact stoichiometry involved.

As far as mixing to achieve a target octane rating:  you got me.
I don\'t know if equal parts of 108 and 92 fuels will give you a 100.
I\'d suspect it\'s close, but I have no idea if it\'s exact (i.e. do
they mix linearly?).

Here\'s some fuel formulas that I pulled from the Alfa list a
while back.  I\'ve long lost the origial author, but he is
correct in his calculations.  The only place I would disagree
is with the MTBE causing the fuel to realease more engergy.
Anybody forced to run this stuff in the winter months, as I
do, sees a drop in milage corresponding to the drop in energy
content.

Note the part about the 12-16 oz bottles of octane boost
raising the octane number by just several _points_.  An octane
boost that promises to raise the octane by 8 points gets
exactly that. It raises the octane of 92 to 92.8 (which in
borderline cases of knocking is enough to make a difference).

Formula #1 - Toulene
=============================
R+M/2.........114
Cost...........$2.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
--------------------------------
10%...........94.2 Octane
20%...........96.4 Octane
30%...........98.6 Octane

Notes: 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.  Often costs $3-5 for 12-16
ounces, when it can be purchased for less than $3/gal at chemical supply houses
or paint stores.

Formula #2 - Xylene
=============================
R+M/2.........117
Cost...........$2.75/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
--------------------------------
10%...........94.5 Octane
20%...........97.0 Octane
30%...........99.5 Octane

Notes: Similar to Toulene.  12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*,
i.e. from 92 to 92.3.  Usually mixed with Toulene and advertised as *race
formula*.

Formula #3 - Methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE)
=============================
R+M/2.........118
Cost...........$3.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
--------------------------------
10%...........94.6 Octane
20%...........97.2 Octane
30%...........99.8 Octane

Notes: Oxygenate.  Very common in octane booster products.  Has lower BTU
content than toulene or xylene, but oxygenate effect makes the gasoline burn
better and produce more energy.

Formula #4 - Methanol or Ethanol
=============================
R+M/2.........101
Cost...........$0.60 - $1.75/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
--------------------------------
10%...........94.3 Octane (Methanol)
10%...........94.7 Octane (Ethanol)
20%...........Not Recommended

Notes: Methanol is wood alcohol.  Ethanol is grain alcohol and found in Gasohol
in 10% ratios.  Both alcohols are mildly corrosive and will eat gas tank
linings, rubber and aluminum if used in excessive ratios.  Main ingredient in
"Gas Dryers", combine with water.

Formula #5 - Isopropyl Alcohol and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol
=============================
R+M/2.........101
Cost...........$0.60-$1.50/gal

Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
--------------------------------
10%...........94.5 Octane
20%...........Not Recommended
30%...........Not Recommended

Notes: Similar to Methanol/Ethanol.  Isopropyl Alcohol is simply rubbing
alcohol.

How to make your own octane booster (this is the basic formula of one of the
popular octane booster products).  To make eight 16 ounce bottles (128 oz = 1
gal):

100 oz of toulene for octane boost
 25 oz of mineral spirits (cleaning agent)
  3 oz of transmission fluid (lubricating agent)

This product is advertised as "octane booster with cleaning agent *and*
lubricating agent!".  Diesel fuel or kerosene can be substituted for mineral
spirits and light turbine oil can be substituted for transmission fluid.  Color
can be added with petroleum dyes.

P.S.  In order for a fuel injected engine to take advantage ot
high octane fuel it must have a knock sensor.  Knock sensors
are the exception, rather than the rule.  BMW motorcycles do
not have knock sensors.

[efiniste]

Of the above I\'ve only got experience of Toluene. Very effective but I\'d be wary of using concentrations over 10%. It does nasty things to rubber tubing when neat, not sure of long term effects on your fuel lines. Also, petrol contains toluene anyway, you\'d just be upping the concentration so you\'re not actually adding anything new to the fuel system.
Having given you some of the downsides I\'ll now give you the plus point....bloody hell does it work:cool

Another point, the octane levels given above are the american version. They use the average of RON and MON (MON is lower) whereas we just use RON. Their 92 RON petrol is (from memory) equivalent to our SUL.

[michal marzec]

cool i want to make some octane booster BUT ....

Can I get any of the above ingredients cheaply?!

Somehow I doubt it.
I hope I\'m wrong...