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Homebrewed Octane?

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Old 06-04-2009, 10:17 PM
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Default Homebrewed Octane?

I am not too sure about all this but i found it on the net... Do any of you guys or gals think that any of this would actually work or have done it before or is it just some internet BS....




"Homebrew Gasoline Octane Boosters"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's note: I would NOT suggest that a person use the following fuel mixtures without considering the detrimental effects on your engine, vital engine components (O2 sensor, etc), and other potential damage. That said, the information is interesting.
Original published in:

GS-Xtra
1213 Gornto Road
Valdosta, GA 31602
(912) 244-0577

Editor: Richard Lasetter, president Gran Sport Club of America (GSCA)

Formula #1 - Toluene
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 Toluene. 12-16 ounces will only raise octane 2-3 *points*, i.e. from 92 to 92.3. Usually mixed with Toluene 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 toluene 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.

Sample Mixture
To make your own octane booster, it is easiest to make up a large batch, and then bottle it up in "dosage-size" uses.
Below 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 toluene 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



So what are the downsides. Kill your O2 sensors?
Old 06-04-2009, 10:32 PM
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sounds interesting but i wouldnt be the first one to test it out....
Old 06-04-2009, 11:27 PM
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It seems like it would work but i am not sure... anyone else try this out or even heard of it?
Old 06-04-2009, 11:39 PM
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make some and find the honda kid witht the biggest wing im sure hell try it...
Old 06-05-2009, 09:42 AM
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We are actually using a combination of that for our own E85. After seeing some inconsistency at the pump with E85.
We are starting with E100 and cutting it with the Toluene for a bad *** E85 cocktail.
There is some pretty good info in that article. I would not be afraid at all to run most of that stuff as a octane booster in small amounts.
If using it as a gasoline substitute, you would need to moinitor in lambda for what ever fuel being used and up the fuel delivery with more pump and bigger injectors and a tune.
Any of that stuff will need more volume to achieve desired results when compared to gasoline.
Old 06-05-2009, 12:55 PM
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I have used both formuals 1 & 2 in my GN back in the day and they both worked as well as VP104. without the sell or race gas..
Old 06-05-2009, 01:38 PM
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sounds like i will be mixing up some of this for my track nights... is there any downsides to this? like drying out seals or anything else?
Old 06-05-2009, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Maroslut2001
sounds like i will be mixing up some of this for my track nights... is there any downsides to this? like drying out seals or anything else?
Where are you going to get fuel grade toluene or xylene? That's the only downside i can see.
Old 06-05-2009, 04:59 PM
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From what i understand any paint store will carry it, i have even heard people using the brand that they sell at home depot... i have also heard of people using goof off,it a 50/50 mix of the two
Old 06-05-2009, 09:48 PM
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just find a meth head, theyre good at cooking **** like this up.
Old 06-06-2009, 11:00 AM
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Haha good answer, all this **** is used to make meth from what i understand also lol
Old 06-07-2009, 01:53 PM
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I hear that toluene poses similar problems as alcohol fuels, as it eats through standard rubber fuel lines and has no lubricating properties, which as said you would add atf for that issue. It can possibly break down fuel pumps and cause upper cylinder bore wear.


also, in the 80's toluene fueled all the turbo Formula 1 teams. they had to mix it with "n-heptane", to reduce the octane to meet Formula 1 fuel restrictions. so the stuff must be good!

plus i hear that the fuel does not vaporize easily unless preheated to about 70 degrees Celsius. So they had to route the fuel lines through the muffler system to heat the fuel
Old 06-07-2009, 08:14 PM
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Interesting facts. My brother has an alcohol still that he is having finished soon. We are considering making a form of alcohol fuel. I am not exactly sure where to start in regards to not using gasoline, but I'm sure we can figure something out.
Old 06-07-2009, 09:51 PM
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Gas and Race gas in particular works well as sheeting agent when combined with alcohols and goes a long way in protecting rubber parts from drying out and corroding your aluminum fittings.
Old 06-07-2009, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by mk1973
I have used both formuals 1 & 2 in my GN back in the day and they both worked as well as VP104. without the sell or race gas..

I also ran this mix in my GN back in the 90s.24#s of boost was no problem.Wear a mask and gloves
Old 06-16-2009, 03:07 PM
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I used a toluene/gas mix, back when I had my Eclipse. I used it quite a bit and had no problems. I got toluene from the local paint store and would mix it 3:1 with 93 octane gas. That is 3 gallon of gas to one gallon of toluene. I add a little bit of Mavel Mystery Oil for lubrication and it was good to go. Sometimes I even added toluene right at the gas station, just poured it right in my tank. I believe with 93 octane gas with the toluene it yielded somewere around 100 octane.
Old 06-16-2009, 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 396375

I also ran this mix in my GN back in the 90s.24#s of boost was no problem.Wear a mask and gloves
I used both xylene and tolulene in my Buicks, my buddies ran it in their Supras too...worked great, never had any adverse sides that I'm aware of.
Old 06-16-2009, 04:22 PM
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