Homebrewed Octane?
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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?
"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?
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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.
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.
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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
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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
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
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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.