Octane Boost

toluene is good but xylene has higher octane, hardware stores.

 

Yes Toluene will boost the R.O.N - fuel companies use BTX - benzene , toluene and xylene blended to raise the octane of fuel as these aromatic compounds slow the flame front while releasing more energy . Up to about 20 % total aromatic content octane increases afterwhich no good happens . If your ignition timing advance and motor are up to it using 110 race gas ( if your cat. can handle lead ) will give you a few extra HP . Propylene oxide up to about 5 % in fuel for a big HP increase and will clean pistons/valve real well . Needs no air to burn . I saw a guy use 20 % in a gas drag car and melt the engine in 1/8 mile . Brave souls have used 2-3 % ethylene oxide but it will kill you in tiny quantities readily absorbed through skin , causes 3rd degree burns immediately on contact with skin , will take paint off instantly and causes organ cancer . It was one of the original rocket fuels . Is illegal to possess w/o proper permits . Both are neutralized with water .

 

If you want to see what your spark plugs can look like after adding an aftermarket octane booster to your fuel, then click on the spark plug link in my signature below.

 

I use a mix of Xylene and 90 octane gas.

 

I've been playing with Toluene on my high compression motor and really like the results.

Is Xylene even better?

I also just started experimenting Aviation fuel . . any thoughts about that?

Sean

 

No Doubt,

That's one hell'uv'a great thread on spark-plugs.

I recall heaing once of someone who was fabled to be able to tell you the condition of your car just by looking at the plugs, and I always figured it was probably 99% hogwash.

Now I have to reconsider... Thank you for the read.

 

Thanks. Anytime.

 

From what I've read, Toluene averages 114 octane. Xylene tends to be 117.

 

Don't reconsider, you had it right.....

 

The lead in aviation fuel *will* kill your cats and O2 sensors, if your vehicle is so equipped.

 

It is my understanding that most bottled octane boosters are not so much octane boosters as they are knock suppressants, and are in fact not much more than transmission fluid. I'll do a little digging, as I seem to recall that I had printed out the associated information, but with my filing system, it may take a while!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

 

100LL Avgas uses its own octane scale which is not related to either pump gasoline or race gasoline. Its ~99 MON. If avgas sensitivity (the delta between RON and MON) is the same as street gasoline that would give us a RON of ~109 and an AKI or (R+M/2) of ~104.

Avgas has a distallation curve that is not really suited for automobile engines. I will give you a "lazy" throttle response. The other major problem is that it has a lower specific gravity (less dense). This means when you have tuned to a street gasoline and substitute avgas the engine will run lean. That is where all the old stories about avgas blowing up engines came about. It had nothing to do with octane, but was lean tuning.