Octane Boost

[otis]

Just wondering if anybody here runs Octane boost regularly, or if it is helpful when switching tunes, say 87 to 91 or 93? Some of the bottles are now saying they will bump you 6 full octane numbers (60 points). Just wondering if it is worth the money especially when I have heard that some people have a hard time finding fuel that works with there 91 and 93 tunes.

I have been looking at the Penzoil shots but they only say they have the maximum amount of MHT allowed (whatever that is) and they do not say how many points they will actually bump you. Any experiences?

 

[St Francisco]

I'm curious to see this answer as well...always wondered if those octane boosters actually made any difference.

 

[GTeye]

Most of what I have heard is that the majority of ones on the market rapdily cause fouling of plugs.

I've steered cleared of them just because of that but I have no actual experience with them.

 

[frdfrst]

used it once when i had the stock plugs and it fouled them big time.

 

[DarkFireGT]

Most of them will foul your plugs. The only one worth a crap is Torco. The rest will do absolute nothing.

If you're looking to up your octane to change tunes, best thing to do is run it dry and put in your desired octane. Just boosting your octane without changing your tune will do little to nothing to increase HP.

 

[cave diver]

Real simple answer.....don't use octane boost. It can foul your plugs and cause sensor problems as well. It's just "snake oil"

 

[Steel Horse]

Just out of curiosity what causes it to foul the plugs?

 

[o0Dan0o]

Best octane booster I know of would be adding some E-85 to your tank. 50/50 mix would give you roughly E-50 and probably in the area of 95-97 octane rating. Might shorten the life of any rubber in your fuel system though.
Dan

 

[TheVat]

I didn't think our engines were e85 capable. When I was younger, I dumped the octane booster in my car thinking I was getting "race gas." I don't know how they harm but I'm guessing they're concentrated with a bunch of crap that will either end up in your fuel filter or clog up some lines like a clogged artery.

 

[otis]

I just thought I would see if it would work if you had your 91 or 93 tune and you were out on the road and the only gas stations around carried 87 or 89, that adding the octane boost would get you by if you did not have your tuner with you.

 

[ski]

I just thought I would see if it would work if you had your 91 or 93 tune and you were out on the road and the only gas stations around carried 87 or 89, that adding the octane boost would get you by if you did not have your tuner with you.

It's a good thought, however I agree with the others who say that it will foul the spark plugs big time. And they will have to be replaced.
If you ever get into a "high octane tune/low octane gas" situation and do not have your handheld tuner, then suggest that you drive conservatively and don't go WOT.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

I've used the Torco stuff once or twice. Can't say if it really helped or not, but it seems to be legit. Added a pile of timing, without blowing my car up, so that's a plus.

 

[bynumj]

Not trying to start anything here but this topic has been talked about already. Why start a new thread for a question that has already been answered; all you have to do is use the advanced search option and look for octane boost.

 

[Steel Horse]

Not trying to start anything here but this topic has been talked about already. Why start a new thread for a question that has already been answered; all you have to do is use the advanced search option and look for octane boost.

Because then we wouldn't have anything to talk about. This was discussed in one of the other threads that has been created many times, like tire sizes, CAIs, tuners, etc, etc. Don't remember which one though.

 

[ski]

Because then we wouldn't have anything to talk about. This was discussed in one of the other threads that has been created many times, like tire sizes, CAIs, tuners, etc, etc. Don't remember which one though.

+1.
Also, updated data and info(TSB's, etc.) sometimes become available after a thread has been posted, and starting a new thread brings this stuff to light.

 

[o0Dan0o]

I didn't think our engines were e85 capable. When I was younger, I dumped the octane booster in my car thinking I was getting "race gas." I don't know how they harm but I'm guessing they're concentrated with a bunch of crap that will either end up in your fuel filter or clog up some lines like a clogged artery.

People have run e85, but it may degrade the fuel lines and possibly the pump with prolonged use. We already run e10 (standard gas is up to 10% ethanol, or it might be 15% now), so mixing e85 with normal gasoline should dilute the ethanol enough to keep it from harming your car, while bumping the octane rating up enough to get you out of a pinch.
Dan

 

[Steel Horse]

Still no takers on my question about how it fouls the plugs?

 

[COBESGT]

Still no takers on my question about how it fouls the plugs?

I'm with you on this too! How/why does it foul plugs? The only thing that I can think of is that it can foul plugs when you are running a car that is not intended/programmed to run the higher octane gas. If you read the owners manuals of most cars today, they are designed to run on 87 octane gas. I could see that you could have potential fouling when you ran the octane booster in this application.

To add to Steel Horse's question (I'm thinking this is what he's asking, because I know we Iowans can't get our hands on higher octane gas), if you have a performance tune for 93 octane and the only gas around is 91/92 octane, can you add the booster to bring the octane level up and safely run without and fouling problems?

 

[o0Dan0o]

I dunno specifically, but it's easily possible that something in the booster could, over time, foul plugs.
Dan

 

[DarkFireGT]

Honestly, I don't know why it fouls plugs, but I do know that it does.

Our cars actually CAN run E85. If you're stock, all you need is a tune. Your fuel pump will be close to maxed out, though, if you run full E85. If you're anything more than a few bolt-ons, you will need to upgrade the fuel pump and possibly injectors. There is nothing to worry about with the hoses or anything. Pretty much any car built since 2000 can run E85 with proper tuning.

The reason our cars are not tagged as E85 capable is simple. It costs money to certify a car for E85. Lots of it. And Ford didn't think running E85 would increase sales enough to justify this cost. The car sells enough without it.