Octane Boosters

[RedBarchetta]

Recommendations? Is anyone using octane boosters on a regular basis? Should I be concerned about running straight 91 octane California premium in a 9.7:1 392CI SB with aluminum Victor Jr. heads?

I guess I'm not so much concerned about detonation as I am in getting a clean and even burn (ignition is MSD).

Thanks for the replies and advice!

[Ron61]

Red,

Since you are relatively new to the club, I will tell you that has been discussed many times. With aluminium heads and just 9.7:1 compression you should be able to run this crap we get here that they laughingly call premium. I have 11:1 in both of my cars and I have ran them on this junk when I was out and couldn't get anything to mix with it. I normally mix 110 octane leaded racing gas in mine and that works great.

Ron

[RedBarchetta]

Ron, thanks! Right now, I'd prefer to up the octane quotient with the "miracle in the bottle" option versus acquiring 5 gallon containers and buying $4.00+ per gallon racing fuel (plus the storage of same). Love the smell of 110 race gas!

[auto10x]

You state that you're "not much concerned about detonation". If you're saying that you're not concerned about getting it, that's one thing. If your saying that even though you may have it but that you're not going to pay attention / worry about it, perhaps you're not knowledgable about the disastous consequences of detonation. Detonation is an engine killer. Never ignore detonation, that is if you want your engine to live a long happy life.
auto10x
Bill

[RACER X #99]

RED ,

Where are you getting 110 octane for $4.00 a gallon?

I would like to order 500 gallons for next season.

Thanks,
Cranky

[Ron61]

Cranky,

I have mine delivered from a local petrolium company and it was $4.25 per gallon the last 55 gallon barell that I got in June. But I heard it is going up and that they may discontinue to carry the Union 76 brand like NASCAR used. In fact I just called them and they are going to carry Citco now with the 110 leaded racing gas for the same price. Also a 112 octane but I don't need that, as the 110 is good.

Ron

[RACER X #99]

Amazing, refinery laden NY, NJ area 110 Octane $5.75 at the tracks and $5.50 off track. I think they give a REAL deal if you buy 55 gallon drum. $5.00 a gallon.

Time to move West for year round open track, no snow and cheap race gas.

I alway did like Sodona AZ

Cranky

[REDSC400]

Just recently, I put in about 3 gallons of CAM2 100 octane into my Cobra. No data, but it felt swell. I think there was about 6 gallons of 94 Sunoco in there. I just found a garage that sells CAM2 from the pump. $3 per gallon.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally posted by auto10x


You state that you're "not much concerned about detonation". Bill

Bill, I understand the effects of detonation completely, thanks.
What I meant by that comment is that a 9.7:1 motor theoretically shouldn't be detonation prone on 91 octane pump gas (unless you're running a lot of advance at the crank).

[Ron61]

Art,

Who makes the CAM2 and is it leaded or unleaded? We can't get SUNOCO here at all and this crap that they pass off for premium--91 octane can be used to put a fire out. Also with the gain in power the racing gas gives, I get the nice smell of real gas, plus nice GRAY exhausts and not the black ones like the other guys have. Of course at only 28 MPG I use a lot of it. HA!!!

Ron

[RACER X #99]

Ron Cam 2 is made by Sunoco.
Check this,


http://www.smithtex.com/racing/fuelcomp.html


Cranky

[REDSC400]

CAM2 is unleaded.

As for who makes it... I really do not know.

They have a WebSite www.cam2.com

It is not common here in CT by any means.

[RACER X #99]

Cam 2 Comes in about six grades two are unleaded. The others are leaded Race gas made by Sunoco.

[misfit41]

110 sells here for 3.75 per,,

[Scott S]

Most if not all over the counter octane boosters are not much more than lacquer thinner with a little automatic trans fluid added for color and lubrication.

Here is a link I have found helpful,

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html

Scott S

[RedBarchetta]

Scott,

I've read similar articles. Toluene (RM/2 method = 114 octane) is available at local paint stores in one gallon cans for $6.00. Toluene is the active ingredient already in gasoline that the manufacturers use to bump octane levels from grade to grade.

If you added one gallon of 114 Toluene to 16 gallons of 91 octane pump gas (equaling the 17 gallon capacity of an SPF), you would end up with a 92.4 octane fuel that contains 34% Toluene (most pump gas contains about 30% Toluene to start with) and you would be diluting the original pump gas mixture by roughly 6%.

Adding 2 gallons of Toluene to 15 gallons would net a 93.7 octane and bump the concentration to 38% (still well within limits) and effectively dilutes the gas mixture by 12%. I use the word "dilute" loosely, as you are actually adding the better chemical to the mix (see below).

The problem with this is partly economical. Why pay $12.00 to bump the RM/2 octane level less than 3 points when many of the better "over the counter" octane boosters will give you the same effect for a few dollars less and in a more concentrated, 12 ounce can? The counterpoint is that Toluene is a pure hydrocarbon, whereas many of these "miracle in a bottle" boosters contain alcohols, which are very corrosive to aluminum and magnesium parts (can you say deteriorating carbuerator??).

I'm going to experiment on my 50K mile pick-up truck before I start messing with a Cobra. Guys that run turbo set-ups swear by the Toluene (also known as methyl benzine) effects on performance.

[RedBarchetta]

I should also add that most over-the-counter boosters claim gains "up to 7 points" in octane. The truth of the matter is that with the RM/2 method (which is the method you see at your local gas pumps), a "point" is actually 0.1 and not 1.0. So adding 7 points to 91 octane is like saying you are now burning 91.7. And for a car that was experiencing detonation/pinging with 91, the extra 7/10's might just be enough to suppress the condition. Thus, people think it's great stuff! To each his own, I guess.

I think I'm going to also look into local race gas suppliers (for grins). So long as they are not adding alcohols, you then know with more certainty what you are getting, and for how much.

[CowtownCobra]

I occasionaly go out to this little airport with a 5 gallon can and filler' up with 101 unleaded av gas. They won't let you fuel the car directly. It seems to make more power and the smell is wonderful. Only costs $2 and change

[SantaFe66]

That Aviation gas works great at those high altitude race tracks too.